Shhh! Scribbler at Work

Take the Plunge

(prompt: 'fall' 5/10/2018)

I didn't doubt what it actually meant to 'fall in love'. I knew those words represented intense feelings of romantic love. I well remember the rapidly beating heart; instantly racing pulse; drumming in the ears; and an unexpectedly delicious, sweet sensation of almost nausea... almost, but not, somehow. Yet why would you would 'fall'? Why not 'arise' with love, for instance? Is it not an uplifting emotion? I questioned, and found -

It's true that 'falling' does have a sense of helplessness against the tide of emotion sweeping us uncontrollably into deep and unknown waters. And oddly enough, symptoms of 'falling in love' are amazingly similar to those of depression. Certainly there are mood swings - 'he loves me, he loves me not'; tremendous loss of concentration that some call being 'twitterpated' which equally equates to much confusion about choices of every variety - from coyness to cuteness, cosmetics to clothing - and whether those stomach butterflies and heart palpitations signal something more serious. And then I considered the dearest love match I have ever known.

It all began on 17th March, 1910 - as St. Patrick's day was celebrated all around the world. For some it was the 'wearing of the Green' with many proudly parading their favourite colour, whilst others were raising tankards of Green Beer to salute the day and the Saint they celebrated.

On this day in history, we learn -

The average U.S. workingman was earning less than $15 per week, labouring from 54 to 60 hours,

Harry Houdini, the American magician and escapologist was touring Australia - making the first powered flight over our vast land in his Voisin biplane, and Alfred Deakin was our Prime Minister.

Also, in this year of 1910, some well-known identities died - King Edward VII, nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, and writers Mark Twain, O. Henry and Tolstoy.

BUT...arguably the most important happening on THIS day of 1910 ...was that

Walter James Graham

was born to proud parents Arthur James and Alice Mary Graham, at Hindmarsh, South Australia.

He was my dearest Dad.

Just 17 years later, my parents fell in love at first sight. This was no fickle feeling - they were soul-mates for the next 45 years... until Death did them part. None of the strange physical manifestations of 'falling in love' gave the slightest pause to my 15 year old Mum and the love of her life. There was never another in either of their lives before or after they met , even after the tragic day life expired for my Dad, 27 long years before my mother could join him.

Yesterday was the 46th anniversary of the day that physical love story ended. Their emotional bonds never did. I will always be filled with wonder and deeply moved that those two special people never fell OUT of love despite enduring untold hardships and difficulties.

But then, I've never believed they 'fell in love' either. It was an absolute and perfect Life choice made when they were only teenagers. No regrets. No change of heart.