Tuesday, December 28, 2010

An Inherited Condition

Tove and Magnus's Wedding Day

It’s November 1951. Tove, a young Danish farm girl is hanging laundry in a snapping summer breeze. The sound of horse harness and wagon wheels carries across the field from the road. The handsome young man driving the wagon catches her eye. “That’s The One,” she says. She meets Magnus a few days later at a social gathering and confirms her condition—Love at First Sight.

But, Magnus is scheduled to board ship and emigrate to Canada. Romantic letters floating back and forth across the Atlantic encourage his lovely Tove to join him in building a new life in a new land. Because they’re unmarried, they must live in separate towns at least six miles apart. If the distance of an ocean can’t stop their love, a mere six miles is no obstacle. They marry on November 1st, 1952. They now have five children, eight grandchildren, and have celebrated fifty-five years of marriage—an impressive heritage.

Tove and Magnus's 50th Anniversary

Fast forward to July 1975. Joan, another young girl, is working as a sales clerk in the fabric section of Simpson’s department store. She’s heard the story of her parents’ meeting and dreams of the same for herself. A young man walks past her. He’s got dark hair, dark eyes, broad shoulders, and a great butt. He walks like he owns the world. “That’s The One,” she says. Five years later, they married and are still going strong.

The young Danish couple is my mom and dad. The young Canadian couple is myself and my husband.

My mom passed away three years ago on Boxing Day. Apart from inheriting Love at First Sight from Mom, I’m told I’ve inherited her smile and her gift for caring. Who could ask for a better legacy?


What good things have you inherited from your mom?


15 comments:

Mona Risk said...

Joan, what a beautiful love story. Looking at your Mom's picture I can see the resemblance. It's nice that you honor them on your blog. I remember the difficult time you have when she was so sick. Today is exactly three months since my Mom died. I too was remembering.

Dawn Marie Hamilron said...

A lovely tribute to your parents, Joan. They look so happy in their anniversary picture. I enjoy hearing stories such as this. I lost both of my parents earlier this year. They were married 67 years. A true love story.

Joan Leacott said...

Thank you Mona. Remembering gets easier, and funnier, as time goes by.

Joan Leacott said...

Dawn Marie, 67 years! Wow! It's a true treasure when happiness wears so well during so many years.

Unknown said...

Lovely post, Joan.
~ Gina

Jill James said...

Joan, what a wonderful story. I love tales of true love. It is why I write romance.

Joan Leacott said...

Gina, glad you liked it. Thanks for dropping by.

Joan Leacott said...

Jill, Maybe this story explains why I'm with you. And why I write contemporary. Glad you came by.

Paisley Kirkpatrick said...

Can I skip my Mom and say I am like my Grandma. She spotted my Dad with his shirt off, digging ditches for our local power company (which he retired from 41 years later)and asked him to come to her home for supper that night. She had a daughter... My grandma always called my dad her 'big hunk' and loved him BIG!

I never dated much because nobody interested me until I saw 'him' standing under an apple tree at an Air Force picnic. My 'big brother' was his sargeant in the Air Force and had even brought Ken to a family birthday party I didn't attend. When I saw him, I knew he couldn't possibly be the one my brother was talking about because he was the one I wanted. We celebrated our 42 wedding anniversary December 8th. I've decided to keep him. :)

Anonymous said...

Joan, what a heartwarming love story. Thanks for sharing. I'm sorry to hear about your mom, but she did leave you a beautiful legacy.

Isis

Claudia D'Angelo said...

Joan what a beautiful story, and what a beautiful legacy. This kind of enduring love is what we all hope for, it's why we write what we do and dream the dreams we have. Unfortunately, the examples in my life haven't been as heartwarming, but I've managed to find The One, I hope, well 20 years later he's still around so I guess that says something.
Thanks for sharing your memories.

Claudia

Angela said...

Joan, this is such a sweet story. Love at first site...great inheritance ;-)

Josie said...

Joan,
What a lovely post and tribute to your parents. I've inherited the joy and gift of writing from my Mom. She just turned 81 years old in August.

Helen Scott Taylor said...

How lovely, Joan. Brought a tear to my eye.

Helen Scott Taylor said...

I think this might be my problem. I only make writing goals and not goals or time allocated for other things I want to do. I just squeeze other stuff in between the writing. I have enjoyed the time I've taken away from writing recently, but in the back of my mind I feel guilty for missing the writing. I think I'll have to schedule time off between each book in future.