Best First Love of 2011

Best First Love of 2011

This is probably going to be the strangest FIRST love story you'll read in this contest, but it's definitely true, and something that changed my life for the better.


In June, my husband and I traveled to Alaska to visit an old friend and ex-classmate.  Ann is a FNP with her own family practice in Eagle River, and her specialty happens to be Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy.  I was intrigued to learn more about the process.

 For the past three years, I felt like my health was on a decline and I just couldn't shake the fatigue, lack of interest in doing anything or zest for life in general.  The fact that I even made the trip surprised me.  I'd become a real flake...planning to do things, but then cancelling at the last minute because I didn't feel well.  But, Ann encouraged me to do my own research on the BHRT process that's been around since the 40s to decide for myself if I thought having pellets implanted under my skin might be for me.

What did I have to lose?  My husband is ten years younger than I, and that was a big concern. My plan to nag him so much that he aged at double the rate took more energy than I had, plus to borrow a partial title from a song, "I'd lost that loving feeling." My mood affected his,  so, both hubby and I volunteered to give pellets a try.

To make a long story short, to say that being "pelleted" changed my life is an understatement.  I became more energetic, my skin tone improved, I felt younger than I had in years, and like when my husband and I had first met years ago, I couldn't keep my hands off him.  Okay, okay, TMI, I know, but you have to realize that we have hormones for a reason, and without them, we sacrifice so much of ourselves.  My husband got his wife back, I got my zest for life (and other things) back, and I'll be using pellets for the rest of my days.

People worry that the pellets aren't FDA approved...well, there's a reason for that.  The drug companies don't want you to know that the very hormones your body used to produce can be replaced, and you can stop taking all the little happy pills they prescribe for you.  Pellets cut into their profits...all but the greedy docs who see this as a money making venture and charge an arm and a leg to introduce patients to the process.  Still, there are some honest doctors out there who want you to feel better, and it's not about the money, it's about you.  So, my greatest new love for 2011 was discovering Bio-identical Hormone Replacement therapy.  It made me LOVE who I am again, and gave me back what was missing in my life! 

Who could ask for a better Valentines Day present?  But, BHRT is not just for that holiday, it's Thanksgiving, Christmas and a New Year all rolled into one.  I guess finding my friend Ann, after all these years, and her insistence that we visit was a great big blessing.  I found a new sister to replace the one I'd lost as well as finding me again. By the way...this is a completely unsolicited endorsement.  *lol*

Remember, this is a blog hop, so please visit all the participants.  I'll be announcing my winners after 6:00 pm in the comment section here.

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1. Ravencrafts Romance Realm 5	2. Louisa Bacio -- Love Knows No Bounds 4	3. Margay Leah Justice 5
4. Ginger Simpson - Dishin It Out 7	5. Dianne Hartsock-Write What Brings You Joy 5	6. Deannas Tidbits 5
7. Brenda & Steve, Authors of Erotica 6	8. Sarah Gilman Books 5	9. Readers Haven 2
10. Tonyas Tales 2	11. Writers Block NZ 3

Thank you so much for visiting and and hopefully enjoying my entries into this fun, fun blog hop, and thank you Ravencraft's Realm for putting on such a stimulating event!

First Breakup or Makeup

First Breakup

It was over.  I couldn't believe I'd cheated on my boyfriend...and with his buddy, to boot.  What was wrong with me?  I had the most handsome boyfriend in the Air Force, stationed only a few miles from my house and I blew it.  Sure, my dad didn't approve of me dating GIs, but I'd gotten my neighbor to sign my permission slip to be a Jr. Hostess at the base dances.  All those nights my parents thought I was at my friends...well, I sort of was.  :)

But those memories were gone.  I'd thrown away a blue-eyed, blond hunk for a chance to go out with someone who looked exactly like Fabian Forte, and now I hated that I'd been so stupid.  I couldn't stop crying, and Woody's phone calls, while drinking, of course (yes he was older than me), kept reminding me that I'd broken his heart.  Still I questioned how much he cared for me when he refused to call me by name because he thought I looked more like a, "Sue."  Maybe that was an omen. Still, the thought of not being with him crushed my very soul.

