Tag Archives: Love

Dreams, Gypsy Woman, Romance, Short Story

9. Gypsy’s Messengers

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She is blissfully happy, happier than she has been in such a very long time. This season at the Renaissance Festival has been her best ever, despite the demons that have haunted her, it has produced a surprise in meeting the silversmith and the love and contentment found with him. She feels like she has met her soulmate and finally can set aside some of her fears, finally can trust again. She prefers not to think about that this time.
This is the last weekend of the festival, so she packs her trailer to get ready to move on to the next. Hopefully, she can persuade him to follow her to the next fair. It would be wonderful to have him by her side. They make a good couple. He’s told her he loves her, he’s told her he loves her several times a day since he gave her the ring. He talks about a future together. A future, she hasn’t dared dream of a future. Gypsies don’t dream that way, we stay in the present, tomorrow never comes. She wants to believe, she loves him.
She notices the changing of the leaves as she walks to her booth for the last weekend and the chill in the air. She’s just left him at his shop still feeling the warmth and taste of him on her lips. But she suddenly has a feeling of dread as she approaches the steps of her sanctuary. She sees the crowds have already started signing up for readings and she is going to have a busy day.

There’s a raven sitting in the tree nearby making his loud warning cry to the crowds to “BEWARE”. She looks sternly at him and tells him to “Be quiet”. He flies away. She starts her day with a young teenage boy, anxious to know about his future and if he’s going to make the team this fall in school. The day seems to drag and for September it’s unusually warm, inside her small booth, it’s getting warm and uncomfortable, if only a breeze would come up.

“Excuse me, are you free? Are you ready for me?” says a young woman. “Yes, I see you’re next on my schedule, please come in, and what are you seeking today? Cards, crystals, aura, or palm?” Suddenly the clouds pass over and it cools down, a breeze picks up and scatters the cards. As she scrambles to pick up the cards, the girl sits in front of her. The gypsy woman looks up at the attractive face and immediately sees her aura and the mingling of another aura within. “Ahh, you’ve come about a love?” she asks. The girl says “Yes, and I’d like a palm reading today, please”, she holds out her hands and a beautiful silver ring with intricate scrollwork and a cabochon of opal is on the heart finger of this pretty girl.

Dreams, Gypsy Woman, Romance, Short Story

8. Gypsy’s Gift

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Sunrise is beautiful with the clouds creating a sky on fire of orange, pinks, and blues. She wakes to the wonderful smell of freshly brewed coffee. She hasn’t slept that well in a long time. He sits on the side of the bed with a cup of coffee in his hand. “Wake up, sleepy head, it’s almost time to get going”, as she scoots up in bed and takes the coffee from him to take a sip of the rich blend. His smile melts her heart and she forgets about her fears from last night.

As they walk together to the fairgrounds, once again she is greeted by a very happy and satisfied seeker. This time the festival baker, who came to her asking her just to hold a lottery ticket for luck. Although the gypsy woman had to silently laugh at this, she took the ticket and held it. She really didn’t believe in luck per se. The woman was coming into money anyway, it was time for it. But now the baker was thrilled and effusive with praise. “Thank you so much, I won $700.00, now I can fix my truck. It was such a blessing.” The baker then gave her a hug, perfumed with the aroma of the freshly baked bread and cookies that the gypsy woman can’t eat anymore, but she savors the smells in sweet memory.

Before they reach her booth, the silversmith, asks her to come inside his shop for a moment. He has something he’d like to show her. She follows him up the steps as he unlocks the back of the stall and reaches inside the safe. “I made this especially for you,” as he hands her a small velvet pouch. She looks at him, quizzically. “Come on, I hope you like it,” he takes the pouch and opens it to reveal a thick silver wide band ring with a moonstone oval cabochon in the center. “I hope it fits.” He puts it on her heart finger, but it’s too large. “Here”, she says and places it on her middle finger, it fits perfectly there. “Hmm, not meant for the heart”, she thinks. But it is beautiful and her favorite stone. “I love it” as she kisses him, “Thank you so much, you designed it yourself and put so much work into it” as she admires is on her finger and examines the scrollwork on the band. “It’s truly one of a kind.”

