Sunday, February 12, 2023

Remembering Chuck

Long ago, and yet the memory is still strong; I wrote about this chance encounter I had with a special person.  When I re-read this paragraph I'd written, it seems as if it was a brief encounter.  But in fact, it went on more than six months.  He was a 911 dispatcher, and I worked retail, so our lives were very off schedule, as both of us had rotating schedules.  Finding time to chat, make phone calls and even meet up was something that we worked on.  

  • One of the most amazing loves of my life was extremely brief; and yet it still goes on. We met in a chat room, and there was instant "chemistry"; we became friends. Chats turned to phone calls, and one day out of the blue, he called and said "I want to take you to dinner." He was going to be in town, so I arranged to meet him in Zville. Normally, I'm a shy person; when we met, it was hugs at first sight, then a little bit of awkward chit chat. But dinner was super; it was so much fun to finally meet and talk face to face; it was as if we had known each other forever. And even though we're further apart, geographically speaking, and the time we spend chatting is less (we both have busy lives), when we take the time, its as if time stood still and we pick up right where we left off. This wonderful man accepted me as I am, treated me like a queen, and showed me what true love is about; he will never be forgotten. And I never miss an opportunity to tell him I love him. True love may not be the stuff in fairy tales, but it can be just as wonderful if you open yourself, and your heart. Nobody knows or will ever know everything they need to know about love. Its elusiveness is part of what makes love seductive. One can only obey the great law of the heart that says "As long as you live, love one another and take the consequences."

While I remember writing about this special guy, I realized that I didn't go into details.  I wonder if the memory is as true as reality was?  

I started writing down the story of our encounters while I was at work, and I thought I tucked it in my purse so that I could put it here, but it seems it isn't in my purse now, and oh boy uh oh if someone finds it ..... lol  

Chuck was a very special guy.  We chatted and talked on the phone, and then we agreed to meet up and have a meal, and see where it goes from there.  And boy did it go!  (blushing grin)  I will always cherish the memories we made.  We shared a meal at Waffle House, and I wrote the following poem afterwards. 

cowboy boots and hat 
soft touches, 
fingers reach me 
touch my soul deeply 
 snuggling together 
such an amazing night 
this can never last 
 me, holding his gaze 
goodbyes said at waffle house 
cowboy boots and hat 

LD Poetry©2008

I just learned yesterday that Chuck died in December 2020.  
I will miss his laughter, his kindness and will cherish our memory forever.   
Goodbye, Chuck.  You were loved!  xo

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Family Traditions

 We've started a new *thing*, we all get together on Tuesday nights, one week at my nephews' and one week at my mother's house for dinner.  We had the first one, dinner at my nephew's house, he cooked chicken on the grill and we played BINGO, the kid version as he has two kids.  It was fun!  Doing it has many benefits:  the kids see us and we see them on a regular basis.  I know it's kind of cheesy to quote the line, but "it takes a village".   If they need a sitter, it makes it easier if they're used to us, being used to coming to one house or another.   And it's good for Mom to keep up relations with her grandson, and great grand kids.

So the next week, it was dinner at my Mom's.  I headed over after work.  She was cooking up spaghetti, her grandson's favorite meal when he was a kid.  We never heard from them, time passed.  At 5pm, she finally texted them, and OH!  They forgot!  

Since it's only 5 minutes' drive, they hopped in the truck and headed over and we all had dinner.  Dessert was Valentine cookies!  Always a hit with kids if there is sparkly sugar on a cookie!

Family traditions.  People sometimes laugh about them, but they work, they're good for kids.