1,2,3

When I was in High School, and I wanted to write a note to Donnie, and sign it by saying I love you, without my mother finding it and reading it, I would simply sign it, 1,2,3 Kelly.  My mother didn't really like that Donnie and I were dating, and so I knew that I secretly had to tell him I loved him, and this 1,2,3 seemed to be the best way.
We would end our phone calls by saying 1,2,3 and whenever we held hands we would squeeze each others hand three times to tell each other I love you.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what the 1,2,3 means, and I am sure there are other people out there in the world that do this same thing.  For Donnie and me, it has become a special tradition, that we have passed on to our children.  When they were little and still to this day we used the words I love you with the kids, but they also always knew the quiet symbol of a 1,2,3 squeeze or tap.  We would all go to church and while saying the Lord's Prayer, the seven of us would hold hands and the squeezing would begin.  One squeeze, Two squeeze, Three squeeze.  It would begin at one end and continue back and forth amongst the seven of us the entire time we would be reciting the Our Father. 

Even now, if I am sitting next to one of the kids or alone with Donnie in a car, whenever I feel like quietly telling them I love them, I will squeeze their hand or tap them three times. This tradition has grown.  .

Yesterday, Donnie and I went to see our dear friends husband perform in an emotionally riveting, and beautiful, but sad story about love.  There are no words to describe how moving this play was.  Our friend and her husband are family to us, and we truly love them.  But what exemplifiied my love for my friends husband was a 1,2,3 tap on my shoulder.  We went to dinner after the show with old friends, and our dear friends, and at one point during the dinner conversation, I was talking about how it is possible to give emotional love and support to our five children, and how people have questioned the possibility of this.  As I was saying this, my friends husband leaned behind his wife and gently tapped me on the shoulder three times....I looked at him, my eyes welled up and I asked, "do you know what this means?"  he answered yes.  At that moment, Johnny ( I say his name now because I emotionally need to) solidified himself in my heart as my true brother and family member.  I've known his wife for over 27 years now, and she has always been a sister of my heart and member of my family.  They have been married almost two years now, and I love them so much, but yesterday, the bond was sealed for life....his 1,2,3 tap has cemented him in my heart for always.  How prophetic for after seeing a play about the power of love, we ended the day with the power of love.  1,2,3 Johnny, and 1,2,3 to your wife.  I love you both, you are "Famiglia", my family.  I am so happy to know you share our families secret message of 1,2,3.