Peaceful Afternoon

Marriage, mortality, and the most romantic song ever written.

My husband and I share a wedding anniversary date with my parents. We are celebrating twelve years together, and my parents fifty-one years. And it has always been so fun and meaningful to share this day with them.

My grandmother passed away one day before our anniversary. This is a poignant bookend to my wedding day, when my grandfather passed away two days after the ceremony. And now this date will take on even more meaning, as a day to remember our beloved grandmother.

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Love and mortality are forever intertwined, and I feel that acutely as I get older. But especially when marking our anniversary and my parents’ anniversary while also mourning my Avva. Which is just another reason why I think Rufus Wainwright’s “Peaceful Afternoon” is the most romantic song ever written.

In a song written to his husband, Wainwright is wonderfully droll about the joys, annoyances and mundanity of a long-term relationship, best described in the line, “sex and death and trying to keep the kitchen clean.”

And then he says this:

'Cause it's all a part of the game
Yeah, it's all a part of the symphony
And I pray that your face is the last I see
On a peaceful afternoon

It’s a song that could only be written by someone in an entrenched and lovingly well-worn relationship: You live each day knowing one of you is going to go first. It’s a truth that becomes sharper the longer you are together, and the only thing that could temper the loss is what Wainwright expresses here, with such an abundance of affection, warmth, hope and love.

My grandmother was in a happy and chatty mood before she died, and passed away in her sleep. After a lifetime of taking care of others, she is now at rest. It gives us all solace that she was in good spirits and had family around her before she left us. She had a peaceful afternoon. And I wish the same for each of us too.

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Thanks to everyone who answered my poll — it is really helpful to know what readers would like to see here. I’ll continue with a mix of personal writing and funny videos to make you smile.

With The Other Lata coming out in two months, I’ve been really pleased that early readers have told me how my book makes them smile.

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We need escapism and joy now more than ever, so I’m beyond happy if The Other Lata can provide that in some way. If you would like to preorder, you can get a signed and personalized copy at the wonderful indie bookstore Yu & Me Books (where I’ll be having my launch event in early April — more details to come).

Wishing you an abundance of affection, warmth, hope and love.

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