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I wrote the following piece right after I met my wife on a blind date, arranged by her friend Helynn, on the beach in Florida. I told her that we had been together before
somewhere in time and still had
some unfinished business together. That was in
June, we went to my home in SC to visit my folks in
July, and went back in August and got married. Our love grows stronger* and deeper
each day. A
Wonderful Surprise!! I was checking my e-mails recently when I noticed an unknown address. I almost deleted it but something told me to check it out. What a blast from the past! A name I haven't seen in 48 years but often wondered where she was and what she was doing. "Helynn" The girl who arranged the blind date and introduced Mary & I had just sent me an e-mail. She "googled" my name out of curiosity and here we were just a couple of miles apart. We arranged to get together and had a wonderful reunion. It's almost like we have been apart only over the weekend instead of 48 years! The renewal of a very special friendship!
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*August 24, 2003 August 24, 2008, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To smell the
fresh, sweet
fragrance of her hair, silken and shiny. Her
skin, soft and smooth, warm and cool. Quiet
murmurings, not quite words, but full of
meaning. To touch the beloved's moist lips and
upon an instant, the realization that here is
love, companionship, security,
all...; everything,
longed for by lovers. One should love..., must love, and
be loved, wisely, sometimes not wisely, but at
least loved. Cared for throughout eternity, or
even if only for a few fleeting fearful
moments. The woman... sobbing,
sniffling. The man... silent, inward sobbing - no sound. Then
overwhelming joy - appearance,
vision - An old love, a new love,... a
lover. The searching eyes begging for
assurance. The touch of quivering lips, The
moment of indecision, then the realization that here is love,
companionship, security,
all..., Everything longed for by
lovers. And her name is
Mary. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cullen Newman ©1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There were an incredible series of events that led to our being guided together from such distant parts of the country. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Footnote: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A further Footnote:
Recently, while reading Allison's Heart, a touching collection of poetry, I was reminded of another piece I wrote just before I met Mary. "WHY?" "The sea roars ceaselessly, ominously, bringing with its waves, the waves of forgotten and lost memories. Things impossible to remember, yet eternally there, hiding in the dark dank corridors of the mind. Over and over the ever present "Why" rebounds, echoes throughout one's head, pounding, mocking, always bringing anguish and sickness, or should it be called simply depression. Personal, endeared to one entity so that the torments of hell remain captured, no, never captured, more in control, so horribly complete, that even eternity will never expell them. They remain, torturing one's wretched, searching mind while one struggles for release. I invite you to view, and sign my
Guestbook.
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I hope you will take a moment in time to visit my tribute to the most romantic movie ever made. Why don't you take a break, click on the link below and listen to a special song?
Thank you for taking the time to visit
my site.
October, 2006
We celebrated our 45th anniversary by renewing our wedding vows in the church in SC where we were originally married.
we celebrate our 50th Anniversary together!
Mary was in a terrible head-on collision in Buffalo, NY, in which two people were killed. She and her sister were in the hospital for eight months. The car they were in was a convertible, and Mary was thrown straight up and came down face first in what was left of the picnic basket. They had to get photos in order to put her face back together. They were going to amputate her right arm and left leg, but the main surgeon, who had just arrived from a MASH unit in Korea, saved them both. After they recovered, the decision was made to move to Orlando, Florida, (where another sister lived), to start a new life.
~~~~
I left Sumter, South Carolina to go to Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida. I was offered a job in Melbourne, Florida and moved there to start a new life. A friend from college asked me to move to the Virgin Islands to start a charter boat business. When we got to Miami I had second thoughts and went back to Melbourne where my job was still waiting for me.
Mary was sharing a house with her friend, Helynn, who just happened to be in Melbourne at a party that I also attended. She came back to Orlando and told Mary she had met someone Mary should meet. So she arranged a blind date for the two of us to meet at the beach.
I knew from the moment I met her that this was special. We met in June, went to SC on vacation in July to meet my folks, and went back in August to get married.
That was in 1958 and we have been together ever since.
Life is good!
"One of our favorite restaurants (now closed) had an orchestra that played during the evening hours. Whenever Mary and I came in, the pianist, who also directed the orchestra, would, with a nod of his head and a big smile, play our song, "
Why, dear God, why! Is there to be an answer? Must man ever be oppressed by his own mind? Can he ever find certainty? Can he ever find perfect unblemished peace?"
Then I met Mary.
I really value your
comments. 
(scroll down along with the music)
