StoryPeople Forum - StoryPeople Forum

mame · Messages: 1404 Location: Colorado (aka:Paradise)

What a priceless conversation, Elle!!

~~Mame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Were there no God, we would be in this glorious world with grateful hearts, and
no one to thank" ~ Christina Rossetti

kathryn · Messages: 904 Location: little house on the prairie

Love this story Elle. I've got the whole thing painted in my mind including a sprawling cottage with curtains blowing in the windows. The gardens are a tangle of wild color. White caps are stirred up on the lake - a sail boat is off in the distance and gulls are circling. The little girl has her arms stretched toward you. She is dressed in vintage and a sprinkle of freckles dot her nose. Your sweater is red. I think it's just about ready for the film version.

It's funny. However satisfied I am with my "single" life, stories like this wake up a little spot deep in my heart that still longs for this kind of magic. I was in a class at a friend's church last night and we were posed with the question -- if a love came along which was perfect and pure, but we knew at the beginning that the partner was going to die in 6 months, would we go with it or avoid it because of the pain we knew would be coming. I didn't have to think twice; nor did most of us. It was to embrace the love without reservation. I love my single life and would have a hard time giving it up, but for something like you describe -- yes. It's possible. I'd slide all the chips in to the center of the table and not look back.

"Do not stop thinking about life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively, unless you choose a challenge instead of a competence." ~Eleanor Roosevent

elle · Messages: 882

wow, kathryn...your words have painted a picture in my mind so clearly. how did you know my favorite color is red?

i've got a lot more things to be thankful for to share, but the house has taken over all our free time, just like sassy said it would, i believe!

i'm miss independent as well and like my alone time, but yes, six months of real love is worth going all in for.

as the eight year old said...you know what i'm gonna miss the most about this apartment? the good times. but, we can take those memories with us no matter where we go.

it's pretty amazing when you learn much about how to live life from an eight year old...

Scarlett651 · Messages: 2266 Location: the porch

if a love came along which was perfect and pure, but we knew at the beginning that the partner was going to die in 6 months, would we go with it or avoid it because of the pain we knew would be coming. I didn't have to think twice; nor did most of us. It was to embrace the love without reservation. I love my single life and would have a hard time giving it up, but for something like you describe -- yes. It's possible. I'd slide all the chips in to the center of the table and not look back.

