302- Love Trumps Royalty

Romance #4: (Day 64 of 365)

The recent media obsession surrounding the impending nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton sort of prompted this post, but Prince William’s romance tale doesn’t even come close to this fellow Windsor relative…

In 1936, King Edward VIII of England’s House of Windsor found himself in love. His royal highness’ heart was cleft in two for both his love of country and woman alike. Although his love for country was faithful, he also loved socialite Wallis Simpson, and he expressed his desire to marry her.

The British government was not amused.

Edward was a divorcee, and his ex wife was still living. English law stated that he was not allowed to remarry if his first wife was still alive, and therefore he could not simultaneously reign as king AND marry Wallis Simpson. His choice was surprisingly simple and romantic…

He gave up the throne for love.

303- Joltin' Joe and Miss Monroe

Romance Day#3: Day 63 of 365

Hollywood couples are a dime a dozen, and most come with some form of baggage from one party or the other. Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe's love story certainly fits the mold of being rocky (at best):

Yankee slugger becomes enamored with the sex-symbol “Beauty” of the millennium, Beauty looks past the gapped teeth and agrees to a two year courtship, slugger proposes-- beauty and slugger tie the knot in front of a NY-Justice of the Peace, Beauty does a movie shot exposing her white dress and lady parts to all of America and later gets tangled up with the Kennedys, Andy Warhol and dope (a certain trifecta of doom), Slugger and Beauty divorce after a 9-month marriage.

I can’t say much about Marilyn, but here’s the impressive romantic found within DiMaggio: Even after such a short marriage, Joe and Marilyn remained close friends up until Marilyn’s death. Joe planned the funeral, and for twenty years he had roses delivered to her gravesite three times a week until he himself passed away.

I don’t know if that’s love, but it certainly is romantic.

304- Ken and Barbie

Romance Day#2: Day 62 of 365

The plastic romance of Barbara Millicent Roberts and her boyfriend Ken Carson is definitely one for the ages. With their creation in the early 1960’s, both have managed to keep their unreal appearance completely authentic and genuine—no Botox, waxing, or boob jobs needed (I suppose being made supremely perfect already helps this cause...).

Although rumors emerged in 2004 that their relationship was on the rocks due to Ken’s non-committal attitude, they have remained an item. Not having Ken and Barbie together would be akin to separating peanut butter from jelly, or banning peanuts from the baseball park. It would simply be un-American.

Un-American, I tell you.

While little girls dream of the Barbie lifestyle, parents shouldn’t be concerned that she’s setting a bad example by dating Ken for over sixty years without tying the knot. Co-habitation? “Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?” It’s a non-issue. Their love is strictly buddy-buddy and platonic. After all, they’re androgynous.

I mean c'mon... have you seen those blank anatomical slates down there?

Here’s to hoping that future generations of young Americans will continue to daydream of Ken and Barbie’s African Safaris, Malibu mansions, and unrealistic endeavors. It’s good to know they can keep La-La land a reality while the rest of us chip away at our woefully average lives.

I know it sure helps me sleep at night...

305- Annie Oakley and Frank Butler

Romance #1:Annie Oakley and Frank Butler

(Day 61 of 365)


Annie Oakley was a true icon in the Wild West. As a sharpshooting show-woman that travelled the nation showing off her famous trick shooting skills, (remember the mirror shot?) Oakley set the precedent that it was OK for women to showcase their talents in whatever realm they chose. Also, in having impeccable marksmanship, Oakley’s talent set her apart in that she excelled in a predominantly male-centered activity.

Here’s the romance part…

On Thanksgiving Day in 1875, Annie Oakley met Frank Butler—a man she was slated to compete against. She soundly beat him in the shooting competition (shooting a perfect score), and he accepted his defeat… graciously. Rumor has it that the last opponent he expected was 15-year-old Annie, and he was quoted as saying: “I was a beaten man the moment in which she appeared.” They married the following year, and spent over fifty years together.

Annie passed away on November 3rd, 1926, and Frank followed her in death eighteen days later… telling his brother in his last days that he had suffered a “terrible broken heart.”

Love at first shot.

Moving Right Along...

Here we are at day 60. Although I've made sixty posts, I've fallen behind in the posting-every-single-day routine. Having photographs posted for the second month was a pretty easy excuse to become lax, in that I could really post a bunch at once and not do one each and every day.

If you were a loyal reader during my "good memories" of month one, and were horribly disgusted at my lack of personal discipline during the "photos" of month two, I apologize.

Sort of. :)

Here is where things get tricky. I'm at month three, and I'm on to a new topic that is a bit outside of my comfort zone... romance. That's right, I said it.

Romance.

(Please take an appropriate moment to shudder in displeasure if you must)

Now before you go screaming for the woods in horror, I'm not going to butter you all up with some mushy-gushy stories that Jay and I have been dying to share about our courtship days and random smoochfests. I don't do that.

Ever.

Instead, I thought that it would be nice for me to attempt to work on romance in my own marital life, spare you the sordid details of who kissed whom, or who cut her husband's lunch into tiny heart shapes, etc., and just share some stories of romance that I thought to be pretty neat over the course of history. The romance stories could come from well-known people, or even from members of my own family. No one is safe. I repeat...

No one is safe.

Rest assured, I'm not here to air any dirty laundry or solicit grievances... I'm just here to help us all remember how wonderful it is to love and be loved.

306- Grandpa's Happy Place

Photo #30 (Day 60 of 365)

The idea for this picture came from my mom. She wanted to have a picture of my grandfather (her dad) trout fishing, and she knew that the time was coming soon when he wouldn't be able to go anymore. She gave my brother the task, and told him to get the picture when he wasn't aware that it was being taken.

Grant obliged, and this proved to be his last fishing trip indeed. I was thankful to have been there that day, and am thankful to have this photo thanks to mom's intuition.

Thanks for the memories, Grandpa.



307- 569 East McDonel Hall- MSU

Photo #29 (Day 59 of 365)

This is a photo taken by my suitemate Lauren during Fall Semester 2002 at Michigan State. This picture brings back so many memories... working for the State News, living with a South Korean that didn't speak much English, caring for two houseplants named Norman and Edgar, and sharing a bathroom with a Super-Senior who acted like Seinfeld's Kramer.

I don't have many photos from my college dorm days, but this one sure says a lot.



308- Twenty-One.

Photo #28 (Day 58 of 365)

This photo took place on the weekend of my twenty-first birthday. I received many gifts of 21-items, I air-guitared with grandma's cane, and I couldn't feel my legs. It was a fantastic weekend, indeed.



309- A Thousand Words? You Betcha

Photo #27 (Day 57 of 365)

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and in this case, that saying is accurate. If you know anything about both my patriarchal and matriarchal sides of the family tree, you know that I'm much, much closer to my mom's side of the family, and that my dad's side of the family is polar opposite. That's the truth.

Here's the fun part: if you know anything about literature, you know that light and dark are typically symbolized as forces of good and evil. Now look at the picture.

Look at the colors worn by the adults.

Look at who's smiling.

Look at who's reeling in horror at my infant presence.

Guess which people are on which sides of the family tree... go on... guess!

I'm even making things worse by smiling up at my paternal grandmother who is, well... not pleased.

I love irony.

310- Wish I Could Sleep Like That...

Photo #26 (Day 56 of 365)