Demons, Gypsy Woman, Romance, Short Story

7. The Gypsy’s Dilemma

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The safety of his embrace, however, is fleeting, there seems to be something that isn’t quite right, but she can’t put her finger on it. She wishes just once she didn’t feel so much or know so much. She really likes him, the summer with him has been very enjoyable, but within his aura, she has always seen another mingling shadow. It has her holding back, his youth has bothered her, but it hasn’t been the main reason causing her to hold back from him. She has enjoyed his company and would like to just ignore things, she is tempted.
He asks about her dream, she wonders if she should tell him. She’s had this dream many times. She doesn’t have dreams about her future, that’s true. But, she does have dreams that warn her about her present and dreams that seem to be indicators of past lives. At times she thinks she’s here on earth to help others settle their karmic debts. Should she tell him about the dream? She gets a very strong feeling that she wants to enjoy the love and attention she can have in the present and not pay attention this time. “Dammit, I want to be loved!”

She holds on tight to him, not wanting to let go, ignoring her knowledge of the karmic debt. One demon of the night can wait.

Dinner gets cold.

Dreams, Gypsy Woman, Romance, Short Story

5. Gypsy Prophecies

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It’s a shame she can’t see her own future, she wonders what is in store for her. All she can do is patiently wait. It’s so difficult, though, the waiting it’s so lonely. She’s so tired always being alone and having to be “strong”.  She doesn’t feel strong. She wishes sometimes like her illness, she really could just fade away into the mist and just be gone.  Lost in thought, she doesn’t hear someone come up the steps to her table.

“Excuse me, miss, remember me, you came to see me last Friday and told me about the baby my wife and I were expecting.”   She looks up from her crystal ball that had held her attention and her thoughts.  “Of course, how are you doing?  How’s the baby?”  The man smiles, and says,“If ever you have another dream about me, please tell me about it.  We had a little boy, 7 pounds 1 ounce.” She smiles and says,“Congratulations, he’s healthy, isn’t he? And beautiful too, I’m sure.” The elephant trainer is brimming over with pride and pulls out all the photos of the baby to show her, she oohs and aahs over the photos, they really are adorable and the new parents are obviously in love with their new son.

It’s Saturday morning and the days of the festival are coming to a close here in this state, it’s beginning to get colder in this part of the country, but it has not deterred the crowds, they are making one last huzzah.  The elephant trainer hurries back to the elephant, he sees a line of children waiting to ride and his helper is getting frustrated without him.  “Again, tell me if you have any more dreams”, he yells as he scurries away and waves to her.  She waves back, “See you later.”

The handsome silversmith looks over at her from his booth, hearing the elephant trainer yell at her and waves at her too.  He has been having coffee with her every morning since that first morning.  They have become good friends, but she just won’t let him close, he wonders why. He wants to find out, maybe tonight.

gypsysoulHer sign up sheet for readings is full up today, tarot, palm, and auras.  Mostly auras, she specializes in auras, she sees them with ease during the day when she is warm.  She enjoys having the hustle and bustle of the crowds around, but not too close, so the corner that she does her readings is tucked away behind a curtain to give her and the seeker some privacy. Sometimes the seeker gets emotional even over good news and tears are always welcome. They allow a cleansing that is necessary.

The curtain parts and in walks a familiar face of a young girl she met last year, she remembers this girl well. The girl was confused about two potential loves, she didn’t know which one to choose. The odd thing was that she had a dream about this girl the night before. It happens sometimes, dreams about people she’s never met, she eventually meets them, though.

Today, the girl is glowing and radiant. “I just had to come and see you today before the fair is over, I’ve been married a month now to the most wonderful man. The one you told me I’d marry. The one that I hadn’t even met when we first spoke! I was confused about two men that turned out to be total losers and you told me not to worry about them or to waste my time on them. Each of them one by one broke my heart. But one day in a coffee shop, the man in front of me bought my coffee, just out of the blue. ‘Paying it forward,’ he said.  It started a whole conversation and I found out he was the kindest and most gentle man.  He said a gypsy woman had bought him coffee the week before and told him to pay it forward. It was you wasn’t it?”

