Valentine’s
Day is a day for lovers, the world over. Possibly of pagan
origin, but perhaps some Christians who enjoyed the fun
but disapproved of some of the sexual practices, foisted
the holiday on Saint Valentine, who having been beheaded
by Emperor Claudius, was in no condition to object.
While this is now celebrated
as a day to cherish those nearest and dearest to us as well
as a day in which we might reveal a secret passion, I can’t
help reminiscing just a little, about some dimly remembered
but never completely forgotten, past loves. My first real
crush when I was about eight years old was a young boy named
Thomas Oland who had the most beautiful blonde, wavy hair.
Although he was only a year older than me and wore glasses,
I thought he looked like Nelson Eddy. Unlike Eddy’s
famous partner, Jeanette MacDonald, I not only couldn’t
sing, I could barely speak in his presence. We were in a
local theatrical production together and I wore a green
taffeta dress and even stopped biting my nails in an effort
to look grown-up. Several years later, I was on a New York
subway with my mother shortly after recovering from a bad
case of measles which left me looking bloated and splotchy.
Suddenly, there was Thomas coming toward us. All of the
old feelings rushed back and I wanted to throw myself under
the wheels of the train rather than have him see me as I
looked that day. I recall being unbelievably rude,answering
his “hello” over my shoulder as I pretended
sudden interest in an overhead advertisement.
In high school, I developed
a terrible crush on a tall, quiet, olive skinned boy who
was a senior when I was a mere sophomore. Bob Gans sat directly
in front of me in typing class and I fell in love with the
way his dark hair came to a point at the back of his slender
neck. Unfortunately, he only had eyes for tall, popular
Betty Miller. Bob had wanted to become a doctor. I wonder
if he did. When I finally became a senior, the apple of
my eye was my “steady”, Don. We saw or telephoned
one another constantly and were considered “a pair”.
Before I left for college in a far away state, he wanted
to become engaged but I was aghast at the very idea of getting
married so young. Guess he was really into the marriage
idea as he eventually owned a most successful bridal shop
in upstate New York. While at the University of Iowa, I
dated (again a blonde) Warren Johnson who was a law student.
He was the dishwasher in the restaurant where I waited tables
in return for my meals. I probably owe a few high marks
I received to the fact that the only time we had to see
one another was when we studied together in the law library.
Eventually, I returned to
New York and dated several young men but no one seriously.
One evening as I was painting the kitchen in the apartment
I shared with two other working gals, Bunny, one of my room-mates,
came home with Val who was tall and attractive but even
then, had very little hair. He called a few nights later
to ask me out and Bunny indicated they were just friends
and I should certainly not hesitate to go. However, she
did add, “You’ll find Val is a lot of fun but
he won’t take you anywhere expensive”….
a comment I still tease him about. Two years later, Bunny
was the maid-of-honor at our wedding. In the final analysis,
we don’t marry someone we can live with, we marry
the person we cannot live without. Happy Valentine’s
Day to present and past loves.
Jean Cherni
is founder of Senior Living Solutions, a retirement advisory
service. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or
15 The Ponds, Branford 06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
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