I went to school the following Monday, depressed, upset, and wanting to be anywhere but in a classroom trying to concentrate.  All I could think about was getting Woody back.  But how?  It didn't matter...my dreams were dashed during lunch, when I overheard my nemesis, Diana, talking about how she was now dating Woody since he'd tossed me in the trash.  Broken heart my buttcheek!  He hadn't wasted a minute of time getting over me.  Although I can't say I didn't smile when I heard her tell her friend that they couldn't actually "date" for a while since he'd broken both his legs jumping off the barracks balcony after he discovered I'd cheated.  Alcohol seems to make people think they're invincible or something. My immediate thought was,   I wonder if Bill, Fabian's twin, is still available.  To shorten my story, he wasn't, but I ended up with Sonny Swegles as my next possible conquest.  It's amazing how quickly your heart heals when you're young, and there are so many possibilities.  :)

Postscript:  I still wonder what happened to Woody, and wish he hadn't had such a common name (Johnny Woods).  I'd love to know if life was kinder to him after he left the military.  I know Diana and he lasted only a short time, and she married another of our classmates and they're still wed to date.  I went on to find happiness with my first husband, and we lasted thirty-two years, so that's not a bad track record.  :)  I'm on marriage number two now (featured a few of my "first" posts) and we just celebrated fifteen years wed but we jokingly tell people it's been fifty.  God, I'm old.  I've been married longer than most people have been alive.  Don't know how that works when I'm actually 35 in my mind.

Join me tomorrow for "Best First Love of 2011."  Click the links below to view the other entries:

1. Ravencrafts Romance Realm 5	2. Louisa Bacio -- Love Knows No Bounds 4	3. Margay Leah Justice 5
4. Ginger Simpson - Dishin It Out 7	5. Dianne Hartsock-Write What Brings You Joy 5	6. Deannas Tidbits 5
7. Brenda & Steve, Authors of Erotica 6	8. Sarah Gilman Books 5	9. Readers Haven 2
10. Tonyas Tales 2	11. Writers Block NZ 3

First Dance

It's Day four already.  Glad to see you here!






First Dance

It was early in the 60's, and Dick Dale and the Deltones were appearing, as they normally did, at the National Guard armory in Riverside's Fairmount Park.  My new boyfriend asked me to go with him and another couple.  What fun, double-dating with my best friend and his.  Surfing music was the rage, and Dale(no relation to Dick Dale) loved the fashion and dressed in plaid shirts, jeans, Huarache sandals and drove a low-rider Chevy I swear I could hear him start from the other side of town.  Loud pipes were just as fashionable as loud surfing music.

I was anything but a "Little Surfer Girl," but I sure loved the guy who was only missing a wood-sided station wagon (Woody) with a surfboard on top.

This concert was my first.  I was excited, but I don't remember being the least bit nervous.  Just had those tummy butterflies at the thought of slow dancing with the boy I adored.  I can't even recall what I wore, but I do remember that Dale's mother had tried bleaching his hair and it was a horrible shade of orange, but he didn't seem to mind, and thought he looked really cool.  I thought he looked more like Charlie Brown's, "The Great Pumpkin."  *lol*  But, I digress.  We arrived at the dance and the place was packed.  Despite the startling change to his hair color, I was still proud to walk in hand-in-hand with such a tall, good-looking boyfriend.  I dreamed of the moment the band struck up a slow song and we danced for the first time.

What had I been thinking?  Most surfing music wasn't slow...in fact I could only think of a few that were.  When the band took the stage, their first tune, Misirlou, was geared at getting the party started.  Zinging guitars and heavy drums sent Dale into a dancing frenzy.  He grabbed my hand and dragged me to the floor...mid floor of all places, as he went into his imitation of a surfer on a board, hands out for balance, leaping straight into the air with each imaginary wave that he crested. I recall being too stunned to move, and watching him probably with wide eyes and gaping mouth.  I realized, no one else was dancing either.  He'd taken the spotlight, and gained approval that shocked me.  The thundering applause at his crazy antics only spurred him to higher jumps and spins.