I take her hand, look at her new wedding band still bright with newness and the beautiful face filled with the look of all the tomorrows sparkling within her aura bright white around her. It fills my heart with happiness, that she has found this true love, her twin flame. “I’m so very happy for you that you have found each other, it’s going to last a lifetime. Take care of each other.” As I hug her gently,  she looks over her shoulder and I see her new husband smiling at his bride, he lifts his hand in greeting to me. I wink at him.  “Now go, he is waiting for you,”. She offers to put some money in the jar, I shake my head no. “Consider it a wedding gift.”  She hugs me again and slips it in any way.

 

Poetry, Romance

Bits and Pieces

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Bits and pieces

is my fate.

I was born out of time — too late.

He left this world too soon.

His kiss was sweet; our time was short.

Bits and pieces that’s all we had.

Only a stolen moment or two together

and  he was gone.

I was in the right place at the precise moment he was.

He was here  for only a brief time for me and we loved.

The fire burned fiercely

while we were together.

Oceans separated us,

reality set in and pulled us apart.

Bits and pieces is all we had

with memories to sustain our love.

I was born out of time — too soon.

He was born too late.

Attraction pulled at us,

resistance became inextricable and we loved.

Bits and pieces is all we’ll have.

I will love those bits and pieces,

for after all,

better to have bits and pieces than none at all.

If only I could have more time,

If only I could have more than

bits and pieces.

Maybe someday.

 

 

Dreams, Paris, Romance, Short Story

9. Toto, We’re Not in Kansas Anymore-Gargoyles Watch Over Us

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Gargoyles Watch Over Us

Night has fully fallen and Notre Dame has taken on a whole new dimension. The gargoyles are guarding the cathedral and the city.  As my teddy bear and I walk beneath them they look down upon us and watch as he gently kisses me in the shadows of where we first met. The clouds move slowly across the full moon and the night is slightly chilly, he wraps his arm around me as we continue our walk.  Paris deserves the title “City of Love” for a reason, along our walk we see many couples in the moonlight, holding hands, embracing, kissing and laughing. I look into his eyes and think to myself, “for once I am among those enjoying this pleasure as well and with such a beautiful person, how did I get so lucky?”.  As if he reads my mind, he strokes my platinum blonde hair, and tells me he loves how my hair shines in the moonlight and how beautiful I am.  He feels as if he is the luckiest man in the world tonight to be with me. We stand at the edge of the riverbank in a small park and embrace for the longest time, not wanting to let go.

GargoyleandtheMoonWe circle Notre Dame once more as he watches me take more photos of the gargoyles as I am fascinated by them. They are more predominate at night than they ever are during the day.  Are there more of them?  They seem alive. There is magic in the air. The moon plays peek a boo with the clouds. Teddy Bear and I kiss each time it hides.  We laugh and walk as we play our game with the moon.  We talk about our lives. He asks about my home, how often I travel, if I like to travel, if I like traveling alone if I would like a travel partner sometime.  I look at him as he smiles and looks at me out of the corner of his eyes. I find out that he is not from Paris, but from Italy, but here because he comes from a long line of artists and his family has art displayed in some of the museums.  His story is fascinating. He shows me the museum that is now closed where his father’s artwork is displayed. We have now walked to the west side of Notre Dame and closer to the Musee d’Orsay. He says,. “My apartment is near, would you like to come up for a drink?”  By now, I am becoming familiar with Paris and realize just how close he lives to my flat.  Not far at all.  “Yes, I would love to come up”, knowing full well, it means I will most likely spend the night in my lover’s arms.

  • Photography by Candace Stauber, Notre Dame, April 2016
Dreams, Paris, Romance, Short Story

7. Toto, We’re Not in Kansas, Anymore -Afternoon Showers

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Wrapped in his strong arms, I am content and happy. We lay together skin to skin, not feeling the chill in the air.  He is so warm and our breathing becomes synchronous. The day has been full of new sights and adventures for me, the afternoon, well, let’s say, I’ve met a lover I will not soon forget. His kisses are sweet and slow, his embrace warm and loving, his love-making, giving and demanding at the same time. Energetic and gentle, he’s a considerate lover.  His hands know where to touch but he also knows when to ask if something he does pleases me.

