Happy Birthday Valentine!
Happy Birthday ??•*¨*•.¸¸? 2 You ¸¸.•*¨*•????•*¨*•.¸¸?¸¸.•*¨*•?? Happy Birthday ??•*¨*•.¸¸? 2 You¸¸.•*¨*•?? ? ? ? Happy Birthday ??•*¨*•.¸¸? ¸¸.•*¨ Dear Tracy¸¸.•*¨*•????•*¨*•.¸¸?¸¸.•*¨*•?? Happy Birthday*•?? ??•*¨*•.¸¸?¸¸.•*¨*•?? ??•*¨*•.¸¸? ¸¸.•*¨*•??… 2 You!!
In honour of Tracy’s birthday and Valentines day, one of our readers, Lawrence Thomas Pattison Jr., wanted to write a guest post today. Yay! We asked him to answer one of three questions:
What is the most romantic thing you have ever done?
What is the sexiest thing you have ever done?
What is the best relationship advice you ever got?
Lawrence is a writer and so happily wrote about all three. Awesome! Thanks Lawrence for suggesting a guest post to honour one of our own. We are delighted to have you join us today! Happy Valentines Day!
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The most romantic thing I have ever done?
The weekend I asked my children’s mother to marry me.
I wrapped a cardboard box full of skates and a homemade certificate good for one weekend at a cottage in northern Ontario where she was born, and gave it to her at Christmas.
The gift was to be redeemed over New Years, and I packed the do and cat into my tiny red sports coupe, and we headed up there for the weekend; stopping at her mom and dad’s on the way so I could show her mom and sister the ring. I had met with her dad a week or so previously to ask him for his permission for his daughter’s hand in marriage. It was also the first time I met him. Talk about two times the reason to be nervous in that first handshake.
The entire north was completely blanketed with snow. Our cottage had two bedrooms, but we never left the pull out couch all weekend which sat in the living room in front of the fireplace. We even had to chop our own wood for the fireplace in our cottage.
We skated on the frozen lake, went for a walk quite a ways up the road to see all the beautiful homes and cottages and the fish huts in the middle of the lake. We also took a drive up to a lookout where you could see all of the small town below covered in snow. She then showed me around town. We made our meals outside in the cold of the night on a barbecue, threw snowballs, and fell even more deeply and madly in love.
I wrote and sung a song, and played it on a blue guitar she had bought me that Christmas. I only knew a few chords but I made it work. The words led to my proposal.
It has been the most romantic weekend of my life up until this point. It was also around the time our beautiful first daughter was conceived.
The sexiest thing I’ve ever done?
The sexiest thing might have been drawing a woman naked and the erotic anticipation throughout – as I visually followed her every curve, of knowing that when I finished my sketch I would run my charcoal covered fingers across her soft, smooth flesh and make love to her. The enticement of knowing I could reach out and touch her, yet the will power required to concentrate on savoring that wildly intimate moment as long as possible. It doesn’t matter if you can draw. Looking at someone you have a deep connection with in this way, drawing what you see in whatever form it takes on paper, is spiritually intoxicating.
What is the best relationship advice you ever got?
My best relationship advice would have likely come from my grandfather and not necessarily through words although he has always been open in sharing his wisdom and life stories with me.
My first grandmother died when I was 6 months old. Although my grandfather has been married to my step-grandmother now for around 35 years and I know they both love each other very much as well, he still talks fondly about and loves his first wife, deeply.
I am in awe reading the diary he kept while overseas during Word War II. He wrote in his journal daily and never was there a post that didn’t talk about his ‘darling Winnie’ and his little girl back home. It touched me – deeply.
He is in his 97th year. He has inadvertently through his stories, reminded me of why I need to adapt this song into my being again and remember why it was once very important to me. My grandfather taught me these same lessons years ago, but I allowed myself to forget his words of wisdom.
As I look for love and friendship once again, I must hold both the meaning of this song, and the stories of someone who has been to hell and back, as guides for my heart.
Happy Birthday Tracy. You inspire me with your spirit. Your openness. Your way with words and most importantly, your romantic nature. You have captured the gift of having been born on the most romantic day of the year, and made it a big part of the passion that runs deep within your soul. You are a beautiful spirit and have become a valued friend. Reading your words both as posts to the world and through conversations we have had, have given me hope that the kind of love our hearts long for, is out there. It may not be everywhere but with patience and being true to ourselves, love will gift us again one day with everlasting love and happiness.
Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for being who you are; all of our Valentines with each and every word you write and speak and not just on one day a year, but the whole year through.
Big hugs, Lawrence.
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5 Comments
Tracy Westerholm
Lawrence!
I write this with tears rolling down my cheeks. (Happy tears)
You have always been able to tap into so many of my emotions with your words, some I have hidden deep inside. You and I have had a unique connection from the very first moment we connected that I cherish.
We are two of a kind I am certain of that! Your words from day one have inspired me and helped me become a stronger woman.
Your personal story is both heart breaking to me as you know and relatable to many. You are able to put words to how so many people feel and that alone allows others who are experiencing what you are NOT feel alone. That is my main reason for being as open and honest with my writing here on Tara Cronica.
You my friend will NEVER be alone, you will always have me waiting at your side miles away perhaps in distance but not in spirit. I will forever be there for you whenever you need a romantic ear to listen.
Thank you for adding your voice to Tara today, I love you with all my heart! xo
(((((smile)))))
Now I will press play and listen to your musical interlude! xoxooxoxoxo
Tracy Westerholm
…allowing your heart to be vulnerable and open is such a hard thing to do. Deep down I think we all want to feel love that is so strong it scares the hell out of us.
I am learning that being strong when it comes to love isn’t what allows it to enter…feeling all the emotions that lead up to love is exciting and frightening all in the same breath. Embrace them all and only ever follow your heart, it will lead you to where you are meant to be.
again…thank you for your words Lawrence! xo
Lawrence
Well, your first sentence had a few of those wet things reach my cheek too.
You’re two amazing friends are a little sneaky too. 🙂 I didn’t know I was the only writer today. Thank you to them for allowing me to share this very special space with all of you.
The more I stop being afraid, the more I allow people like you into my life who have this openness I am not used to, the more I feel alive and like life is rewarding me for breaking down barriers I have lived with my entire life.
You said it perfectly when you say love isn’t about being strong – it is truly about being vulnerable and it’s scary as hell but that term ‘love is a drug’, it can be if let it guide you instead of trying to control it’s path or let anyone guide it for you.
Thank you once again for your friendship. We may be thousands of miles away, we may never meet, but it is comforting knowing that there are souls out there when you need an ear.
Happy birthday Tracy. You are amazing my friend.
Love your friend always.
Lawrence
xo
Jane
Just saying, I think you two deserve to meet.xo
Happy Birthday dear girl.
Bonnie Johnson
Tee hee! <3