Remembered (whew!)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Valentine's Day brings me back, every year, to one singular Gary P., from Shipley Elementary School, whose father worked in the telephone business. A fact which never did register with me until Valentine's Day, my fourth grade year, when Gary P showed up at school with the most extraordinary collection of telephone wire rings. They were for me. They were the brightest, most wonderful, coily things—unwearable, absolutely, but so infinitely zingy, and here was the thing (I repeat myself), he'd made them just for me.
Well. That was love.
Isn't that love?
I have been hearing from my friends today—from my cousin, in Florida, from Errin, in Seattle, from Nettie, temporarily lodged in San Francisco (go Macy's), from Kris, out in the west, from Nazie, nearer by, from Libby M, down the street, from Brooks, who has traveled so far and gained so much, and, just now, from Grete, who has sent me the most glorious Budding Beauty, eternally alive.
Happy Valentine's Day to you all.
b
3 comments:
A collection of telephone wire rings! Just imagine - Those eager fingers; bending, coiling, cutting, all while he was thinking of you. Wow. Yes - that’s love!. Did you phone him to give him your thanks?
Happy Valentine!
Grete
beth,
that's the sweetest story.thanks for the valentine note too. as you know I'm pinning my heart on a macy's frock.:>)
and your story reminds me of a boy named Ted Collins who in my 5th grade was the skating hero to all of us girls at the rink in Maryland where I grew up. Ted was in 7th grade and the way he would show a girl he wanted to dance/skate with her was throw a piece of Juicy Fruit gum at her feet. Oh the pure joy of picking up a yellow wrapped juicy fruit and then skating to K.C. and the Sunshine around the rink. Unfortunately for the girls just about the time the gum had lost its flavor, so had Ted's interest! I've never chewed Juicy Fruit gum since, preferring to stick to Wrigley's Spearmint.
Happy Happy Valentine.
Grete—You make me laugh...Did I call him? Well, let me see, hmm, no. I think I dove into my family room, hid my face in the couch pillows, and asked my mother to please answer the door when he showed up at my house later that afternoon!! I was SO mature.
And Nettie—this has to be the funniest will-you-dance-with-me-story ever (even if it was skating). I think I will now remember your story along with mine every Valentine's Day from here on out!
b
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