Where do I begin??
“Where do I begin?
To tell the story of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea
The simple truth about the love he brings to me
Where do I start?...”
That is how it began, the song from the movie ‘Love Story.’ The year had been 1971. It wasn’t until a couple of years later that I happened to read the book by Erich Segal, hear the song sung by Shirley Bassey and also watch the movie with Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw in the lead roles. I remember walking into the movie hall with stars in my eyes. But by the time I was to get out of the movie hall the stars had all mysteriously transformed themselves into tear drops streaming down my fifteen year old cheeks.
Am I digressing?? Looks like I am!!
Well that is what happens when an incurable romantic like me gets on to the topic of love stories even though it is a movie watched in what you of the Modern Age might refer to rightly as the Ancient Age. But, what the heck, once a romantic always a romantic, even unto your end, toothless and one foot in the grave!! Don’t let that deceive you into thinking that I am toothless or have one foot in the grave. Far from it!! As of now I have my pearly whites intact though some of them have had to resort to wearing silver armor to protect themselves. One has to do one’s bit and contribute to the upkeep of the poor dentists too, by the way! As for my feet, I have them both securely with me to hop skip and jump as I please or on second thoughts as much as my sciatica would permit. Well I have to contribute my mite to keep the hearth of orthopedic surgeons burning as well, haven’t I??
Am I digressing?? Oh no not again!!
Before the digressing bug bites me again let me jump straight into the matter at hand. “Where do I begin??….” had sung Shirley Bassey, picked up by a score of others down the line including Andy Williams, Perry Como, Placido Domingo and many others. It is now the year 2008. And you have yours truly picking up the lines where the others have left off and going, “Where do I begin??…”
Such romantic lines follow!! Take a look:
“…To tell the story of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea
The simple truth about the love he brings to me
Where do I start??…”
Ahh Carl Sigman, (lyricist) you knew a thing or two about love, didn’t you?? Sigh!! Look at the way he goes…
“….Like a summer rain
That cools the pavement with a patent leather shine
He came into my life and made the living fine
And gave a meaning to this empty world of mine
He fills my heart….
He fills my heart with very special things
With angels’ songs, with wild imaginings
He fills my soul with so much love
That anywhere I go, I’m never lonely
With him along, who could be lonely
I reach for his hand, it’s always there…
How long does it last?
Can love be measured by the hours in a day?
I have no answers now, but this much I can say
I’m going to need him till the stars all burn away
And he’ll be there…”
How unbearably heavy hearted I had felt watching Jennifer Cavilleri (Ali MacGraw) die in the arms of Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O’Neal). Life was so unfair nipping a love such as theirs in the bud. Listening to the song in further years only brought back memories of the sad end to a beautiful love story……
…and errrr…. I find I am digressing yet again!!
Please accept my apologies one and all. You will find in due course, that is if you stick with me, which at the moment seems a remote possibility considering the way I tend to ramble hither, thither and everywhere else, wasting everyone’s precious time, that digressing is one big failing of mine. Phew, was that sentence long or what?? Actually all I wanted to do was ask, this being my first post here and all, was a simple, “Where do I begin??” just as Shirley Bassey did, not to mention all those who picked up the lines after her!! Hmmm…. Looks like I needn’t have. I seem to have made a beginning alright!! Now how good a beginning it is remains to be seen!!
Before I sign off:
Welcome to you one and all, to this, my space on the World Wide Web.
What????? You want to know who I am????? Oh you mean to say I have not introduced myself??? How remiss of me!!!
Well I am just your ordinary next-door homemaker. If you stick with me, against all odds, you will have the honor of being bored to death reading pretty inane and mundane long posts about slices from my life, my views/opinions on happenings around me, maybe a short story or a poem. Nothing special!!! And oh, let me warn you at the outset, I use lots of question marks and exclamation marks.
Are you game??
Hmmmm so this is your nest…hope theres a lots of eggs and babybirds living in this nest…Wishing you all the success.
Thank you Vivek!! I am so happy that you are the first one to leave a comment on my site.
All the best ..Game on, let the action to begin …..COngrats on having ur own space in world wide web.All the very best to you.
Hi Shailedathy…
glad to see you here… I am a great fan of that book ‘Love Story’ there are some lines in that which i love - but ippo entho, orma kittanilla
orkkumbo ivide vannu idaan tto…
Dumb struck as always. Ure amazing mumma… Just love the way you began this. Very romantic! As Mr.Vivek says… i hope to see more eggs and babybirds living in your nest. Can i just be a thread (or Whatever it has been woven with) in your nest?
Love and Hugs to you!