yep, if you're not gonna go all-in you might as well not even come to the table.
and the 'what-if' scenario is a good reminder...don't like to dwell on it but nobody can really promise more than Right Now so you'd better live and love Right Now. much as i love yesterday's memories and the promises of tomorrow...i wouldn't miss Right Now for anything!
~~~
{{{elle}}} can't wait for the family campout stories!!
OH!! you've gotta get or build a fire pit! nothing nicer than a big fire on a cool night. though...gotta watch the kids! Kids are little fire-bugs!!

We are not human beings making a spiritual journey...we are spiritual beings making a human journey.
~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
*******
"He lived happily ever after."
Willie Wonka

mish · Messages: 1033 Location: Southern California

perfect and pure...who wouldn't give up everything for that for 6 months?

but that can't be, right? that's not life.
and so the bigger question is would you attempt a relationship with someone you met that seems a pretty ok guy/gal, not knowing if it would work out or what would happen the next day even?

i can stand my single life, if i have to, but i want to be with someone, a real person. and there are no guarantees and i know it, yet i keep trying, and will continue to, i guess. i don't plan on settling, tho at this juncture it still feels that anyone would be settling, after my life before. i have that to overcome too...because if/when i do get into a relationship, i don't want to shortchange him.

this is not kba, is it?
kindness.....some comments written recently on another place where i am attempting some writing in preparation for spoken word stories.
beauty....today, even tho i have loved the last few cold and rainy days, the sun is so bright and the sky is so blue!
abundance... a trip to costco, an abundance of delicious food to freeze and eat soon, and a hot dog..yum!

We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us....E.M.Forster

hecticeclectic · 16/10/2009 19:53:55 Subject: Re: Kindness, Beauty, Abundance

I am just agrinnin'

at all the wonderful comments on this thread. L, I love your story about the wise kid's comments. If I lived closer, i would help you move.

As for settling, I know no one can replace any of my past loves. I just try to stay in the moment and embrace the Now. I am actually getting pretty good at it. The heart is a pretty resilient creature, sometimes with a mind of its own. I try to listen when it speaks.

Peace and Love,
Jo

Look up at the sky. Ask yourself, "Has the sheep eaten the flower or not?" And you'll see how everything changes.
And no grown-up will ever understand how such a thing could be so important!
Antoine de Saint-Exupery, THE LITTLE PRINCE

linda gail · Messages: 1602

kindness- someone who doesn't know me sent me something special from my past
abundance - good friends who listen and help, especially the one who is setting up for a few details for a quick wedding tomorrow
beauty - a child, who when asked if his head is still big from an accomplishment the night before says, "actually I had an asthma attack and I'm feeling really small right now"

Believe.

mame · Messages: 1404 Location: Colorado (aka:Paradise)

Abundance: I called the phone company to see if there was anything I could do to stop cutoff, short of paying them money I don't have. They said...hmm, we really hate to lose a good customer, you've been with us for over 10 years, how about if we give you a loyalty bonus of $120.

Beauty: More big regal bucks have been visiting my backyard! And what a gorgeous day it was today!

Kindness: A friend called and offered to pay me $50 to help her pack some moving boxes tomorrow. I would've done it for free.

~~Mame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Were there no God, we would be in this glorious world with grateful hearts, and
no one to thank" ~ Christina Rossetti

hecticeclectic · 17/10/2009 20:06:38 Subject: Re: Kindness, Beauty, Abundance

That is great, Mame...things have a way of working out! Hugs.

Peace and Love,
Jo

Look up at the sky. Ask yourself, "Has the sheep eaten the flower or not?" And you'll see how everything changes.
And no grown-up will ever understand how such a thing could be so important!
Antoine de Saint-Exupery, THE LITTLE PRINCE

mame · Messages: 1404 Location: Colorado (aka:Paradise)

I am grateful for every little drop in the big bucket!

abundance and kindness: a friend bought me dinner, and another bought me a mocha.

beauty: the adorable 2-year-old boy with his dad at the coffee shop. His good-looking single dad was surprisingly pretty excited to see me! (Surprising because I'm prolly old enough to be his mother.) He recognized me from my writer's meetup group. i had tried to help him not feel intimidated when they asked him his first and so far only time there, what it is that he is writing, by confessing to being a slacker myself, who isn't actively writing anything, but just likes to hang out with creative people.

~~Mame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Were there no God, we would be in this glorious world with grateful hearts, and
no one to thank" ~ Christina Rossetti

elle · Messages: 882

kindness and abundance - four willing and very capable volunteers of the large male variety offering to help me move, then not taking anything but an offer of a home-cooked meal once the house gets settled.

beauty - the current view from the house, and the view in my head of the future.

being so tired you can't go to sleep until you've rested - priceless.

Scarlett651 · Messages: 2266 Location: the porch

that's it...just

to all of it!
XOXOX
scarlett

We are not human beings making a spiritual journey...we are spiritual beings making a human journey.
~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
*******
"He lived happily ever after."
Willie Wonka

Mallory · Messages: 1051

*happy sigh to come home here, too*

Kindness - an offer to live at one of my client's homes for a lot of money to help her in and out of bed at night and be someone who is there consistently for the next couple of months.

Beauty - The realization that I couldn't take this offer because I need to be home with my family, even though the money would be useful, and I love my client, I would be unhappy so close, yet so far, from my family.

Abundance - The three solid weeks of working that made me realize how miserable I would be if I could never come home for more than a few hours.
- One of my best friends, answering my phone call in my indecision on the drive home and even though she only had 10 minutes, telling me to come over. I walked in the door and she handed me a cup of her homemade cocoa and said, "Spill." *laughs*
AND - My parents supporting the decision and happy to have me home for as long as I am here.
And my dogs, as ever, happy to sleep in my bed and make me laugh and keep me warm at night.

Peace in your hearts,
With the love of my soul
~Mallory

~*Music is the vernacular of the human soul*~

hecticeclectic · 24/10/2009 18:52:21 Subject: Re: Kindness, Beauty, Abundance

Mal, it sounds like you know exactly what you want, or don't want. That is a pretty darn good place to be, dontcha' think?

Peace and Love,
Jo

Look up at the sky. Ask yourself, "Has the sheep eaten the flower or not?" And you'll see how everything changes.
And no grown-up will ever understand how such a thing could be so important!
Antoine de Saint-Exupery, THE LITTLE PRINCE

Mallory · Messages: 1051

It certainly has made the last week (Busy as ever) to be a wash of gratitude, Jo.

How is settling into the new house going Elle?

*hugs*

Loving you all with all my heart today and always.

Kindness - My dear old friend waaaay down in Florida has a 3 year old who, after her Mommy left me a message today, stomped her foot and said, "But Mommy! I wanted to talk to Aunt Malley!"

Beauty - When I talked to my precious baby girl (ok, niece? lol) later on, she told me the story herself. AND her Mommy downloaded Video Chat on gmail so I could teach her how to play the guitar. We've had one lesson so far. Mostly I'm just happy to see her beautiful face. The way my dogs tails wag, and the way Dad makes us laugh and laugh until we cry.

Abundance - 2 whole days at home with lots to look forward to tomorrow, Mom making a cake in the kitchen (She's been CRAVING sweet), Mom having energy to make a cake in the kitchen, and the bikeride through the leaves with first one doggy, then the other, the group of little ones at the park who wanted to pet Sophie, and the lack of stoplights at the other park so Maple could Run and Run and Run and Run and Run and Run and .... *out of breath* ... If she could run off leash, she'd be in Pennsylvania by the time I got to Cleveland. That dog can R U N. Even on my bike I can't keep up with her! Amazing!

Peace in your hearts,
With the love of my soul
~Mallory

~*Music is the vernacular of the human soul*~