Forever and Always...

Listening to:  "Made for You" courtesy of One Republic

He stood at the end of the aisle, hands folded behind his back, nervously shifting on his feet. His hazel eyes scanned the room, his jaw feverishly chomping on a piece of imaginary gum, which made me giggle. I'd watched his mother walk up to him and put her hand out, making him take it out a few minutes ago. He appeared nervous, uncertain...the same as me.

Smoothing my chiffon dress, I pulled the lace edge veil slightly over my shoulders. I didn't want it covering my face as tradition dictated. Several nightmarish scenarios played through my overactive imagination where the veil would catch on my dad's cuff link when he lifted it, or the headpiece would slip off during the orchestrated moment, ruining my hair. Or the fabric would tickle my nose and I'd sneeze...

The first step was the hardest. Remembering to smile, hoping no one noticed the slight trembling of my body or the bouquet shaking in my hand. I grasped my dad's arm so tight, I'm sure it felt numb by the third step. Ahead, a brilliant sunset slipped away on the western horizon, spreading golden fingers of light across the wall of windows I walked toward. The closer I got to the gorgeous heartthrob, still chomping, I noticed how the glow of the amber backdrop created a halo effect around his head, outlining each sandy curl. 

My angel--sent to me in a time of my life when I desperately needed a lifeline. Just didn't know my prayer would be answered in the form of a stranger who asked to borrow my binoculars at a Doobie Brother's concert. Four months later he returned the favor by dropping on one knee with a diamond ring and a promise to love me forever. Or at least try. 

I don't remember the ceremony, just the way we looked at each other, silly grins painfully pressing between our cheeks, and the kiss afterwards. A kiss filled with urgency, fear, excitement, and knowledge that we were embarking on a lifelong adventure, having no clue how to proceed...beyond the honeymoon (that we had figured out).  No instructions, or road map to follow. 

Marriage is truly based on blind love and guided by the heart. Each one is like a snowflake - original in design and equally fragile. There's no warranty, certainly no easy exchanges, nor a guarantee attached to that first kiss full of promise that you'll have a happy ending. You only have "hope" to rely on, besides each other. I'm one of the lucky ones who managed to give "hope" a good beating, but held tight to the belief everything would work out despite the obstacles that seemed to constantly bombard us. Every time we survived one, our relationship grew stronger, along with our respect for each other.

All these years later, after several buckets of tears have been shed through love, laughter, and heartbreak, he's still borrowing my binoculars. The sandy curls have turned turned gray and thinned, the deep "V" from broad shoulders to a "six-pack" waist has squared, and the gait a bit slower with less sway. But those hazel eyes still glitter, the playful smile deepening the crinkles at the corner of the eyes still hiding mischief, and the hands have remained strong...the arms comforting. When I snuggle into him at the end of the day, butterflies still flutter in my stomach and I giggle to myself as if I was twenty again...sleeping with my boyfriend.

Thirty-six years ago today, I married my best friend, with dreams of romance and endless possibilities for happiness. Thirty-six years later, I understand the meaning of true love...what real "romance" feels like, and the realization that "happiness" sometimes comes after paying a hefty price. I'm older, wiser, bolder, and still in love with my boyfriend.

I'm sharing a link to a darling video that makes me cry every time I watch - sweet and romantic...enjoy! (hope one or the other works!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su1YLAjty-U&feature=youtu.be

http://youtu.be/Su1YLAjty-U

WACKY WEDNESDAY...What's Your Sign?

Tonight's ear tease: Made for You courtesy of One Republic

From the corner of your eye you spy him walking across the room. Quickly, you drop your eyes to the drink in front of you, literally counting bubbles and hating your girlfriend's sudden need to check out the restroom facilities. Your heart pushes against your ribs. Surely, he'll walk past. But, he doesn't. He eases a hip onto the bar stool next to you...not the empty one next to it, or the next one. You exchange menial pleasantries while he orders whatever you're having, so cliche, but you smile when the surprise pucker forms on his lips. Ginger ale with a lemon twist. Once he's over the shock of nothing alcoholic flowing through his veins, he strikes up light conversation. You exchange names, giving him your girlfriend's instead. After all, it's only fair after she abandoned you. Besides, his name is probably fake, too.

