Writing about Kjersten

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your comments about my writing. I've heard from

several of you, both in public posts and in private e-mails,

regarding that. I'm glad that my writing has moved you, but, in

truth, I have someone who moved me very deeply to write about.

Kjersten and I were both English majors (she in Augustana in Rock

Island, Illinois; I in Widener University and the University of

Pennsylvania in Philadelphia).

It's one of those things that only English majors could appreciate,

but I recall one night doing Chaucer's Canterbury Tales alternating

line by line in Middle English. And, of course, that's why our

orange tabby is " Geoffrey. " As in Geoffrey Chaucer....

Since we were both also involved in theater since high school and

into post college rep theater later, we knew all the lines to all

the plays and musicals from " Oklahoma " to " Chicago. "

Kjersten was the love of my life. I don't mean that lightly. I was

married before and had three children ( " my three sons " ) all of whom

live in the Seattle area and all of whom come here to Florida once

or twice a year (especially in the winter and especially if I buy

the airline tickets!).

Kjersten, too, was married before. It was an emotionally abusive

marriage. I did not know that for many years. But we met in 1993

when we were working for a local newpaper, The Sebastian Sun, and

were instantly attracted to each other. But we were also " good

Lutheran kids, " if you will. So while sparks flew between us, we

resisted them.

There came a point, however, when she decided to divorce her

husband. He was twenty-five years older than her and had gambled

away $250,000 of her money before she figured out what was going

on. By the time Kjersten and I got together, she had not much more

than her current paycheck in the bank.

We were, if you will, typical lovebirds, with nothing in the bank

except our love. We both kept journals over the years and it is a

wonderful moment to realize that both of us had written about the

other that he/she is the person I've been looking for all my life.

A long time ago, when I was in college, a professor critiqued my

work; he said, " You write well, but do you have anything to say? "

I thank you all for encouraging me to write about me and

Kjersten...I think that this time, I really do have something to say.

Love to you all....

Dennis

dhtaylor4@...