Tag: love

Paper or Plastic?

Today is the 44th anniversary of the day Studly Doright and I said our vows in front of friends and family members at a small Baptist church in Dumas, Texas.

I’ve had his gift for several weeks and will give it to him tonight. This morning, though, I was curious as to what the prescribed gift for the 44th anniversary might be. Maybe, I thought, I’d pick up something that fit the bill in addition to what I’d already bought.

Imagine my surprise when I realized I’ve been celebrating our 44th anniversary nearly every day since we said “I do!”

I should start saving up for next year right now, though. Probably can’t get a sapphire at the Publix store on N. Monroe, either.

Peace, people!

Mother’s Day

I had such a wonderful Mother’s Day.

Studly bought me flowers,

my son sent me designer face masks,

and my daughter sent me a set of “books” with each of the grandkid’s names printed on the spines.

Best of all, both of the kids called me and wished me a happy Mother’s Day, and Studly Doright spent extra time with me.

Happy Mother’s Day and peace, people!

Love Poetry

Several of my blogging friends write beautiful poetry. I give it a go now and then, but I really don’t know what I’m doing. It seems there’s more to composing a poem than merely slapping some words down on paper and trying to get the last word in every other line to rhyme. Go figure. Although,

Roses are red

Violets are Blue

Sugar is sweet

And so are you

Always makes me smile.

I want to share a favorite love poem by Pablo Neruda.

Translated from Spanish by W. S. Merwin

I cannot explain why I love this so much. Is it the melancholy? The imagery?

Is there a poem about love that makes you sigh? One that makes you want to stare longingly out the window while watching sunset’s fiesta? Tell me about it.

Peace and love, people.

A Whole Lotta Love

These two have my heart.

This photo of our children, Jason and Ashley, was taken years ago when both were students at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

Ashley arranged for a friend to take pictures of the two of them for a Mother’s Day collage. It’s still one of the very best gifts I’ve ever received.

I love seeing their young faces. Neither had any idea at the time what trials and triumphs awaited them, or the strength they’d need to develop in order to prevail. I’m proud of who they have become, but nostalgic for who they were. My babies.

Peace and love, people.

Loves Me; Loves Me Not

Petals plucked in time

He loves me; he loves me not

Anticipating

Seek daisy’s wisdom

But choose your flower wisely

Odd numbers suffice

A garden’s bounty

Yields answers; questions results

How dare blossoms lie?

(After I published this I looked back in my archives and discovered another poem I’d written with the same title. The original is better, I think, but it made me laugh. It was bound to happen sooner or later.)

Love American Style

Who among my readers remembers a late 60’s, early 70’s television show called “Love American Style”? As I recall it aired on Friday nights and usually consisted of two or three comedy sketches about dating, love and/or marriage.

The first season, the show’s theme song was performed by The Cowsills. I had a huge crush on the drummer, John Cowsill, who currently tours with The Beach Boys.

(That’s John, bottom right, next to sister Susan. Brother Barry on Susan’s left, died tragically in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Bob and Bill round out the picture, but don’t ask me which is which.)

I watched the show each week mainly to hear the Cowsills sing the theme song. For some reason unknown to me the group was replaced in subsequent seasons, but I continued to watch because I was a teenaged girl trying to figure out relationships. In that regard it was likely more a hindrance than a help.

A few future stars had roles on the show, most notably, Harrison Ford. Oddly enough, I also developed a crush on him many years later. Actually it was more of a thing I had for characters he played, namely Han Solo and Indiana Jones, and not Harrison himself.

In a perfect world I’d have kissed Han Solo while listening to the Cowsills sing the theme song. Or not.

https://youtu.be/10hrOJkOxX0

Peace and love, people.

A Little Love

It’s Saturday morning, the 15th of February. Studly Doright took me to a nice dinner to celebrate Valentines Day with friends at our golf club last night. There was much laughter and wine and good conversation.

A call from a childhood friend took me away from the table for just a few minutes. She seldom calls me at night, so my heart froze for a minute thinking something bad had happened. Thank goodness that wasn’t the case! She just wanted to relate an encounter she’d had with a woman who’d been the bane of our middle school years. Her call made me laugh out loud.

I returned to the table and answered Studly’s concerned look with a squeeze of the hand. You see we have a friend who is in the final stages of his fight with cancer. Every phone call now could mean that he’s finally at peace, and that his sweet wife and children, along with all of his friends, have to deal with living in a world without his affection, his wit and wisdom, and his vast store of knowledge on darn near any topic.

So I’m sending love out into the universe today for our friend, Jim, and all those who love him. Would you please take the time to do the same? Even if it’s just a little love, if everyone does it it’ll be huge.

Peace and love, people.

Love Story

We discussed love songs several days ago, but what about love stories? Are you a fan of traditional love stories? Or do you lean towards less conventional fare?

I once told someone that Terminator was one of my favorite love stories, and they laughed. Kind of hurt my feelings. The saga of Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese finding love while saving the universe ignited my imagination, and made me a fan of a series that otherwise might’ve passed me by.

Of course I’ve enjoyed a few more conventional love stories, such as An Affair to Remember,

And Sleepless in Seattle,

but there’s something especially poignant about love that arises in the midst of a seemingly hopeless situation because my other top love story is that of Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa. When Han, on the verge of being encased in carbonite during The Empire Strikes Back, uttered those two little words, “I know,” in response to Leia’s profession of love, I melted.

That kiss was something special.

So maybe I am most fond of love stories wrapped inside a sci-fi movie, and not movies in which love is the main theme. How about you?

Peace and love, people!

A Texas Sized Love

Today in my February celebration of love I am featuring our Texas grandkids.

That’s D, above. D is our eldest grandchild. She’s 17 and a junior in high school. D is a talented tennis player on her high school’s team. She’s also developed an interest in baking, and has a weakness for macarons. Oh, she has a pet hedgehog and several cats. I’m not certain where this picture was taken, but it looks groovy.

J, her brother, is 13, and the next to the youngest of our five grandchildren. He plays trumpet in the school band and is a serious skateboarder. The kid taught himself to swim when he was just a little tyke, and he is fearless both in the water and out. He’s got a fine collection of knives, some of which he’s found while exploring at estate sales. He’s a motorcyclist, too. I think this photo was taken at a concert.

The two of them are smarter than I am. They get jokes that go over my head, and they actually get along with one another. I’m more than a little proud of them. I just wish I could see them more often.

Peace and love, people.

The Opposite of Love

Experts weigh in on the topic of love’s opposite.

Peace and love, people.