Marcia’s Romantically Yours
Issue # 43
marcia king-gamble

Dear Romance Writer,
 
A friend once said. "We get the love we want."  I asked him to clarify the comment. He shared with me a story about meeting his wife after a difficult divorce. He did not visualize meeting someone like her, and initially did not recognize the potential for the relationship. Yet she turned out to be exactly the woman he needed.

What he did know was that he wanted a relationship with a woman who would be his best friend (smart man ;) one that he could trust, and one who would be loyal to him.  Kindness, compassion, and "giving and taking" of ideas was important to him.  Rather than going for the glitter he went for the substance of that person. (His words not mine.)

 

My friend's words struck a chord with me. It got me to thinking that it would be fitting this season to discuss a subject that makes most of us feel warm and fuzzy.  So bring on the Lo-V-e!

I know of no other four letter word that conjures up emotions ricocheting out of control, hormones pumping, mouths dry, and commonsense taking a backseat.  But is that really Lo-V-e or something else?

 I see Lo-V- e as a comfortable shoe that despite the scratches and nicks molds to your feet. It may not be the shoe you went to the store to buy, or even wanted, but it's the one you left with because you knew it would go the distance with you.  It had a durable soul (forgive the bad pun,) and could go the distance.

 Lov-E is about keeping an open mind and an open heart. It's about trusting another enough to let them in. It's more about US and less about You.  It's about doing nice things for another person, not because you have too, but because you want too.  So why do so few of us get it?

My friend put it perfectly. "Love is a warm feeling that always glows. Lust and passion are great but make for bad coals.  Once the heat is gone, we move onto other Passions.

He prefers the long term warmth.  So do I, and so should you.

Have a joyous holiday season all. Remember to share the love!

Hugs and Kisses

Marcia King-Gamble
Editor -- Romantically Yours
www.lovemarcia.com

PS.  Keep the fires burning by picking up a copy of my December release, Tempting the Mogul (rated 41/2 stars by Romantic Times Magazine.)


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Tools of the Trade:

'Tis the season to be jolly. In that spirit I am sharing my wish list with you. My material needs are few so I've added a couple of hopes to my list.

Wish List!
 
Brown ankle boots (early Christmas gift from my sister)
DVD player (I'll be buying that myself)
DVD's
Books (will get that from several close friends)
A new kitten (since I started writing this letter I have managed to acquire two grown cats. Don't ever go to the humane society with me.)
Tickets to a show (I can count on that I'm told.)
Peace (both world/inner) and Happiness


Here's an interesting drink recipe to ring in the New Year.  Bring on the Pomegranate Nojitos!

2 Oz Pomegranate juice
2 Oz coarse sugar
Ice
½ lime quartered
8 mint leaves
¾ Oz Ginger/Habanero syrup
3 oz chilled club soda
 
Moisten the rim of a festive glass with 1 oz of Pomegranate juice and coat lightly with sugar. Fill the glass with ice.  Use a cocktail shaker to mix mint leaves with Ginger- Habanero Syrup. Add ice and the remaining one oz of pomegranate juice. Shake well. Strain into glass and stir in club soda.

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The Real Story of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer

Rather than the usual interview I thought I might share the origins of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. This story was sent to me by my friend Aggie. It's a good reminder that being "unique" can reap its rewards.
 

A guy named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night. His 4-year-old daughter, Barbara, sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bobs wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer. Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dads eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?" Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob. Being small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember.

From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938. Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined a make one - a storybook!
 
Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose.
 

Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there. The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book. In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter.
 
But the story doesn't end there either. Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas." The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing!

I like Blessings don't you?

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Happenings:

Updates on conferences and workshops will return in January. Meanwhile please take the time to browse some of my favorite websites:

http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=qbg9pvcab.0.0.jgs857bab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktalk.com&id=preview
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=qbg9pvcab.0.0.jgs857bab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sormag.com&id=preview
SimplyReadingAccessories.Blogspot (join Debra Owsley, the owner and creator of Simply Said.  Debra designs and creates unique promotional items. Read about her top picks for the year. I am her featured interview.

Then bring in the New Year on a high note. Log onto http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=qbg9pvcab.0.0.jgs857bab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lovemarcia.com&id=preview and enter my contest to win a festive wine basket.


Did you know?

For a mere $19.00 a month you can become a Partner in Hope to help fight childhood cancer, sickle cell disease and pediatric HIV/AIDS. Your monthly gift will help St. Jude's keep it's promise that no family will ever be turned away because of their inability to pay. Mail your contribution to:

St. Jude's Children Research Hospital
 501 St. Jude Place
 Memphis Tennessee, 38105. 

Give a child a chance this holiday season.





 
* ABOUT Marcia's ROMANTICALLY YOURS *
 
Romantically Yours is a FREE monthly newsletter. I would love to hear from you. Please send comments, news, research, or story ideas directly to Marcia King-Gamble at mkinggamble@aol.com