A Risk on Forever

by N.S. Perkins

I love that you love music as much as I do. Whenever I feel a particular kind of way, it’s like you can sense it and put on the perfect song, the one that can translate what I’m feeling inside into words or in melody. I don’t know how you do it, but you’ve proven repeatedly that you have this special power. Time and time again, you’ve selected the song I didn’t even know I needed. A fast pace with cymbals and carillons for the good days, when I felt like a young woman all over again. A wistful piano ballad on the occasions the pain overtook everything, where I couldn’t focus on anything other than breathing and trying to make it through the rough patch. A soft violin serenade on the hopeful days, when the sun would rise above the water, rays of light bursting through the living room curtains and warming our faces, making us feel as infinite as the ocean. You have this emotional intelligence that I hope you never lose. Being able to read people without needing them to tell you what’s wrong is the greatest of gifts. It has helped me so much through our time together, and I’m sure it will help all the people with whom you spend your time in the future. As I said, it’s a gift. Use it. Give it to the ones who need it. You’ve already spread so much goodness around me with it. What’s using it to spread even more? Love, Helen