High above the Chicago River, at a top-floor hotel ballroom, the father of the bride looked over at me. It was my turn to toast his daughter and my husband’s and my oldest son on the occasion of their wedding.
Something meaningful
I’m one of those emotional types. I not only carry my heart on my sleeve, but also in my vocal chords. I wanted to say something meaningful but not sound all choked up. Help me out here, Lord, I mentally pleaded.
I looked around the room at the round tables peopled with friends and relatives from across the country and across the Atlantic. At the bride’s grandparents and aunts and uncles who had come from Belgium, France and the Mediterranean. Many of them non-English speakers. What could I possibly say that all could understand?
The unplanned words I spoke were obviously an answer to my prayer. Toujours l’amour. Love always.
Love, the universally understood language. Responded to with applause and smiles encircling the wedding reception.
A Valentine’s Day sharing
The things that are important to us we give to each other as shares of ourselves. So on this Valentine’s Day, I choose to share love as I’ve found it while arctic weather has kept me at home. In two books, a movie and a tv special. Each has love—and love stories— at their core.
A novel by Mark Sullivan—Beneath the Scarlet Sky. A page-turner with breath-taking adventures and incredible meetups, based on a true story that took place in Italy in 1944.
The movie: A similar, but different— true— story, set in the same city, same year as the novel above. The Scarlet and the Black stars the late actors Christopher Plummer and Gregory Peck. A joy to watch these brilliant actors tell powerful stories of love.
A second novel, The Overstory by Richard Power. Winner of the National Book Award. Be prepared to spend some time with this complex, 502-page (hardback) book The author brilliantly overlays the stories of trees and humans, interweaving the love stories behind them.
A TV special, In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Hosted by Gustavo Dudamel, Ventezuelan conductor, violinist and the music director and conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. With music from Aaron Copeland to flamenco dancers, Dudamel interweaves music from throughout the Americas. I watched it on Friday night. A friend told me it aired on her station earlier in the week. Don’t miss it if/when it shows up on your local station.
Happy Heart Day!
Beautiful reminder to share love ❤️
Beautiful reminder to share love ❤️
Happy Valentine’s Day! Sounds like you made the best of it
Your blogs at times r thought provoking and timely but they r always like a fine wine -easy to roll around n one’s mind & then to in-jest w/clarity and smoothness
I’m new to your blogs Pat but look forward to tales of family.
Two words that say/mean everything.
Brilliant, Pat
Happy St Valentines Day
Ps hope to read at least one recommendation
Pat,
What a lovely message!
My book to share would be Kinds Of Love by May Sarton.
My Music came from my cable music station which played 3 of my favorite songs today: What The World Needs Now, Love is a Many Splendored Thing and My Funny Valentine.
My TV was not a movie but a short snippet of Our President and First Lady walking around the White House with their morning coffee to view the Huge Valentine Hearts that were placed there by the First Lady. I feel this loving and compasionate couple will surely lead us to better days!
Toujours l’amour, my friend,
t
Merci Pat
For me the best part of the scarlet and the black was gazing at Gregory Peck.
Glad to have the book recs. I’ve read some of my favorite books on your recommendation. .
Liked the post all around.
Pat, I choke up too and I was so glad you came up with just the right thing to say!