TODAY marks 46 years since I married my girlfriend, Janet Mohamed. We were both from Wortmanville – she from Bent Street, I from Hadfield Street. After 11 years of togetherness, we brought forward a child, Kavita Farah. Genetics do funny things to your children. Kavita excelled in CXC science subjects, went to UG to do chemistry, the area her mother graduated from.
Kavita completed a degree in chemistry at UG but suddenly said to me and her mother that she wants to switch to an area her father dealt in – journalism. She now has graduate training in international journalism. It has been a long journey with Janet Kissoon. I normally do a column on her whenever our anniversary comes around. I am going to miss writing on our anniversary when I hang up my gloves; that is soon coming.

I don’t know when I will stop writing but I know I want to. I will stop the Freddie Kissoon Show if Irfaan Ali is re-elected in November and shortly after the second term of Ali, I may “call it George” with my columns. I want to spend more time with my wife. I owe my wife that. I courted her when I was adventurously swinging with the Working People’s Alliance and hardly had time for her. And it has been like that for 46 years.

As you get older, you reflect on your life and the love you give and the love you receive. I have had a meaningful existence because I had Janet at my side. My father and mother died without seeing a penny from me. It is a miserable, psychic burden I bear each day of my life, but the physic stress has been sublimated in my relationship with my wife.

An academic colleague of mine from UG, who I see from time to time, once said something to me which I always reflect on and that reflection situates Janet perfectly in the scheme of things. He told me that one day, when I look over my shoulder, I will not see my army. He was deadly accurate. But each time, the fruits recede from my Prometheus life, Janet has been there to give me an alternative existence.

I leave my readers with my songs, which I dedicate to Janet. I think ‘Lady in My life” by Michael Jackson is an appropriate tribute to my wife, but I prefer the version by Rhythm and Blues singer, Lou Rawls. That song was not Michael Jackson thing. He was a rock and pop artist and didn’t do justice to a song outside his genre.  The Air Supply hit, “Always” is about me and my wife forever being in love. I hope you like both songs.

ALWAYS BY AIR SUPPLY
I can see hills touch the sky
Heaven and earth, you and I
A world we will always be
Here in the silence we lie
Shadows we cast, you and I
Speak for eternity

Pressed between pages
Flowers will die
Stories may end as time passes by
You and I will always be

With every word that I hear
Whenever whispers are near
I can believe in fate
Promises made, only one
Yesterday fades from the sun
And falls to a new embrace
Tears overflow
As rivers run dry
Here in a moment of time passing by
You and I will always be

THE LADY IN MY LIFE- MICHAEL JACKSON
There’ll be no darkness tonight
Lady, our love will shine, lighting the light
Just put your trust in my heart
And meet me in paradise, now is the time
Girl, you’re every wonder in this world to me
A treasure time won’t steal away

So listen to my heart
Lay your body close to mine
Let me fill you with my dreams
I can make you feel all right

And, baby, through the years
Gonna love you more each day
So I promise you tonight
That you will always be the lady in my life

Lay back in my tenderness
Let’s make this a night we won’t forget
Girl, I need your sweet caress
Reach out to a fantasy
Two hearts in the beat of ecstasy
Come to me, girl

And I will keep you warm
Through the shadows of the night
Let me touch you with my love
I can make you feel so right

And, baby, through the years
Even when we’re old and gray
I will love you more each day
Cause you will always be the lady in my life
Columnist note: The title of this article is taken from Neil Diamond’s hit, “Shilo.” Diamond remains my wife’s favourite English language singer.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.