Love

I found this picture.



This picture has a story to tell. Actually, it has many stories to tell. ANd the stories aren't what you might think. "How to Look Like a Snob"? No, that's not it. "How to walk while holding onto a lamp post?" No, no. These stories are all about LOVE.

You see, this was who I was when I first started dating Race. This was me. Oh, yes this picture screams LOVE in so many ways.

First of all: those Ray Ban's. I bought those with my very first paycheck that DIDN'T come from my dad. My WHOLE paycheck. This was the only love affair I ever had with a pair of sunglasses. And it lasted 5 years, until they finally commit ed suicide by just up and snapping into 2 pieces. I was devastated.


Secondly, I LOVED that outfit. It was pale pink and was a medium knit. It cost another couple of paychecks. But the absolute defining piece of the whole thing was that attached belt trim on the bottom. It was made of black, soft, Italian leather. I would always wear the sheerest, soft black hose and a pair of black leather pumps with kitten heels. I.LOVED. THAT. OUTFIT. Now of course this was the 80's and the giant shoulder pad was very in. So, I had obviously hopped on that ship. But seriously, take out the pads and you could wear that outfit, today man. Classic.

Now this picture also reminds me of another love that I had when this picture was taken. Ahhh..yes....his name was Mr. American Express. My dad had introduced us, not knowing the hold that Mr. AmEx would immediately take on my heart. With HIM, I could do ANYTHING. Mr. AmEx never said no. No, he didn't. He and I ate lunch out with friends, we skipped class to shop for clothes, and we ordered take out from the dorm instead of eating in the nasty cafeteria. Oh.....we were so in love. So right for each other. But eventually my dad ended it between us. He forbid me to EVER see Mr. AmEx again. It changed my life.
And in my defense, both of my sisters dated him, too and I'm pretty sure that at least one of them went farther with him than I did. I mean, I'm just sayin'.

So, as I said, this is WHO I WAS when Race and I began dating. We began seriously dating in September and we were engaged by that Christmas. Now, here's where the other story comes in. I had been living a somewhat privileged lifestyle, as I've mentioned. College paid for, car paid for,overseas travel, spending money taken care of...(though I DID have to get a job after Mr. AmEx and I were torn apart). ANd now, here I was with the absolute love of my life, planning my WEDDING!!!

Oh ..life was so deliciously good!!!!!!



Now my dad, being the business man that he is, was seeing some big problems. Here was his first born, clickety-clicking about, having her hair and nails done, wearing beautiful designer clothes,and shoes with matching handbags. Always a constant bubbling fountain overflowing with snippets about invitations, hairstyles,bridesmaid gowns, etc. Delightfully planning her oh-so-southern wedding, all the while absolutely clueless as to what her new financial status would mean after she was married.

He was gravely concerned.

SO.

He called a meeting.

With myself and Race. He sat us down. And at the table was a yellow legal pad.
He began to calmly show us (ME actually) what was troubling him. He began to speak of the thing that he wanted to be SURE I understood before I decided to rush into anything. He flipped through some of the pages on the legal pad and he began to explain the amount of $$ that I spent on a daily, weekly, monthly, and finally a YEARLY basis. And then he showed us another amount. This was the amount that we would be MAKING with our combined income.I remember it so well. My dad with his southern drawl, saying "Now THIS is the what you cost me each year...this is how much money it takes to keep you livin' the life to which you have become accustomed...and that's fine..that's fine....but THIS...now THIS number here, is what the two of you will be MAKING this year." He paused here for effect and looked at me. My friends, those numbers didn't match. Not even close. Not even in the same ballpark. Not even on the same continent! Well, hell this was just the worst damned business deal EVER.

But wait. this is a story about love, remember?



That's right, it is. And I don't know what Race thought of that talk, or if it changed the way he did things, but I remember the way I felt. I remember what *I* heard.

I heard,"Blah,blah,money,blah,blah,blah married, blah,blah........" ANd that was pretty much it. I just sat there with my arm linked in Race's with this gigantic smile on my face thinking of all the rosy pink bows that we had to do for the church. Just happy. So very, very happy. Who needs money??? We were in love....


Love really is blind.

Of course, his conversation became clearer to me within the next few years. Yes, yes, eventually I DID see. But we were in love.

Thanks dad. I will never forget that talk.

So this picture is full of love. A girl who loved her comforts and privileges. A naive young woman who was hopelessly in love with the man she was about to marry. A father who loved his daughter.

I haven't even told you about HOW this picture came to be. It is the story of another love.........