Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Maryann Miller Says Love Is Ageless

Love is Ageless says Maryann Miller
The Story behind her Sweet Romance Contribution

At the ripe old age of 81 my father married for the third time. His bride at that time was 73. He joked about robbing the cradle.

My father was a man who needed to be married. After he and my mother divorced, he married within a year and was married to that woman for over 40 years. When she died, he was adrift and his grief was deep. My siblings and I wondered how he would fare spending the rest of his years alone, but we needn't have worried.

He had started visiting with a woman that had been a friend of the family for years. Her husband had died the year before my father lost his second wife, and Daddy was drawn to Martha. At the time she lived in Michigan and Daddy was living in Houston with my oldest sister. He kept making these excuses to go north frequently, and we soon discovered it was not just to visit our brother who lived near Detroit. Daddy kept making these side-trips to Grand Rapids, which wasn't really on the way to Detroit, but it was where Martha lived.

One day Daddy called me from Martha's home and asked me what I would think if they were to get married. I thought that was just fine. He then asked if I thought they should do it soon. Of course, what would they wait for?

Then he said he would probably just stay in Michigan with Martha until the wedding, but he made a point to tell me that he was sleeping downstairs in her guest room and she was sleeping upstairs. I had to laugh. Not only was that too much information for a daughter to know, it was a reminder that sometimes love is sweet and chaste.

My father and Martha had ten good years together before she died, and at times they were like teenagers just falling in love. There were lots of smiles and touches and giggles, and it was wonderful to see. Watching them made me realize that love like that has no age-limit.

I decided to write a story about a couple much like my father and Martha, and when I had an opportunity to contribute to an anthology of sweet romances, I submitted my story, New Love. It was accepted and the anthology, One Touch, One Glance:A Sweet Romance Anthology has other stories of sweet romance that appeal to readers who like the love-making to be behind closed doors.

Blurb:
Whatever happened to good, old-fashioned romance? Remember reading about a man's clothed physique, or how a fellow admired a woman in a pretty red dress? How about stories where couples fall in love with just one glance or that first gentle touch? Then open this anthology and enjoy 18 beautiful stories of love lost, love found, intrigue, heartache healed, the miracles of life, passionate admissions, and tearjerkers that make one sigh with longing. From best friends who find romance to time travel to a bit of Christmas magic, step into the realm of hearts on fire and love everlasting.




     In addition to contributing to the sweet romance anthology, Maryann Miller is a best-selling author of numerous books.  Her woman's novel,  Play It Again, Sam, is not a sweet romance and it is available as an e-book and paperback. The latest release, Open Season, is the first book in a new mystery series that features two women homicide detectives in Dallas. The second book in the series, Stalking Season, is under contract and will publish in November 2012. Miller has a suspense novel, One Small Victory, a young adult novel, Friends Forever, and a short story collection, The Wisdom of Ages, is also available as   e-books and paperbacks.
Twitter:  @maryannwrites



15 comments:

  1. Hi Maryann, this story reminds of our old neighbor. He's 87 and just got married to a beautiful 60-year old Polish woman who has been taking care of him for two years. Together they go to Florida, take cruises. She keeps an eye on his health and physical appearance, and he enjoys her companionship and conversation.

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  2. Thanks for hosting me here, Morgan. I'm so glad I got to tell folks about my father's ageless love.

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  3. Maryann, I really enjoyed your post. It's wonderful your Dad could experience that joy in his life!

    Morgan Mandel
    http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

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  4. What a lovely post, Maryann. I never expected to start my life over at 50, but after thirty-years of marriage, I suddenly found myself single again. I make a much better wife than a girlfriend. For me, that title carried no importance or weight. I've been married this time for fifteen years, and I totally understand how your dad got lost in his grief of being alone. Thank you for sharing. I totally enjoyed hearing about your father.

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  5. Great story, Maryann.

    My mother, a widow, was courted by her neighbor, a widower. For various reasons, their courtship didn't result in marriage. He eventually remarried, sold his house and moved to Florida. My mother fell ill and I cared for her for 26 months, until her death. And once a month for 26 months, my mother received a card from him.

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  6. Authorlaison - so glad you got to start over and found something so special the second time around. That is what my stand-alone romance novel, Play It Again, Sam, is about, and it is based on the experience of a good friend of mine.

    Fran - even though your mother and her neighbor never maerried, it appears the friendship was strong and meaningful. It is good to have that in our lives.

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  7. Thanks for stopping by, Lilian. I checked out your website. Your books look like good reads.

    Celtic Lady, you sure are busy with so many blogs. Thanks for taking the time to stop by here and read my story.

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  8. Maryann, that was just beautiful story about your father. He was lucky in finding love that many times in life. I 've been alone the past thirty years and I'm seventy two now. Of course I have my trusty loving dog who is always at my side and she keeps me company. But it would be great to have a male friend to go places with, talk with and know you're not alone.

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  9. So sweet! We're never too old to fall in love!

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  10. Shirley, since you are only 72, there is hope you can still meet someone special. (smile) Hope you do. A dog is nice, but doesn't replace the human companionship. On the other hand, a dog doesn't talk back. LOL

    So happy you stopped by, Lyn. I do love these stories of older people finding love.

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  11. Thanks for sharing this family story, Maryann. I'm always inspired by people who are older yet never lose their passion for living.

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  12. Maryann, what a lovely story about your father! Thank you for sharing it, and thank you, Morgan, for having such an interesting guest!

    Monti
    Mary Montague Sikes

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  13. My mother and dad were newly weds for 48 years. When Dad died, Mom more or less died also. She felt to remarry would be unfaithful to Dad but she was so lonely and just longed to die for 16 years before she finally joined him. I feel it would have been so much better for her to spend those years with a companion who was probably lonely also. I spent my very young years so very lonely and I would never wish that on anyone. Why not share your life with others no matter how old you are?

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