Ohh I missed it. I couldn’t be the first to comment ;). Congrats Vivek
Ordinary??? Pah! I don’t believe ya one tot!
Congratulations on the new place…. have fun dressing it up!
I’ll be back…
Sure… I’m game….!
Pretending to be a manly amn of 24 years old in 1971, I tried to stifle my tears in the theates watching “Love Story” with my wife of just months. Indeed, the movie was a heartbreaker. Indeed, it was also when I first felt an infatuation for Ali McGraw. Indeed, I even confessed this infatuation to my wife because I knew that I would never meet Ali McGraw anyway. Years later she played in a moview with Steve McQueen (the two Mc’s) just before he died of cancer at the age of fifty. I seem to recall that they were a real life romatic item, but the movie was a dude. However “Love Story” is safely esconced in the film corridors of my heart.
Thanks for helping me relive the Love Story, Shail. with your excellent, as usual, writing.
By the way, what was the pet name Ali had for Ryan O’Neal? I will never divulge my wife’s pet name for me. At least, she said it was a pet name (or a name for a pet).
amn = “man”
Wow, your own nest. That was one hell of a warm up introduction to yourself that is defenitely going to make this nest cosy to all its visitors.
This blog reminded me one thing, that I got to keep my appointment with the dentist.
Good luck
I wonder how you blog on soo many sites.You have a nest full of stories to tell n the nest is as big as an ocean.Good luck ! shailadidi
Ahhh… a nice quiet spot to do your writting. Enjoy Shail ;-), I’ll be back from time to time to visit you, you can count on that … ((Hugs))
Shy, wishing you the best with this new start!
I am so very glad about it, cos for me it means more to read from you, by you…
Don’t think about boring us, it’s not true..and you know that very well! Hugs..
hello Shail,i find you!happy to see you again
There’s no place like home. May you create countless memories in your new NEST. Congrats Shail Mam!
Nice to see you having your own website. Makes it easier for people like me to read your articles quite often. Best Wishes and blessings
juz came here before hitting the sack. phew lack of time. will take sometime to get back to my old self. Pink bunny gets all the attention though she never trbls me. I am the luckiest mom i shld say as both my kids take care of me
lub u mumma… missing you loads… keep writing more… will snatch time to get in here. (((((hugs)))))
Hei Shail
Oooh, so brilliant a start for a new site.
Keep writing, keep blogging. Rii
Hi Shail….
Just had to come see ya. We may have left 360 but we are never gonna be very far away.
Luv ya gal.
Patsy, Missy and Minute Maid
Ganesh: Welcome and thank you for the wishes.
Vinitha: Come back when you remember and let us hear about your fav lines.
Bubbly: Hmmm… romantic?? Oh yeah!! Well you are my Molooty. Period. Pop in as much as your pink bunny allows you to!!
Samvit: What if you weren’t first! You are the invisible force behind this page! Welcome!
OJ: Not ordinary?? Hmm… extraordinary?? *tongue-in-cheek* Do keep coming back!
Devi: I knew you’d be!
Bob: I am trying to imagine a 24-year old Bob trying to stifle his tears watching the movie. Bob, you funny man! I am lol @ “At least, she said it was a pet name (or a name for a pet)” :-))
Aadishpa: Welcome to my cozy nest!
Kannan: Well, have you been to the dentist?? And thanks for the wishes.
Lahari: Thank you. Stories to write i don’t lack. But time… Aaaargh! That is something I’d like to have more of!!
PeeKs: Happy to see you. Yeah, this sure is a quiet spot. Drop in whenever you wish!!
Clau: Thank you for the wishes dear! More to read and not boring?? *wink* Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you!! Lol…
Isabel: My dear friend, I am always so happy to see you on my page. Welcome to my new place!
Vikram: Thank you for your sincere wishes. Hope to see you often.
Prabod: Thanks for the wishes and blessings. Yeah, this is easier to access! Well, I hope to read something from you too.
Riihele: Thank you dear for gracing my page with your presence!
Patsy: I am absolutely delighted to have you, Missy and MM on my page here!! Luv to my three gals!!
You are really candid !!!!!!!!!!
Hello Prem! Thanks for dropping by.
Actually to those of you might pass by and chance to read this and DON’T already know Shail….
What you will get is a highly intelligent woman, loving Mother and Wife, who can’t write the heck out of just about any topic. Witty, wise, and wonderful Shail is a fantastic writer and well worth your time.
*Hi Shail*
Hi DeeAnne! I am delighted you dropped by and ..errr, am blushing beetroot red at your compliments. Bless you! You are a dear.