A Love Letter To Kath

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we asked Patch readers to write a love letter to that special someone and let us deliver it. This is Brian McFadden’s love story about his late wife, Kathleen:

“Once upon a time in the faraway land of Jersey City, I, a young lad of 16 lived a sedate, unassuming existence of simpleness. I was young, impetuous and impulsive, yet so introverted that days seemed dark, lonely and drawn. I thought I knew it all. Little did I know that I knew nothing about everything.

The Lord always has a plan. I certainly was not prepared for it, and I knew even less of that, if that's possible. Sure, there was my family and friends but there was always something missing as my mind filled with wonder and hope that I would find a partner. Little did I know that the Lord was about to teach me, demonstrate His compassion and give to me not justice, but love in His own miraculous way.

Little did I know that I was about to find more than my partner, I would find a living dream come true, my forever soulmate, my everything forever more. He had sent to me His angel and it was up to me to create a heaven for her. I still thank Him for this miracle daily with a morning kiss on my favorite picture, even though she has returned to Him.

Before I go back to 1968, let me just say that these memories will always remain alive in my heart, but it took me hearing a PBS special playing Broadway hits as I scanned for something to watch. I stopped to hear a song from 'West Side Story' called 'Tonight, Tonight.'

I remember vividly when Kathleen made me watch the movie with her. Hearing this song again generated such love and devotion in me that I became mesmerized with the words as my mind drifted back to when.... Then the memories formulated and I knew I would have to write them down.

As I begin my story in 1968, the scene is a beautiful mid-August evening, probably around 8 p.m. The sky is crystal clear as we sit on the steps of 3025, the hangout spot for the whole gang. I will never forget, and I never let her forget the impression she left on me when she came down to hang. She had been cleaning and was dressed in faded blue jeans, blonde hair in pigtails and the sexyist non-sexy red plaid, cut sleeves, Daisy Duke flannel shirt (Venus in blue jeans). Curiously, no one else is there for the evening. There always seemed to be friends: Nancy and Peggy, her girlfriends, and the kids from up the block, but not tonight.

Earlier that year I had invited Kath to a sports dinner where she memorably and unforgettably spilled orange juice on my new suit. That morning she introduced me to her mother, Nanny. She approved of me, a nice Irish lad, immediately, and later told Kath she could date me. But it is not a date, so to speak, we were just friends from the porch. So some time passes and school lets out for the summer. I head to the shore for the two summer jobs that my mother had helped me get and all was going well, except that I was missing the hangouts, the fun-times and Kath. By the middle of August I told my mom that I would look for a job in the city and that I had to go back. She was upset since she had that old time work ethic, but she reluctantly drove me to the bus stop in Lakewood and off I went.

So now the stage was set. The Lord had done his part to create a beautiful romantic atmosphere. Little did I know, I guess just blind or shy or damn scared. As I approach the steps of the home I notice that it is strangely empty. I ring the bell looking to see if anyone one could down to hang. Shortly, Kath comes down in her work clothes and we sit and talk, we could talk for hours and that night we probably did. The night was flying by, as it seems our whole life did.

Here we are sitting across from St. John's marveling at His miraculous sky loaded with stars as if the heavens were singing. Little did I know, that the Lord had His plan and He was about to put it in motion. He sent a messenger some call Cupid, whose arrow struck me right where it needed to be, dead center of my heart. I never asked her if Cupid had struck her the same way, but I get from the results that she had. Little did I know that my life was about to change.

'Did you see it?'

A shooting star, there it was in all its brilliance. I jumped at the chance. It was now or never. I sensed that all the stars were correctly aligned, and I stole a quick kiss. I sensed also that she was as happy as I. And thus started our relationship from going steady to class couple to inseparable forever.

In conclusion, I recall this and write about it to express the joy of the walk home that night. I was broke and had spent my last pennies on White Castle burgers and shakes (she loved her shakes), so no bus money, but that's another story. I distinctly remember the clothes I was wearing -- especially the light minty green button down shirt, a pop type shirt, jeans and sneakers. But I also remember the cloud that took me home that night, hardly walking, just pure happiness, like they say, 'walking on air.' He had truly blessed me and to this day I still know a lot of mostly nothing, but I do know love.

Sometime later, Kath told me how she had ran up the three flights of stairs to tell Nancy. I guess she approved.

The song had flashed all this back to me in an instant, I could say that I don't know why, but it was the Lord's plan. Take a moment and listen to the words: so many metaphors from that night, incredible symbolism. Shooting stars, miracle, sparks, and a new world, to share a few:

'Tonight' by Leonard Bernstein

Tonight, tonight
It all began tonight
I saw you and the world went away
Tonight, tonight
There's only you tonight
What you are, what you do, what you say
Today, all day I had the feeling
A miracle would happen
I know now I was right
Little did I know
That night would change everything

--Brian McFadden"

See all Patch love letters here.

For next month's Love In A Small Town feature, we want to know: What place in town will always be a reminder of love for you? Whether it's the park where you had your first kiss or the restaurant where he proposed, email your story to locallove@patch.com for the chance to be featured. Get more details here.