11/10/2006

Happy Birthday to my man.....

On Saturday, November 10, 1962 Ed was born at 6 am to the sound of beating drums in the village of Seaton, Jamaica (in the Parish of St. Mary). He was delivered by his great-grandmother, Nora Kitson. Nora, a midwife, who lived to be 113 years old (1891 - 2004) ,smoked a corncob pipe until she was 76 and was the daughter of plantation slaves. Ed's maternal grandfather, James Francis, was a shaman, a farmer, a butcher and a great storyteller who passed on the oral tradition to Ed. Ed was given his first machete at the age of 6 by his grandfather. He was Ed's first hero and mentor. Ed learned to read from the Bible. Ed's first pet was a cow named Betty. He was raised in a tin roofed shanty with a dirt floor and no running water. Ed moved to Canada in 1973, where at the age of 11 he experienced his first junk food and his first of many exposures to racial prejudice. As a teenager, Ed was a member of the Scarborough Optimist's Club (he ran with Ben Johnson, Angela Issajenko and Mark McCoy). He also danced with the Harriet Tubman Group and performed at the O'Keefe Centre (now known as the Hummingbird Centre). He played football briefly in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger Cats (and he would be too embarassed for me to put up the links so I won't - for all his accomplishments he is a very humble person). His waist, as seen in that groovy 70's photo above, was an unbelievable 27"(he was 16 in the picture). I love the bell bottom pants (a little flashback there!) and the fact he has a full head of hair! Ed is a man of incredible integrity and honesty. He is kind and gentle and understands the concept of unconditional love and acceptance in a way I have experienced with few people. He accepts people as they are but he doesn't tolerate bad manners or bad behaviour in anyone. I am continuously impressed by his low level of anxiety and his ability to deal with difficult situations and people. He is a dedicated and caring father who loves his children with passion, compassion and clarity. Ed is boisterously proud of his children and isn't shy about displaying his love and pride publicly. He is playful and affectionate with Nick and Sheree and fiercely protective of them.

He is a great friend. He is a keen intellect and a passionate learner. He walks the walk and talks the talk. He will not promise you anything he cannot follow through on. He treats people with a sincere level of respect and graciousness.

As a partner and a husband Ed has taught me so much about courage, patience and love. He has been a rock for me during the last 12 years (and particularly the last 5 months) of my chronic illness ups and downs, and I truly feel at times that if it weren't for Ed I wouldn't be here. He has held me with optimism, humour and true caring.

He massages me when I am in pain (he has a healer's hands) and comforts me when I am crying and feeling that this thing will never end (more so of late). He makes sure I laugh at least once a day.

Ed does the laundry (and is quite finicky about his whites), cooks for me(he makes the lightest dumplings, the best jerk, a mean chicken soup that cures just about anything and some awesome stewed chicken, among his repetoire of various specialities, all passed down and without a recipe), cleans the bathrooms, weeds my vegetable garden and cares for the farm with a methodical thoroughness that puts me to shame. He irons. He lets my dog Gryphon (who celebrated her 12th birthday on Wednesday) sleep on the bed.

Ed knits. I love that I can have a discussion about a knitting project or problem with him and he gets it. Ed has this huge laugh, an awesome smile and a larger than life personality. He is this kind of old school, old fashioned guy with a heart of gold. He is a tremendous individual whom I have been very priviledged to be loved by and to know. Happy birthday my love!

38 comments:

jill said...

Happy Birthday, Ed!

What a lovely tribute.

Knittah said...

What a wonderful, moving post.

Carole Knits said...

This is a wonderful, heartfelt and moving tribue. I'd say Ed deserves it all. Happy Birthday, Ed! Thanks for taking such good care of my friend Cynthia.

Anonymous said...

What a moving tribute to a wonderful guy! You two certainly deserve each other!

Happy Birthday Ed!!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Ed!

Jenn said...

Whay a beautiful post! Happy Birthday Ed!

AmyArtisan said...

What a wonderful post Cynthia - thanks for sharing so much with us! :)

Happy Birthday Ed! Wishing you a wonderful year!

Susan said...

Oh, Cynthia, this is just a wonderful, touching post. I think that you and Ed are lucky to have found each other; you are both very special people. And, for the record, I like Ed better with no hair!

Happy Birthday, Ed!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful tribute for a beautiful, handsome man! Happy Birthday Ed!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Dad! Everything Mom said was true and more. Thank you for taking me to my hockey games and practices. And thanks for taking me out to breakfast today. I love you Dad - you are the best!

