Moment Memories

We were sitting in the pizza joint all alone in a room full of people. We had just met forty five minutes before and now sat arm in arm gazing into each others eyes, totally in love.
She was the cousin of a friend, who was sitting across the table with her latest lover, who happened to be my best friend. At least I think they were sitting there, we didn’t pay much attention to them.

We were talking dreams, ambitions, how her nose crinkled up when she smiled. She pulled close to me and whispered in my ear, and my nose crinkled as I smiled. We were laughing, I proposed marriage, we laughed some more, and then she accepted on one condition. The next song that played on the jukebox had to be “our song”. She went on to say that depending on the song’s lyrics whether or not she’d accept.

“Colour My World” by Chicago was playing, verses were over and just the long musical ending played on and on. She looked at me and said “Too bad we weren’t a song sooner, I’d have to change my last name.” Her eyes were dancing and I knew that if we were serious, if we really did get married, there would be no regrets.

The jukebox went silent, and it seemed time slowed down to super slow motion. Even our double date buddies seemed anxious to hear what would blare over the speakers. You could hear the inner workings of the jukebox, and could envision what was happening, the arm came over and plucked up “Colour My World” and replaced it in B14. It hummed again as the arm grabbed the next record and sat it on the turntable. Then came the initial hiss of needle against wax. Within the first few notes we started laughing as we recognized “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John.
At first it didn’t sound too bad especially since my dates name was Suzie. I really liked the part when the chorus talked about Suzie wearing her dresses tight. Then came the bummer in the second verse, Suzie went and left with some foreign guy.

She looked at me with unbelievable sadness in her eyes, the total opposite of how they looked just moments before. For a minute I thought she was going to cry until I said, “Those damn French guys with their fancy talk, an Okie don’t stand a chance.” The dance came back into her eyes and her nose crinkled up as she laughed once more.

Several letters past between us until they dried up from one point or the other. I haven't a clue whatever happened to Suzie but I imagine she had a good time getting there. I just wonder how many songs played on the jukebox before she finally found Mr. Right.

A Review

There are many reviews of her new book, "Behold The Dawn", so I won't dig deep into it. But I will comment on the author, K.M. Weiland. I met Katie on ChristianWriters when she answered a question I had posted. I was slightly intimated because not only was she a published author with her book, "A Man Called Outlaw", her name on there was Tarin and her avatar looked very intimating. I kept my mouth shut as she and other authors such as Michael Snyder and John Robinson discussed the finer points of writing and getting published. I pictured this mature woman around my age, her hair pulled up in a bun, that had stayed up nights picking at her Royal to get a manuscript out. When I found her website I surprised to see this attractive young lady that had such a handle on the craft of writing. By the way, her picture is about the best pose for a writer that I have seen. I was going to post it here but wasn't sure about the copyright type of stuff.

I ordered her first book about a year ago and was drawn into it. I thought to myself, "Self, pretty good first book" but felt the flow or something about it wasn't just right. Nothing particular that I could point to and say "I'd fix that" but nevertheless, I enjoyed it put it on my favorites list, which is a stack of books that I won't part with. Of all the books I have read, only five books have made that list before Outlaw. So when I heard her next book was coming out, I preordered it and waited patiently. "Behold The Dawn" rocks. I've always liked the knights in shining armor stories, and while the hero isn't in shining armor, he is a knight. Excellent book, order it today as Katie needs to pay her heating bill. In fact, order both books, you won't be disappointed by either of them. Now my favorites list is up to seven.

Katie also writes at least two blogs, her personal one, "Wordplay", is full of great advice for writers. I signed up on iTunes for her podcast of this great advice she has. I enjoy them as I sit at work (Yes, I don't have to think much at work, I'm that good!). She also co-authors another blog "Author Culture" with a couple or other good ole gals whom have this writing obsession figured out. Both blogs are in my blog list, go check them out.

So Katie, thanks for all the advice you've given, both to me personally through CW and through your blogs. Also thanks for taking me off to another place at another time through your books. I'm looking forward to your next project.