When I Wake Up…
Music: I’m Gonna Be 500 Miles
Artist: The Proclaimers
Shared by: Mark for Cecilia
“500 Miles reminds me of those happy days when I would wake up next to Cecilia, imagining that I was going to be the man that would grow old with her.”
“And if I grow old, well, I know I'm gonna be, I'm gonna be the man who's growin' old with you.”
The lights went out and a hush descended on the room as Cecilia walked through the door to be greeted by our wonderful friends. On December 3rd 2011, we celebrated 20 years together when I organised a surprise anniversary party for Cecilia. She didn’t have a clue what was going on and we danced and partied into the early hours. Everyone dressed up as if it was 1991 and the soundtrack for the evening was the music of the time which evoked such wonderful memories of our days at University.
As part of the evening’s celebrations, myself and our good friend Simon dressed up as Scotland's finest, The Proclaimers and I professed my love for Cecilia by singing ‘500 Miles’ to her. As a result, the song has always held a special place in our hearts.
“When I wake up, well, I know I'm gonna be, I'm gonna be the man who wakes up next to you.”
On Thursday 11th May 2023, I woke up next to Cecilia on a hospital ward and it would be the last time that I would ever wake up next to her. That morning I saw my soulmate and partner of 31 years and the mother of our two children take her last breath. Diagnosed with a fast growing brain tumour on 14th April, it took just four weeks for the Glioblastoma to cruelly and indiscriminately take her life.
That was the day our lives changed forever.
“I would walk five hundred miles and I would walk five hundred more, just to be the man who walked a thousand miles to fall down at your door.”
In March 2024, myself and Simon (my fellow Proclaimer) walked from Leicester (where we met) to Bolton (Cecilia’s home town) in her memory.
‘500 Miles’ reminds me of those happy days when I would wake up next to Cecilia, imagining that I was going to be the man that would grow old with her.