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.) *************
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. ***************************
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? **************
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 |