Ramona said...

Your man is awesome! Happy Birthday Ed.

Melissa said...

Happy Birthday Ed. That was the sweetest little birthday wish!
I can tell by the way that Ed updated your blog for a while that he is a wonderful man. Hope his day is a great one.

kelli ann & lorie said...

happy birthday, ed! (what a lovely post. sniff, sniff. cynthia-- damn you for getting me all welled-up!!)

Samantha said...

Wow. Your Ed sounds like an amazing man. Lucky girl. :)

Happy Birthday Ed!

Sorka said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ed!!!!
WOOO HOOO man you finally made it to 36 yee haa!! hehehe
Denise
knitchat.com

Vicki Knitorious said...

Huh, Ed... I'd say somebody loves you!!!

Happy Birthday!! ; )

Anonymous said...

Some people you can just tell are good by looking at them. Your Ed just looks like good people. Happy Birthday to him!

Sue said...

Happy Birthday Ed! What a wonderful husband you have, your a very lucky girl and a man who knits, wow. My grandfather used to knit when he was alive, beautiful shawls and things for his 7 children. I loved the story you told of the wonderful people who influenced Ed to be such a wonderful and caring man.

dorothee said...

Wow! A man-knitter!
Happy birthday, Ed! I'm raising my glass on you all the way over here in Munich, Germany!

Unknown said...

Those are beautiful words, but not just words Cindy - I can feel the passion and truth in everything that you said! The depth of your love is so evident.
I'm sure that you complete & complement Ed as he does you.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday ED!! Hope its a good one. Cyn- you wrote a beautiful tribute.

Anonymous said...

A very Happy Bithday Ed. Best wishes and keep smiling! You are awesome

Suzie said...

Happy Birthday Ed! You are awesome--I knew this as soon as I saw you posting for Cyn while she was sick and how you emailed me to buy her that Charlotte's Web kit. Too cool. Cyn--what a lovely tribute to your hubby!

Anonymous said...

A man who not only models your knitting, but knits, cooks, does laundry, cleans AND is a shaman???? The man deserves not only an awesome birthday, but daily awesomeness!

aija said...

Happy birthday Ed! (What a great tribute!!)

Cathy said...

Goodness, what a fantastic tribute, it brought tears to my eyes. Without all that you have said, the pictures speak a thousand words - kind eyes and a smile like none I have ever seen before spell it out perfectly!

Happy, Happy Birthday Ed and many, many more!

Teyani said...

what a beautiful man - and a well written post about him, Cyn. Sounds like you two are really good for each other !
And he knits too? ! whoa.
Happy Birthday , Ed !

Anonymous said...

Awww, happy birthday, Ed! He sounds perfect. Does he knit too? :-)

KnitPastis said...

Happy Birthday to you Ed! Love your smile! Can my hsuband and I come move in with you now Cyn?LOL Sounds like a wonderful house to be living in with all this sweetness. I love that he knits too.

Jackie said...

Happy Birthday Ed! You were born on the due date for my eldest gal. She was a week late, so doesn't share your birthday.
Cindy, what a glowing tribute! You are very lucky indeed and obviously know it! Keep that man close!
Nice sweater in the previous post too. I think that it would take me three lifetimes to knit a sweater like that. I have cable misunderstandings like I have lace fear. I am a sad, sorry knitter. But I am a good weaver!

Lucia said...

All this and a knitter too? You are one lucky woman. Happy birthday, Ed!

C+SK said...

Ohh Happy Birthday, Ed!!

That is such a wonderful hommage! He seems to be the sweetest man, and handsome too! :-)

Wishing you many healthy and happy years, Ed, next to fab Cynthia! :-)

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a wonderful post and an even MORE wonderful man! Happy Birthday Ed!

Dorothy said...

That is an awesome tribute. Ed sounds like a fascinating and fabulous man.

Happy Birthday Ed!

Marji said...

Sounds like you've got a keeper. Bless you both.
I just returned home from a trip, and have the flu, so look for the update on Joey that you requested later this week. I hope you are better.

Catherine Kerth said...

happy birthday ED! your are a fabulous partner....

Rhonda the Stitchingnut said...

I'm a little late but ...

Happy Birthday, Ed!

Hope it was the best yet, with many more to come.

Anonymous said...

Wow! You couldn't have written a more beautiful story!...Your husband looks to be very well loved:o), and with a smile like his he is sure to light up a room at any occassionl.

Many prayers in your journey to good health.