PROMPTuesday
San Diego Momma has a wonderful writing exercise called Prompt Tuesday. I’ve particpated a couple times and when I saw the latest prompt on Aunt Snow’s blog, I was completely inspired! Lately, my blog mojo has been severely depleted…and I can’t say that this will change. I miss (and regret losing) my readers, but I can’t seem to make myself write! In this instance, tho, it was quite easy. Without further ado:
“I hadn’t seen him since high school…”
But I had thought about him a few times over the years. I’d be talking to someone about drawing and I’d say: I used to know this guy who could draw amazingly well. I remember mentioning him to a few friends. I even saw an article about him in the local paper one time when the company he works for wouldn’t agree to the requests from the union he belongs to, and they went on strike. The paper interviewed him about striking while trying to take care of a family. I remember seeing that and showing it to my Mom, saying, look, it’s Dave L! I also remember reading he had three kids and thought…with a tinge of regret, oh he’s married, hope he’s happy (he wasn’t).
I remember him as being talented…and I vaguely have a memory of him playing guitar…but my primary memory of him was how kind he was to me. How quiet and kind of shy in one sense, but in a group setting, he was able to draw me out, not necessarily an easy thing (even today, but I’m getting better at it).
When we began dating in 2010, I grabbed an old box in my spare room where my old diary was. I’d gotten it to see if there was mention of him in it (there was). But also, tucked into a calendar in the box was a flyer for a concert…featuring the band he was in back then. I can’t remember if I knew he was in a band, or even if I went…and it was strange to find another connection to him in my long ago past. We got a good laugh out of that…as well as a sense of amazement.
Two things I kept over the years were letters he’d written. They didn’t say anything spectacular, although he got a kick out of reading them in the here and now. I kept them because I loved the drawings on the back of the letters. One was even in a frame, behind another picture, but at one point I guess I’d framed it.
I love these things that connect us…just as much as I love him. I’ve had two marriages, two live in loves that all lasted four years. This one? I have a feeling (and I’ve never had this feeling before) that it will last for the rest of my life, however long that might be.
Facebook, thank you for this wonderful gift! This relationship, routed in the past and brought to fruition in the present, is one of the top 10 best things that have ever happened to me.
Posted in PROMPTuesdays | 11 Comments
October 19th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
This is lovely. And so true! when I do the PROMPTs, it sometimes isn’t a conscious decision whether to write something that’s a true memory, or whether to make something up. And sometimes, I hijack myself. I really wanted to write about Phil, but the story ended up being about me and my ex high school boyfriend Dave.
October 19th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
This is absolutely beautiful! And of course you are inspired to write about this one because it’s a story that’s been with your very spirit for quite a long time. It’s a natural flow… Oh, how lucky you are and how blessed you both are to have reconnected again. The beauty of what tomorrow holds is now shared with your one true love… (shite, now I’m gonna cry!)
October 19th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
P.S. where’s that painted “finger-puppet” photo of the two of you? LOL! (I love that picture!)
October 19th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
This is a great story and I’m happy to have followed you along. I’ve sort of lost my posting mojo as well. Miss seeing you around. xo
(Also – what a fun writing prompt!)
October 19th, 2011 at 9:04 pm
I never get tired of hearing this story.
October 20th, 2011 at 12:30 am
Like Jenn, I never tire of hearing you talk about this! And I do not doubt that the two of you are together forever. ♥
I’m so thrilled to have “watched” the change his love has brought to you.
October 20th, 2011 at 10:03 am
Reading that just gave me the chills. I love how long lasting your connection was, how sweet your memories, and of course, how happy you two are together now.
And I know what you mean about blog mojo. I need to find a dose of that myself. Let me know if you find some!
October 20th, 2011 at 10:33 am
Such a cool story – I’m glad you guys foudn each other again!
October 20th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
This makes me hopeful. Thank you for a beautiful story.
October 20th, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Yay!
October 22nd, 2011 at 2:57 am
That is a lovely response to the prompt – straight from the heart