Diehard Romantic

Love story theme songs take me out every time

Since we are celebrating 32 years of marriage today, I thought I’d indulge my spirit of romance.

I reckon some of you might think a passionate, sizzling romance could not keep breathing in a three-decade+ marriage that began at ages 38 and 42. You probably think I’m just being cute about the passion part.

Well, I’m not.

And, I hope to change your mind.

Why?

I want you to have what I have. Why should any of us settle for less?

First, let me confess —

I’m a romantic sap, through and through. Does that mean I want to be showered in roses, champagne, and expensive gifts?

Not at all.

Let me clarify that until I experienced the time-tested love we share today, I didn’t know what love looked like. Comparing my old idea of love with our current affair is like substituting pizza crust with cauliflower. If you haven’t tried it, don’t.

I will do my best to describe what I am talking about.

Whenever I hear a love song, especially one from an old movie, I get caught looking all googly-eyed at my husband, Sandy. I’ve never told him why. When he asks, I just say, “Oh nothing.”

Here’s why:

As the song plays, our entire life together plays in movie form through my mind. Precious snippets of our life moments float across the stage in my mind.

I hear our laughter, and feel the gentle squeeze of our hands, as I recall the slides of our life.

Like:

The hot day we jumped into the river, instantly realizing how it got the name, Icycle River.

Or —

The climatic blind date moment when I broke our host’s glass table top into smithereens.

From that same date, I watch us on your motorcycle remembering your warmth as I press against your back.

The scenes change depending on the song.

Listening to Days of Wine and Roses —

I see us together in prayer thanking God for our sobriety. That leads to a reel of memories at our church — I hear our off-key voices lifted in worship, see Sandy on a ladder doing his best to keep our old building alive, and remember the sea of faces that are no longer with us.

Even a song like the theme from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory stirs up yummy recollections.

The hello kiss

The I missed you kiss

The I want you, now, kiss

Even the episodes that once were ugly have become lovely nuggets of time that represent the man and woman we have become.

I see me stomping off, Sandy cursing —

I feel the dog lick my hand wanting us to make up —

I hear our voices once again in prayer

The images continue to flow wherever the song leads.

Our children becoming who they are today.

So much joy and pride.

One by one our grandsons walk onto the set, each one a delight.

I see Sandy, beaming as all five climb him like a giant tree to hang like wiggly ornaments.

My heart nearly bursts with love.

As the music crescendos into a lament, I see my sweetheart holding me, after Mom’s death. And there, in that moment I remember every tear we have shed as a couple.

Through it all.

Tears of grief and disappointment

Tears of joy

Sandy’s silly jokes, the teasing

Flirting

Happy hugs, sad hugs, desperate hugs

Doors opening wide with promise

Doors slamming shut

Tender kisses on the neck

“I love you’s”

The births and weddings

The time Sandy’s eyes rolled back into his head as he told me not to call an ambulance.

Our dog’s face as he watched his BFF leave the house on a stretcher.

The happy spins when his buddy returns, with a pacemaker under a bandaid.

The time Sandy knelt to ask for my hand in marriage, looking like a little boy offering a dandelion.

As long as the music plays, the scenes continue.

The images slide through my mind —

Sandy’s devilish grin

My hands on him, his on me

The projects we’ve shared

Our ballroom dancing season

Sleepless nights, snoring

By now you might be thinking this woman doesn’t have a clue what passion is.

But what I know that you don’t is this —

Sharing whatever life sends your way, together in complete commitment, builds a love more powerful than anyone can imagine on their own. A great love is not a pre-written script determined by letting the world’s eyes be the author. That love when tested by time, reveals itself as fiction. True love that promises to continue to knock your socks off is full of surprise and joy, grief and pain, and a huge helping of mystery and suspense. I do not doubt our love story will continue for the rest of our lives — stiff competition for the Hollywood movie screen.

Don’t settle. Find the one. Then, give that relationship your all.

I’ll let my gal, Etta James say the rest for you.

I am tagging those I think may be interested in this story and others who are my favorite writers and supporters. If you prefer I don’t tag you, please let me know.

Michele Maize, Scot Butwell, Joe Merkle, Elizabeth Emerald, Annelise Lords, Susan Wheelock, Douglas Lim, Hollie Petit, Ph.D., Grace Bianco, Lori Wangler, Bett Harris, Lu Skerdoo, Jan Sebastian 🖐👩‍🦰, B.R. Shenoy, Britt H., Trisha Faye, Ashllyn T., Shanti C K, Dawn Ulmer, Julie KingGood, Toni The Talker

Check out our book about God’s love for two looney-tune drunks.