I'm pretty sure if you've found this blog, you know that I love reading and writing romance because I love the happily ever after of those stories. Want to know what else gives me those warm fuzzy feelings?
I love reading the announcements for anniversaries celebrating fifty years or more of marriage, especially the ones that share how the couple met. In this day where long term marriages seem to be something of a rare species, when I stumble across one, especially one that sounds like it has been through plenty of ups and downs and survived, I always pray that my husband and I will someday be one of those couples.
I actually met one of this amazing couples in person at the eye doctor
one day. I wasn't too sure about them at first, but as we started talking I realized how much they still loved each other after 72 years of marriage. Their marriage survived while he served the country in war, when they lost an adult child to cancer, and other illnesses, but they still live together in their own home and are able to lovingly tease each other as they waited. They were a hopeless romantic's dream come true.
Speaking of marriage, I have always loved Billy Crystal but I was recently reading an interview with him and after I read his comment about marriage to his wife, I think I will love him forever. He was asked if he had any advice on how to stay married to the same woman for 43 years? "There are no secrets. I'm no Dr. Phil. But we laugh a lot. Janice has always made me laugh. As I write in the book, I can't bear to think of life without her; I want to go first because I don't want to miss her. I'd like to think there is a heaven and it starts from the happiest day in your life. I'll be 18 and Janice Goldfinger will walk by me in a bikini, and I will follow her and it will start all over again."
And, of course, some of the very best romance in my opinion still comes from fairytales. When real life tales of romance seem to be in short supply, I turn to my favorite animated classics to get my Once Upon a Time / Happily Ever After fix. There are several that I enjoy, but none that I love as much as I do Tangled. I like Flynn/Eugene's quick wit and Rapunzel's determination even when she is afraid. You see this couple actually spend time together, talk to each other and grow to care for one another. I've long ago lost track of how many times I have watched this movie and I can guarantee you that I will watch it many more.
There are many other little things that give me warm fuzzy feelings about love and romance too - but this blog couldn't possibly cover them all. Most of them have to do with my husband and a special look he will give me, or when he takes my hand, or I remember the night I met him and he gave me a sweet kiss on the cheek...
What is one of your favorite romantic inspirations? This hopeless romantic would love to know.
Movies and books are my favorite romantic inspiration. I'm like you, totally addicted to the Happily Ever After. :)
ReplyDeleteI saw Tangled once--I remember I liked it, but I'll have to watch it again. Some of my favorites are One Fine Day, The Cutting Edge, Ever After, While You Were Sleeping, Music & Lyrics...I could go on and on.
You're lucky to have that Romance with Lenny. I love my hubby, but he doesn't do a whole lot to inspire romance. LOL I always tell everyone, "There's a reason I write romance, and it's not because I live it!"
Those are some of my favorite movies, too. Especially Ever After and While You Were Sleeping. I do know how lucky I am to have Lenny in my life. He doesn't really do big romantic gestures, our life is a series of sweet little moments, but I think those are the really important things anyway.
DeleteJamie,
ReplyDeleteI love this post and the examples you use. As for romantic inspiration? Early on was my mother's parents. They were so in love and in his quiet way, my grandfather showed that so often. I got my hair cut tonight and as my stylist was trimming the hair on my neck, I remembered how my grandmother would do that for my grandfather every Saturday night so he'd be ready for Mass the next morning. He'd do the same to her since she was one of the trendy young women who cut her hair very short right after WWI when the style became popular and she never let it grow long again.
Oh, and my dear hubby. Early on it our dating he sent me roses twice in one day, to my workplace. With a poem attached.
Thanks Casey. I love that your grandparents inspired you. What a blessing to have memories like that. I was never lucky enough to see my grandparents together at all on my mother's side and not very often on my dad's side. I was fortunate enough to have great aunts and great uncles who had good long marriages all around me while I was growing up though.
DeleteSounds like your hubby wanted to make sure you knew he was a keeper right from the start. That was a wonderful way to make himself memorable right from the start.
I'm late again! LOL Sheesh...anyway, great post, Jamie! Happy Anniversary to you & Lenny!
ReplyDeleteI didn't have much in the way of romantic inspiration growing up, to be honest. My mom had divorced for the third time while I was in high school, my grandparents were cute, but mostly because my grandma would yell at my grandpa, and he'd murmur, "Yes, Rose." LOL
It wasn't until I started to read romance novels that those inspirations really hit me. I couldn't get enough of them. I remember those first few years, I'd start a book in the morning, and wouldn't fall asleep until I'd finished. Day after day, week after week, year after year. Nowadays, I rarely find time to read, and come to think of it, I really need to change that.
Thanks, Jamie!!
I think the first time I thought I fell in love was while I was reading. Nothing quite like an amazing book.
DeleteAs I've been lovingly told by my husband about a million times, I'm the most unromantic romance writer in the world, fortunately, I'm married to a very romantic guy, so we sort of balance out. I've got to say one of my favorite romance movies is Serendipity, I love that movie!! Other than that, I'm kind of lacking in the romance department but I make up for it with my dazzling good looks and sparkling personality. :P
ReplyDeleteYou and your hubby have the perfect balance, that's why you work so well. I like the movie Serendipity, too. Some great moments in that one also.
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