LJ Idol Topic 4.14: The One I love

[puppetmaker]

Love is a many splendored thing.

When I was young I knew I was loved by my parents. They told me that they loved me but they also showed me that I was loved. There were hugs, kisses and cuddles. There was time spend just with me doing an activity together. There was doing things I wanted to do. And I had an example of how grown-ups acted when they loved each other by the way that they treated each other. My parents never argued in front of us. They always presented a united front on things. I know now that behind closed doors that there were disagreement but they were careful not bring that into our lives. And that is one of the reasons I love them so.

All you need is love.

I was told that all I needed in my life was love and that there was someone out there that I would share my life with. These are things I heard over and over from many different sources. When I got involved with someone in the back of my mind there was a little voice wondering if they were "the one" or just a pit stop on the road of life. After a number of pit stops, I began to question if there was someone out there for me. I knew that my family loved me. I knew that my friends loved me. I had people who loved me but I didn't have that special love yet. I didn't have what my parents have or what a number of my friends have in their lives. And I hit a point in my early 30s that I kind of gave up on the whole idea that there was someone who I would marry and have children with. I was happy for those I knew who were in great relationships and I helped friends morn the loss of their relationships. I was a good shoulder to cry on.

0, my love is like a red, red rose; that's newly sprung in June.

Things started changed radically for me at a DragonCon. I had this friend who I had met because he bought one of my puppets almost 10 years earlier. We became good convention buddies. I got to know him and his family. I "met" Ariel when she was in utero. I would spend time just having fun with my con buddy.

Then at DragonCon, he asked if he could talk to me at some point during the convention. He had something he wanted to tell me. We had hit and miss the whole convention. We finally hooked up at a Babylon 5 panel and he told me in one breath (I think) that his wife was divorcing him and he was wondering if I was interested in getting to know each other better. I was stuck on that he was getting a divorce because he was the last person I had on my list to be getting a divorce since he was such a family man. He loved his family with a passion that was magical. Since I didn't respond to the second half of his sentence, he thought I wasn't interested.

But through the magic of the AOL messaging system, we started talking. We talked about a lot of things. And soon we would find ourselves carving out some specific time during the day that we could sit down and talk. We got to know each other better. We started helping each other and using the other person as a sounding board. And we fell in love. Yes over the internet, we fell in love with each other. Now I went into this relationship with both eyes open. I knew he was getting a divorce and that he had 3 girls that meant the world to him. Those girls would become part of my life if I decided to become part of his. It was in March of 1998 that I took a leap of faith and moved up to New York to find out whether he was the one that I had heard myths about.

The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return.

In those 10 years a lot has happened. We got married. We had a child. We have had our ups and downs but in that time my love for him has just grown as his has for me. We don't argue in front of the kids (which is the way his parents did it too). We let the kids know that we love them and that we love each other. In good times and bad (and we have had both) we have been there for each other. I have found "the One" for me and I am happy. It was a long journey to here but I am glad that I took it even with the pit stops. And the journey continues but with someone rather than by myself and that is a special feeling indeed. He loves me and I love him and that is all we need to make us happy.

I'd like to close with one of my favorite Shakespeare Sonnets. I first heard it when it was used in the TV series Beauty and the Beast. I was so struck by the language that I went and read through all Shakespeare's sonnets with Vincent's voice in my head the whole time. (I was SUCH a fangirl at the time). But this one now makes so much more sense to me than when I first read it. I thought I understood it but now I really think I do. And in 10 or 20 years I will probably think that I know more about it than I know now.

When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf Heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featur'd like him, like him with friends possess'd,
Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least:
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee,--and then my state
(Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings


If you liked this please do remember me during the voting this week starting on Friday.

Comments

[n-decisive.livejournal.com]

Your icon is terrific. I look at things in this world to see what they could be besides the obvious. There are two heart icons in my library which were successful re-viewings. Yours is neat!

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

The third season is out and it contains a couple of episodes that Peter never saw but I did. The network burned them off during the summer with very little fanfare.

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

I like what happened, for your sake and for Peter's sake. (Whoops. First spelled him "Pete." That's probably a bad idea.) I feel I "know" Peter better by sheer dint of following him and his career longer -- I became a fan of his through his columns and the novels Vendetta and Imzadi, 'round '91 and '92 -- and I've rooted for him to keep having happiness. You're a huge part of his happiness, and that's wonderful.

Still working to know you better, but I know you're good people. Keep having fun!

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

You know that the only people who call him Pete are on his bowling team, right? It took me a while to adjust to that so when I go to the bowling alley, he's Pete.

Thank you. He is a big part of my happiness too. *grin*

[kradical.livejournal.com]

That was a beautiful post. You two truly make a magnificent couple, and I love how happy being together has made both of you.

*big hugs*

See you this weekend!

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Yeah you were around at the beginning of our relationship.

I'm looking forward to your wedding this summer. *grin*

[kradical.livejournal.com]

So are we... *chuckle*

[readinggeek451]

That was beautiful. I didn't realize you'd known Peter quite that long you got together.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

It was one of the last Atlanta Fantasy Fairs before it totally dissolved. The only reason I have a clue to the date is that I won a people choice ribbon for my work.

[n-decisive.livejournal.com]

You brought tears to my eyes.

Well done!

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I didn't mean to make you cry.

This was one of the easier ones for me to write once I figured out how I was going to frame it.

[minikin.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful love story. I'm glad you found your one. He's a lucky man.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

Our friends tell us that we are still a cute couple.

We tell each other that we are really lucky that we found each other.

[fidget]

Oh, man. I remember the television series of Beauty and the Beast. I was six or so when it aired, and it gave me nightmares. However, I don't remember why.

Otherwise, yeah, great entry: a.) it was good, and b.) the rest of it didn't freak me out like the part about late '80s miniseries did.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

It might have been the visage of Vincent himself. He was rather scary at time. I was in college when it came on so my POV is going to be totally different.

Thanks for reading.

[readinggeek451]

Not college, grad school. I had just started my first professional job.

[suesniffsglue.livejournal.com]

You get a deep breath followed by a big resounding "Awwww!"

That's an awesome story :D I love how you told it here; very well done

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

We are still silly in love with each other. *grin*

[chite.livejournal.com]

This was a great story, and a great entry as usual! I really like your use of poetry and lyrics here, and the telling of your story is perfect.

also, hooray, love!

[amenquohi.livejournal.com]

Awesome story. Glad you two found each other!

[tryslora]

Ohhhhh that is such a great story. And only reinforces my thought that cons are about family. Or finding family. Or well, you probably can figure out what I mean. *smiles*

[walkertxkitty.livejournal.com]

I'm amazed how many people met their beloveds at conventions or the Internet. I'm always wary of telling our story because it sounds so odd. I'm glad I'm not alone.

That sonnet is one of my favorites too, but I'm a dork like that...I still read Shakespeare for pure entertainment.

[libra-dragon.livejournal.com]

Amazing entry, such a touching story:)
Conventions are amazing places to met people and you never quite know where it's going to lead.

[anamacha.livejournal.com]

nicely done. Seems like your relationship and its analog in my life started in largely the same way :)

[lacombe.livejournal.com]

::: grins :::

I totally feel this. I met Jessi online too. Very cool entry- it really shows how personal a loving connection can be.

[tulip-in-yellow.livejournal.com]

Shakespeare. *sigh* Shakespeare makes my heart go pitta patta.
And I can't help but be a sucker for a falling-in-love-via-the-internet story, having done it myself in the past. Awesome job, yo.