Celebrating Love ....

 

It’s February and many of us begin to think about Valentine’s Day, love, and relationships. We are likely conditioned to think about chocolate, champagne, flowers, lingerie, and heart shaped anything. But, those things are superficial even if they are nice. Who doesn’t want a heart shaped box of chocolates, sweetly scented flowers, or racy lingerie?

 

First Love has come to my mind as something we should consider for Valentine’s Day. It’s so pure, so  sweet, so true, and so young. I want to share a brief memory of my first love. I sincerely hope each of you has that special relationship you hold dear. That one person that awakened you to the possibility of love.  My little story will be posted below.

Besides that, we in Oklahoma, are still having some cold weather. The kind of weather that can be below freezing in the early morning and in the 70’s by the middle of the afternoon. Right now, the sun is shining and I hear birds chirping away.

JOURNEY OF HONOR is moving along. I write every day, even if it turns out to be a short paragraph or a note about something that will pop up later in the story. I have a cover (you’ll get to see it in a couple of months), I have editing lined up, and I have purchased ISBN numbers. It’s getting real, and that frightens me. DIANNE’S DESTINY, was published by The Wild Rose Press, so this journey into self-publishing with the Journey Series is a whole new venture for me.

For now, I wish you a season of love this February. Not just romantic love, but the love of family, friends, and colleagues.

 

FIRST LOVE: THE BEGINNING

 

            I imagine each of us can be transported back in time to memories of our first love regardless of how many years has passed. For me, it’s been 50 years. I’m not talking about crushes or the people we “went with” for a class period, a day, a week, or a month. I’m referring to that person that truly took up residence in our hearts, and still maintains a sliver of space somewhere in the deepest corner.

            I met my first love in a Sunday School class when my family was visiting my grandmother in Waurika, Oklahoma. It was spring, 1968. I was shy. He was shy. However, I thought he was mysterious because he wore dark glasses. He was cute and had sandy blonde hair. Following Sunday School I was invited to sit on the back pew with the other teenagers. Whispered conversations and the passing of notes during that hour led to our first date that evening. I think we went to a movie. I remember the drive from small town Waurika to the larger town of Duncan, there is a tall bridge and a dangerous curve that has to be navigated in Comanche. Below the bridge were a lot of boulders, trees, and a full creek. It frightened me. I was from the flat, desert-like prairie of New Mexico, tall bridges on S curves weren’t something I saw every day.

            We talked comfortably without nervousness. That surprised me. We discussed our families, where we lived, music, and our dreams for the future. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do after high school. I still dreamed of graduating and becoming a registered nurse.

            JES and I saw each other every day until my family returned to Lovington. Daily letters passed in the mail for months. JES and a friend brought my grandmother for a visit during the summer. His kindness toward my grandmother raised him to hero status in my heart.

            We dragged Main Street, listened to KOMO out of Oklahoma City, had Pancho burgers from Ole Jax, and just hung out. We talked for hours about nothing and everything. We took a day trip to Carlsbad Caverns. The underground wonders came to life and held a more profound meaning during that day. I had been to the Caverns before, they weren’t new to me.

            When the day came that JES and my grandmother had to return to Oklahoma Grandma Jodie begged my parents to let me move in with her. I wanted to go, how I wanted to go. My parents said no. My heart broke when they left, but I knew we would be together again.

            The letters and phone calls continued. But, alas, something happened in my life to make this remarkable first love die a painful death. It was my fault. Entirely. But, that is another story.

            Authors ask “what if” all the time. If things had worked out the way my teenaged heart thought it should I would have been spared a great deal of heartbreak. But, then I wouldn’t have met Frank. Erick and Bill wouldn’t have been born. I wouldn’t have my granddaughters who own my whole heart.

            The magic of Facebook has reintroduced my first love and me. He is happily married and is content with his life.

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll drop by often. Be sure and sign up to receive my newsletter and visit my website.

Until next time, Journey Onward!

Love,

Nona