™

Heartwings Love Notes 763 - A Valentine to Loves Found

Heartwings says, "Each first love becomes a treasured memory."

When I was in grade school I fell in love, or more accurately had a gigantic crush on a boy with blond hair named Teddy. I don't think
he even knew I existed, and I certainly made no advances toward him, being far too shy to do so. I simply gazed at him from afar and
thought he was wonderful. In my seventh grade year another fair-haired boy I yearned over named Dana replaced Teddy in my heart.
Some years later I discovered that before she met my father, many of my mother's boyfriends had been blond, and I wondered if her
predilections could have subconsciously influenced me in my choices.

My passion for blond men dissipated. When I was sixteen another boy named Teddy though with brown hair, became my first real
love. My parents labeled it puppy love, but I knew better. Our dates were conducted via the bus because neither of us had a license
to drive. We danced in his parents' living room to the tune of "Unforgettable," and snuggled in the movies—it didn't much matter what
was on the screen. When he went away to camp for two weeks he wrote me each day and I waited anxiously by the door for the
mailman. I wore his felt beanie with pins on it constantly, which drove my dear parents crazy. I was their oldest child and their initial
experience with their children's first loves.

My first husband and I met at a dance and fell in love quite quickly. I was a rather romantic seventeen-year-old senior in high school.
He was from New York, a sophomore in college and quite sophisticated. Our love blossomed over the summer and culminated in an
elopement the following year. This was exacerbated by my parents' protective attitude. They were not happy about our burgeoning
relationship and had threatened to send me on a long trip the following summer to visit relatives abroad. They did what they thought
best, though their antagonism probably fueled our passion. I was a young bride and soon a young mother. Our children became the
focus of our marriage and of our love.

Now so many years later I look back on those early loves and I smile. In those days I knew so little of what love really was about.
Most of how I viewed it came from romantic novels and magazines. With time and experience I learned about it for myself, and
sometimes this was painful. Yet as I look back I have no regrets. I am married now to the love of my life. Our relationship has
endured for nearly forty years. As I age I am grateful for his presence and for the love he brings to our days. As Shakespeare said,
'Love is not love that alters when it alteration finds.' We have grown together, changed together, and remained together with all the joy
and happiness that our experiences have brought to our relationship. He is my always valentine.

May you find love and valentines to bring you joy.
 

I love to hear from readers and would be honored if you would comment and let me know any suggestions or thoughts. If a friend sent you this, you can sign up at my web site, www.heartwingslovenotes.com, where more love notes can be found in the archives.

Blessings and Best Regards,
Tasha Halpert
 

← Back to Heartwings (Index Page)

   - Click here to print this page

Prev|Next