I’m  very happy right now. I make a soft little purring sound.  He chuckles. “So, kitten, are you ready to see the lights of Paris?” I  am comfortable in his arms, he’s so warm, I don’t want to leave this bed.“Hmm, but you are like a teddy bear, you are so warm, I don’t want to leave this spot.”, I tell him, speaking into his chest. He strokes my hair.”Don’t worry, your teddy bear will be right here when we get back if you want.  I know you wanted to see the Eiffel Tower all lit up, didn’t you?”  Okay, he knows exactly what I really wanted to see, he knows I don’t usually go out at night by myself when I travel, and I was looking forward to seeing the famous lights of the Eiffel Tower like I had seen on the news and in magazines.

“Let’s shower, get dressed, go out and we’ll get some dinner too, how’s that sound, kitten?” as I watch him rise from the bed and head to the shower. His muscular body makes me sigh, I enjoy watching that chocolate skin and ass walk away from me. “Mmm, very nice”, I think to myself.  He looks over his shoulder as he starts the shower, “Are you coming?”

The shower was smaller than both of us could really fit, but we manage.  Under the shower, we embrace and kiss.  As we kiss, he lathers up the wash cloth and begins to wash my body. The experience is exquisite. Of course, I am a firm believer in giving as much as receiving and he gets the same treatment from me as well. I cover every inch of his body and soon he starts moaning. “Stop or we may not make it to the sunset, my dear,” I notice just how aroused he is becoming as my slippery hands encircle his ever enlarging shaft. I smile wickedly, lean down and kiss him, slowly and deliberately.

Dreams, Paris, Romance, Short Story

5. Toto, We’re Not in Kansas Anymore -Be Still My Beating Heart

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Be Still My Beating Heart

I wake early the next morning, I still hadn’t adjusted to the time difference from Colorado to Paris, but thinking about Frédérico hadn’t kept me asleep either. I was excited and anxious to see the man. I felt giddy like a young teenager on her first date, that’s how he makes me feel. Looking forward to today I search through my limited belongings.  I only packed one suitcase, not expecting to meet the man of my dreams by any means, so not exactly packing for the occasion.   Okay, something simple and yet classy.  That should do it. I dress and go to the local Starbucks to get my Venti Chai tea and to hook up to the available Wi-Fi.  He said he would contact me before he came to pick me up and the Wi-Fi in the apartment just wasn’t reliable.

Ding. Halfway through my chai, I hear the bell. It’s him. I know I’m smiling. He’s on his way, I tell him to meet me here.  We’re going to have a wonderful adventure today, I just know.

His presence in the coffee shop warms me more than the tea and as he leans over to greet me with a kiss on the cheek. His smile makes his dimples deeper and his eyes glisten. This man knows how to smile.  Not one of those fake smiles, but one that fills his whole face to his eyes.

We are close to the Latin Quarter and decide to walk to the Pantheon, I have no clue where that is, but the walk takes us past small interesting shops and he is patient enough to let me window shop on the way. In fact, there are a couple of jewelry shops I just can not resist and have to go in to see the handmade treasures.  I adore jewelry from other countries and always bring home at least one piece when I travel.  I had to remember this shop later.  The piece I had my eye on was an elegant little gold necklace with an aquamarine oval crystal and azure lapis stone dangling close by.   I didn’t want to take my time though buying jewelry when I was with Frédérico, so quickly moved on.

The Pantheon stood before us at the top of the hill, it looked like something I’d seen in Rome with all the columns. I didn’t expect that I suppose I should have with the name but was surprised. I hadn’t thought about the benefits of him being a museum curator, for one, admittance to any museum in Paris is now easy.  We bypassed the lines and got tickets, solely on his employee ID.  He is such a handsome man, and I noticed the girl in the ticket booth flirt with him and bat her lashes trying to get his attention.  He immediately circled his arm around me and asked for two passes.  She looked crestfallen and handed him the passes.  He smiled at me and gave me a wink. “I am yours, mon cher, and you are mine while you are in Paris.”