After a few minutes you relax, twisting a lock of hair around your index finger and laughing around the straw you now provocatively stroke with your lips. You scope his fingers for ring indentations or tan lines, then turn your gaze to mesmerizing eyes that seem to darken and twinkle at the same time. Just as you're mentally picking the colors of your monogrammed sheets, he asks you the ultimate question. Okay, well not the ultimate, but the one that decides whether you're going to have to tell him your real name before succumbing to moral debauchery. The words flow effortlessly over the lips you've been imagining locked on yours for the past ten minutes, each one enunciated on a low, breathy timbre. "What's your sign?" You're suddenly thrust into a time warp, landing you somewhere in the mid nineties.

But is it really a cheesy pick-up line, or a sincere question, asked for the purpose of getting to know a deeper layer of your true personality?

I'm an "Astrology junkie." Before I've open my second eye and just after my first decadent sip of coffee, I peruse one of my four horoscope pages (yes, I'm "star searching" for which one tells me the "future" I want to hear).  But more times than not, all four will have the same message, and usually spot on for what's going on in my life. True, sometimes they can be generic:  "you won't turn purple today," but sometimes they carry an ominous message, creating a few butterflies.

So how does the Zodiac universe play into my flash fiction above? When you're creating a character, you have to find out who they are. You write their basics: hair and eye color; height; race; etc. But have you ever considered when they were born. Give your characters a birthday. Then, check out their "sign." Study the personality traits associated with their "sign" and see if this doesn't help you in developing the character. If you've already created a character but didn't give them a birthday, think about what "date" you would assign. First one that comes to your mind: Month and day.  Check out the zodiac sign for the date and see how close you came to writing the character to their astrological personality.

In Designer Genes, I had my heroine a Gemini, but when her personality started taking shape, I found her birthday needed to be moved a week ahead. She was a "Cancer" through and through. My hero (and his twin brother) are Sagittariuses. They fit the profile perfectly from page one. But are they compatible? If you're having trouble getting the spark between your characters, they may not be compatible astrologically.

The best matches found in the zodiac are those that balance each other. Not only do you have a "sign," but you also have an "element." There are four elements: Fire, Earth, Air, and Water.  Those within the same element group share common traits that make for great business partnerships, friendships and marriages. Those who "compliment" each other also work, but those who are opposites? Well, you've got some great fireworks coming. Your "conflict" begins with your characters' personalities. Check your characters (and yourself) against the elements, once you know your sign. If you're in a relationship, are you compatible with your significant other? How about your other relationships? Your boss, coworkers, even your BFF. Can you see why you react, or how someone else reacts to you, based on their "sign" and "element."

Fire Signs:  Aries, Sagittarius and Leo. They are energetic and active, passionate, outgoing, and impulsive. 

Earth Signs:  Taurus, Capricorn and Virgo. They are practical, patient, stable and industrious.

Air Signs:  Gemini, Aquarius and Libra. They are expressive, intelligent, rational and broad-minded. 

Water Signs:  Cancer, Pisces and Scorpio. They are intuitive and emotional, empathetic, creative, and imaginative.

My element is Fire, (again, OMG - didn't see that one coming!). My personality traits under the sign of the Ram are: Born to lead (I only follow through spook alleys), stubborn (extremely), passionate (ahem...), courageous (debatable), and playful (I try not to take life too seriously).



Hubby is a Gemini, his "element" Air: Witty, charming, talkative (my husband can't have short conversations), and they tire easily of the same things (hubby is on his 16th Harley Davidson - color gets boring I guess). His nickname at work is "Buy, Sell, Trade" which fits perfectly. But are we compatible? Based on our "elements," his "Air" feeds my "Fire." I have a tendency to be quick tempered. His inability to "let go" or be "sharp tongued" pushes the wrong buttons at times, which can flare my anger fast. Lucky for him, I'm forgiving, but then again, Geminis have "selective memory" so he never thinks he's wrong.

See how it works? Make your hero and heroine opposites in the astrological realm and you've got some great scenes to weave into your story.

Next time someone wants to know your "sign," they may be trying to find out who you really are. So, are you compatible with those you live with? Are your characters compatible or will their relationship feel contrived because they're really not? Have them ask each other "what's your sign?" and see what you discover.

Your challenge this week? Research your zodiac personality and the element it carries. You may find out something "new" about your "old" self.  A couple of sites to check: 

http://www.astrology.com 
http://DailyHoroscope.com  
http://www.mydailymoment.com  

As always, I appreciate you stopping by.