Jono Miller

Have you ever been in that place? A lightness of spirit, soul and body. A feeling of floating, that all around you is good and noble and beautiful. That you have been led to a sacred place and touched on the cockles of your heart by an angel from heaven. Do you know what it feels like?

I just met her! Her name is Antonina. She has a peace and purity about her that sets her apart. Antonina is 81 years old. In beautiful English she told me her story. Right now she is recovering from great sadness. On January 8th this year she buried her husband. They met in the hospital when they were both 70, she a widow, he a widower. She had been an English teacher, he a sailor. She looked at him and said “It is he”. He looked at her and said “It is she”. He was handsome, more beautiful than she. But for him she was more beautiful and younger than any other woman. “It was as if he was 18 and I was 17. We held hands. We did not kiss. We were married for 10 years. We did not quarrel. We only smiled and danced and talked and laughed. And now I am so sad, but my children and my pupils came to me, and said ‘Tonya, he is in the grave, but you are still here, we want you to live’.”

Her mind shows deep contemplation. “He was so kind, such kind eyes, and kind hands and kind arms. He had blue eyes and silver hair. I had to leave the hospital 2 days before him. I wrote a poem and sang it to him – in English.” Something about him being her honey and may all his days be sunny. Then Antonina looked at me. As if heaven itself were here to lift up my soul. Her eyes smiled. She told me I had kind eyes and a kind face too. She told me to marry not a beautiful woman – but a good woman. Then she taught me this toast:

“My eyes, your eyes, my lips, your lips;

Our eyes have met, our lips not yet;

I’ll drink to that!”

Then with a kiss on the cheek, a hug, a hand on my arm and a meaningful smile, she turned and walked slowly off into the peaceful evening.

I don’t think I will ever forget this day.