Last week, I worked on cleaning out my attic. It was a dirty, sneezy job. I hauled paper and cardboard to the recycle bin, trashed the un-recyclables, and salvaged the action figures for my grandsons.
But the coolest thing I found in the attic was my poetry notebook from high school.
One poem written in 1972 is “prophetic” as my husband called it. David’s family moved away at the end of tenth grade. I must have written this right after he left, hoping against the odds that I would see him again and believing our love would stay alive.
I was so full of hope at 16. Angsty hope. But David didn’t answer my last letter that summer of ’72, and life went on. Over the years, my first love became a distant memory.
If I’d found this notebook in my 30s, I would have shaken my head and thought, “How sappy.” But now, it reinforces that this love story was meant to be. Our love never died. It just went dormant and waited quietly for 39 years.
You can read about those 39 years and the lessons we learned along the way in
Trust the Timing, A Memoir of Finding Love Again.
Did I really know our love would stay alive? Or did I help manifest our re-connection? Was it all part of God’s plan? Did the angels see a window of opportunity and nudge us in the right direction?
I vote for all of the above.
Oh, how I wish today’s teenagers only had learning and love to deal with.
Hang on to your hopes.
March 8, 2018 at 4:07 am
What a great find. So you and I have something more in common.
March 8, 2018 at 10:28 am
It was a nice reward for cleaning out the attic. π I’m so glad we found our sweethearts when the time was right!
March 8, 2018 at 4:19 am
This is amazing, JoAnn! To think that God would weave this amazing plan from all those years ago. Just beautiful β€οΈ
Thank you for brightening my day βοΈ
Love Hayley ππ
March 8, 2018 at 10:29 am
Happy to brighten your day, Hayley. π It was surely a match made in heaven. God took our messes and made miracles.
March 8, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Amen to that! Same here β€οΈ
March 8, 2018 at 2:07 pm
That seems like a wonderful thing to find.
March 8, 2018 at 8:36 pm
It’s quite a treat. π
March 8, 2018 at 4:15 pm
Wow. Beautiful post and reflective thoughts.
March 8, 2018 at 8:47 pm
Thank you! So glad you liked it. π
March 10, 2018 at 10:24 am
mam ,your memories are very beautiful .
March 10, 2018 at 3:00 pm
Oh, thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed them. π That’s one of the benefits of writing – helping us remember. π
March 13, 2018 at 7:57 pm
Wonderful post since I love journals and diaries! I have love letters saved up and I treasure the nice poems and notes written in my H.S. yearbooks.
I haven’t had an old “beau” come back but there are a few I would not mind seeing!
I have a coffee “date” on Sat morning (St Patrick’s day) wish me luck πand I am saying a prayer daily. We have texted for nearly three weeks. We live 160 miles apart but plan on meeting halfway at a Bob Evans. π
March 13, 2018 at 9:46 pm
I’m glad you enjoyed this. I have a pile of journals from adulthood, but had no idea the high school notebook was up there in the attic. I hope you have a nice time on your coffee date. Texting for three weeks is a good preliminary. Wishing you luck! π
March 21, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Your husband is right, it seems. I think you two must be old souls. Such s cool story!!
March 21, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Thank you. I love the thought of us being old souls connecting and reconnecting….. π
June 28, 2018 at 5:43 pm
Amazing, JoAnna!! The poem is wonderful…and so is the love that you knew would never end!! LOVE IT!! ππ
June 28, 2018 at 10:44 pm
Thank you, Lorrie. What a surprise it was to find! You never know what might turn up. π