Having visited the Pantheon, we walked back to Notre Dame and grabbed a bite to eat at a small café.  It’s getting late in the afternoon. I’m exhausted, to tell the truth. I know I walk a lot while I’m visiting countries but having someone show the city to you is so much better and makes the time go so quickly.  The only thing it doesn’t do is ease the pain of the sidewalk on your legs.  I needed to rest.  We walk back to my apartment, Frédérico knows that we’ve had a busy day today but wants to spend more time with me.  I need to rest for a while.  I reluctantly tell him that I have fibromyalgia and that I need to rest for a bit. I don’t like to admit this to most people about having this disease, for one it’s hard to explain because I look just fine, but my body needs the down time and to pace itself, otherwise I hurt — a lot.  He opens his cell phone and googles it. Looks up at me and says “This?  Is this what you have?”  And points to the wiki page about fibromyalgia.  I smile and say “Yes, but I’m better than most, I take care of myself.”  He continues reading and as he gives me a gentle hug, he murmurs in my ear, “Okay, you go upstairs take a nap, I’ll pick you up at dusk to see the sunset and we’ll go to dinner, how’s that sound to you?”  I linger in his arms, not anxious to leave as I inhale the slight muskiness of him and the aroma of his aftershave.  It sounds heavenly!

Evidently, he is not anxious to leave me either, as he holds my hand and walks me up the narrow staircase to my flat. Sometimes it’s so narrow we can only walk one person at a time, yet he still holds my hand.  I need to rest for a couple of levels, but he is patient and kisses me while he waits.  I think he likes those pauses in the darkened stairwell.  Being so tall, he needs to duck when he gets to the top floor, so he doesn’t hit his head, but we finally make it to my door.

I reach for my key and fumble with it, he takes it and smoothly unlocks my door and smiles as he gives me a sideways glance with mischievous brown eyes. Be still my beating heart.

  • The Pantheon, April 2016, Photography by Candace Stauber
Dreams, Paris, Romance, Short Story, Uncategorized

4. Toto, We’re Not in Kansas Anymore -Oz

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Over the Rainbow

As I slowly make my way up the five flights and narrow staircase to my tiny Cinderella flat I think about Frédérico, wondering what tomorrow will bring. I still feel his kiss on my lips and smile to myself as I climb, blushing at the indecent thoughts I am having as I go up the dimly lit staircase.

In my small one room apartment, I quickly slip off my shoes and throw my pocketbook, camera and jacket on the fold out table. I quickly rush over to the window overlooking the street to see if I can see him somewhere on the streets below. Will I catch sight of that tall, dark haired man walking through the crowds here in St. Denis?  Not many are as tall as he. But, no.  I sigh. All I see are the hustle and bustle of the evening crowds starting to gather at the Cafe Oz beneath my window. The lights are bright and the Paris city is preparing for it’s party time. The city of lights is coming alive. I truly feel like Dorothy now.  I’m not in Kansas anymore and am definitely over the rainbow.

  • Feature Photo: Notre Dame Gardens, Paris, France. April 2016. Photography by Candace Stauber
Dreams, Paris, Romance, Short Story

3. Toto, We’re Not in Kansas Anymore-Breathless

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Breathless

It’s beginning to get late in the evening and I check my GPS on my phone to make sure I know how to get back to my apartment. He asks where I’m staying and I say in the St. Denis area.  He says he’ll walk me to my apartment because it really is near by.  It’s been a busy day and the streets of Paris have exhausted me and confused me enough and I’ve gotten turned around way too many times today in these narrow alleyways, I take him up on the offer.

Where it took me an hour to get to Notre Dame that morning, it only was a few blocks from my apartment and over the bridge.  It was so easy to get to when he took me back.  I chuckled to myself. I had made things so difficult.  Walking through the now bustling district of St. Denis with the outdoor cafes and coffee shops, we pass the Lebanese restaurant and the Sushi restaurant to come to my door.  He says, “It’s been a pleasure, my lady”, as he takes my hand and kisses it gently “I hope I can see you tomorrow, I don’t have to work for the next few days and I would consider it an honor to spend the time with you, I would love to show you Paris. Would you like that? Can I pick you up in the morning?” I smile and say, “I would love it” (are you kidding?  I’m not turning this down!)  He says, “Come here”, as he guides me to the first step to my apartment.  I look at him cautiously.  He tells me to step up. I do, now I stand a little taller, he then holds me firmly at my waist and gently kisses me goodnight. “Bonsoir ma chérie, à demain”, then turns around to leave, leaving me totally breathless.

  • Feature Photo: St. Denis District, Paris, France. April 2016. Photography by Candace Stauber