Oh, we finally got that slow dance, but by that time, he was a sweaty mess from never missing a dance.  I relinquished his partnership a few times, and although the rest of the masses had taken the floor, I never lost track of him.  He was the one head that leapt higher than the crowd every few minutes.  The smile on his face was unforgettable, as with my experience with our first dance.  I can't say it dulled my feelings for him...we got married a few years later.  I guess you could say, he leapt right into my heart.  :)

Join Me Tomorrow for "First Kiss."  Click the links below to visit the other sites in the blog hop:

1. Ravencrafts Romance Realm 5	2. Louisa Bacio -- Love Knows No Bounds 4	3. Margay Leah Justice 5
4. Ginger Simpson - Dishin It Out 7	5. Dianne Hartsock-Write What Brings You Joy 5	6. Deannas Tidbits 5
7. Brenda & Steve, Authors of Erotica 6	8. Sarah Gilman Books 5	9. Readers Haven 2
10. Tonyas Tales 2	11. Writers Block NZ 3

First Sight

Welcome!  Today is the first day of a seven-day blogfest at Ravencraft's Romance Realm.  I'm excited to be part of this, not only because it's a great way to show my love for a particular person in my life, but it's fun to interact with my peers and readers.  Of course, if I happened to win, I wouldn't be offended.  As I announced yesterday, the goal is to follow the guidelines for each day, so today, I offer...

My First Sight of Him

Tension filled the air.  The feeling that something important was about to happen kept my shoulders tensed and my hands fisted in my lap.  I sat in an uncomfortable chair, my eyes wide, my heart pounding.  Why had I agreed to this?  I never was one for stress, nor did I handle it well.

 I had no idea what to expect.  Oh, I knew I was meeting someone of the male persuasion for the first time, but I had no idea of those things most people want to know: how tall he'd be, how much he'd weigh, what color hair, did he even have hair?  It was too late to back out, I was about to discover the answers to those burning questions. 

A nicely dress man entered the room.  He was quite handsome, I thought, and my heart fluttered when he signaled for me to join him.  "Stand right here," he said as he moved closer to the only other woman in the room. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I followed his instructions and stood, my legs wobbly, my hands shaking.  I guess I was expected to do something since I showed up.

It didn't take long before I knew I'd made the right choice.  I was so glad I came.  The doctor turned from my daughter-in-law's side and placed my new grandson in my arms. "Hear you go, grandma."  

Turning pinker by the moment, he didn't cry, he didn't fuss, instead Spencer's gaze searched my face despite the overhead hospital light shining in his dark eyes, making them look like ebony gems.  Although they say newborns don't smile, I swear his tiny lips curled as if to say, "I'm here, Grandma and I know you'll love me so much your heart'll hurt.  You know what?  He was right?  The minute I first saw him my love blossomed and it's grown stronger ever day since that moment nine years ago.  My Spencer! My Love!

 My Prizes:

1st Prize: $15 Amazon Card

2nd Prize: PDF of Book of Choice from my backlist

Blog Hop Rules

• Follow my blog, either way
• Leave a comment, be sure to INCLUDE your email addy so I can contact you
• Winners to be determined on last day of blog hop and announced in final day comment section after 6:00 p.m.

Join me tomorrow for "First Touch." Click the other participants to visit their blogs.

1. Ravencrafts Romance Realm 5	2. Louisa Bacio -- Love Knows No Bounds 4	3. Margay Leah Justice 5
4. Ginger Simpson - Dishin It Out 7	5. Dianne Hartsock-Write What Brings You Joy 5	6. Deannas Tidbits 5
7. Brenda & Steve, Authors of Erotica 6	8. Sarah Gilman Books 5	9. Readers Haven 2
10. Tonyas Tales 2	11. Writers Block NZ 3