Love2




		WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" November 28, 2001 Volume 1, Issue 46 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com -------------------------------------------------------- By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of "WRITE 2 THE HEART" You are receiving this FREE newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. ----------------------------------------------------- Write 2 the Heart is continuing to give away mouse pads to writers whose submissions are published. Only one per writer. You will qualify even if you had something published in the past. ----------------------------------------------------- Paul Leadem continues with his romantic story about meeting Rose Marie and their courtship. ------------------------------------------------------ A Love Story (Part 2) By: Paul Leadem ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- The remaining few months of my senior year and that summer were to be the happiest in my life. The Social Club and "going out after" became our Saturday night date. Many "movie" dates, rides in the country, parties, musicals and the prom were to follow. To my amazement, a pretty, graceful, charming and intelligent young woman had come into my life and she liked me! I had "smooched" with other teenage girls, mostly at parties, but this was different. Eventually, I got to kiss her goodnight, at the door of her home, and that was it. It was enough for us, in the beginning. I yearned for her and that kiss until we could be together again. The songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein seemed to be written for us, and we sang them together. I had never done anything like this before. "Who can explain it Who can tell you why Fools give you reasons Wise men never try." Strange, but Rose Marie and I never spoke of love. To just about everyone else, we were "sweethearts" and "going steady" (archaic terms today). We continued to enjoy ourselves through the summer, going on picnics and to the shore with friends, "Big Band" dances at Asbury Park, and concerts. We both loved the "Music Circus" in Lambertville, up the Delaware River from Trenton. I spent half of what I earned that summer on tickets to some of these events. This bothered my parents, but not me. After the performance of a romantic show at the Music Circus would come the slow ride down the river road, my arm around her, and both of us singing! Magical moments. We both planned to go to college, and this meant that some decisions had to be made. Partly because I received a scholarship, partly because I wanted to be near her, and partly because I wasn't sure what else to do, I chose Rutgers University. Rose Marie wanted to be a teacher, and was admitted to Trenton State, at that time a "teachers college." (Incidentally, she received the highest score ever recorded on the entrance examination, and would go on to become a member of The National Honor Society as a student. I did not.) We agreed to continue to see each other, but only on weekends. My adjustment to Rutgers was not easy. I was just another student in a big school, had no close friends there, had a difficult time with some of the required courses particularly math, my nemesis and was afraid of losing my scholarship. Fortunately, the scholarship board was lenient with a freshman, but I had to improve. In my sophomore year I would have to take a Selective Service Examination and finish in the upper half of my class or lose my student deferment. This was a serious matter, and my confidence was shaken. I had a long way to go, and I worried about my relationship with Rose Marie. She had always been a good student, and adjusted well to college. One Sunday afternoon, after a long ride in the country, I shared my concerns with her. It didn't come out the way I wanted it to, and I said too much about my anxiety over our future, including the thought that we may have to go our separate ways. She said nothing. She looked at me intently for a moment, then lowered her head, and the tears came. I didn't know what to do or say after that, so we just parted. After a short hiatus, we began seeing each other again, but we were not as carefree as we used to be. In sophomore year I was to learn more about her health condition. As a child, she had rheumatic fever, which damaged her heart. A recurrence of the problem in high school kept her at home for months, and forced her to repeat senior year. This is why I had never seen her before my senior year. The surgery necessary to correct the damage to her heart, including replacement of the mitral valve, had not been perfected yet. Medication and bed rest was the only treatment at the time. I did not know it then, but this was to become a factor in our relationship. Her parents, who had gotten used to me by now, knew that I was a vigorous sometimes hyperactive young man with ambition. They also knew that I could not comprehend the possibility of serious health problems ahead for Rose Marie. In October of our sophomore year, I made my usual phone call to Rose Marie on Friday evening. Her mother told me that she was not well and had to stay in bed for a while, that she would call me later to explain the situation. This was a first for me, and the fact that there was no explanation of her condition caused me concern. Rose Marie called me the following day and told me that she would have to remain in bed most of the time for the next two weeks. I grew more concerned, and asked if I could visit her soon. We agreed that I could come the following Saturday afternoon. It was a beautiful autumn afternoon, the kind of a day we would enjoy a walk in the park across from her home. The leaves were turning and a cool breeze was stirring the trees. I did notice these things as I walked up to the door of her home. Her mother and father were there to greet me, but they were not as cheerful as usual. I sensed a peculiar look in their eyes, as if they saw me in a different light and were concerned about me as well as Rose Marie. They said that they would have to go out for an hour or so, but that Rose Marie was expecting me and that I could go up to her room. This was another first for me. Rose Marie was sitting up in bed with a cover over her legs. She smiled at me, and I wanted to hug her, but I didn't. Her gentle voice and expressive eyes spoke to me in ways that the words couldn't. For once in my life, I was very quiet and listened. She tried to cheerful, and to explain the situation to me. I really wasn't paying much attention to the medical details, but I was looking intently at her. I was seeing more than what she was saying. I was looking through the eyes of love. We chatted about the usual things that interested us, trying to avoid anything serious, until it grew late in the afternoon. The slanting rays of the setting sun came through the window, and lit the room with a soft golden glow. I began to feel warm and relaxed, and stretched out across the bottom of her bed. I turned and saw her staring at me with a look I had not seen before. It was another magical moment, "who can explain it, who can tell you why." I rose and moved closer to her, touched her hand, and tried to convey to her my feelings without words, the words I could not say, that I loved her and everything would be all right. We kissed gently, and I left the room. This may sound like a romantic movie, but I literally walked out into the sunset. My heart soared in communion with the natural beauty around me. I was in love, and more than that, I knew she loved me! I wish that I could say that we "lived happily ever after" as in a fairy tale, but real life is not like that. We had our joys and sorrows, ups and downs, and even split up for awhile. We had a lot of maturing to do before we began our real life together. A year after our graduation from college, we married, despite the concerns of our parents about her health and my military service. This year we celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary with our four grown children and ten grandchildren. I have never forgotten the many magical moments we shared, particularly that quiet afternoon in her room, when we were very young. Paul J. Leadem PLeadem @ msn.com --------------------------------------------------------- Paul and Rose Marie live in Colorado. He manages the Senior Writer's community on MSN. You can read more about Paul on the web site in the Writer's Profile and read his stories "The Reunion" and "Foxy and the Horses" in the archives. --------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- FROM OUR READERS ------------------------------------------------------ Great job! Love these romantic tales. Jill **** Does Rose Marie know what a lucky woman she is? Tina ------------------------------------------------------- <>< Prayer Request For Those In Service To Our Country ><> As you read over this list of names, take the time to pray for each one and their families. If you have a prayer request to add hit reply and send me their name and I will be happy to add it to our list. Trey, Chris Speir, Tim Speir, Emmett Summers, Jessie, Ken and Eloise asks for prayer for her family members and extended family in the Armed Forces. --------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner Forgive any glitches you may see in the mailing of this letter. I upgraded my mail program yesterday and will have to get the hang of it. I quit using Outlook Express earlier this year because of it's virus problems. I met a lady at a garage sale last week and was able to encourage her to keep praying for her children. She was having a rough time with her boys. I shared with her how God kept me during a difficult time with one of my boys. It was words spoken at just the right time for her. I went looking for a bargain and got more than I expected. You can't share something about God without it touching your day in pleasant ways. God Bless, Cheryl --------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- © 2001 Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. ------------------------------------------------------------ All subscriptions sent to your email free of charge.