Everybody loves a good love story.
Or at least that’s how it seemed after I posted “A Love Story (Sort of)” here on my website a few weeks ago. Maybe because it was written in springtime, or maybe because the internet is filled with romantics, but everybody fell in love with the bi-coastal, long distance love affair between Cookie and Marty. People were touched by this rekindled 55 year-old romance between two people separated by 3,000 miles and family responsibilities. The general consensus: Cookie and Marty should see each other again. They need to have their beach chairs on the same sand where the fates can guide their hearts and their next chapter of a love story. One woman even volunteered her air miles to buy an airline ticket for Cookie to go visit Marty.
When I read that, I knew I had to call Cookie.
“I already decided,” she told me, using that same Bronx accent that Marty keeps insisting she doesn’t have (“You sound Californian to me!”). “I decided we gotta meet,” she told me. “How can we not meet?”
Since the story broke, and now the whole world knew, Cookie was getting a lot of phone calls from friends telling her to “go for it.”
“What does that mean?” I asked her.
“I’m gonna buy a ticket and go see him. How can I not?”
That was two weeks ago she told me this. I called her a couple of days ago to find out the date she was leaving for New York and her rendezvous with Marty.
“I’m not sure I’m going,” she now admitted, nervously. “I don’t know which is better – wanting to go see him, or actually seeing him?”
Why the hesitation, I asked her.
“What if it ruins what we’ve already got, which is pretty damn good the way it is. But what if I go see him, and it ruins everything?”
She had a point.
Marty adored her. Cookie was becoming the center of his universe (“We talked for five hours yesterday on the phone! I don’t talk to anybody that long! “) This was all so new to her; she wasn’t used to being adored, and frankly, she kinda liked it. She wasn’t about to risk that adoration by doing something stupid like actually seeing Marty.
“What if I don’t like the way he looks? It’s been 55 years!” she said to me. “Even Marty says, ‘You might take one look at me and go running back into the plane.’ That could happen you know!”
Cookie was chickening out.
Was it worth risking all this adoration for a few measly days of being together?
Wasn’t it better to feel love but not have it than to face it and get over it? Who knew how long they could keep this going? The emails. The phone calls. The day dreaming. All of it was just so sweet and just so wonderful. But to travel 3,000 miles, put a bunch of money on her almost-maxed out VISA card, spend a couple of days on the east coast (in the middle of summer when it’s hot!) and risk disappointment, conflict, complications, and just plain heartache?
Who needed it?!
Cookie knew the path love always took and it never ended up like in the movies. And she loved that kind of love in the movies. Not the new movies, the old black and whites ones, the classics. The ones where the girl was adored and the guy would do anything for her. You never saw the other part of it, that wasn’t important. You just saw all the good stuff, and that’s what made love in the movies so perfect. That’s what Cookie wanted now in her life; she wanted that kind of good-feeling love with a soundtrack, and rolling credits.
Love from a distance might be just the answer.
Hell, they used to have it in the past. Remember Lancelot and Guinevere? Courtly love, it was called. A knight would pledge his love to a Lady, and that love would inspire the knight to do great deeds. No one really spent much time with the other person; there were no dates, no expectations, no misunderstandings, no regrets, no partings. There was just sweet love from a distance; the man was noble and the woman adored.
Cookie would be fine with that.
Really? I asked her.
“I don’t know,” she admitted, quietly. “I don’t know what I should do.”
I gave her some silence to figure it out.
“From a distance, he’s a knight,” Cookie explained. “But up close, he’s exactly my kind of guy: No money and he’s married. Why push my luck?”
What do you all of you think? Is it better to love from afar and never be disappointed? Or should Cookie push her luck? Tell me what you think, and I’ll tell Cookie.
(The story continues: A Love Story (Sort of): The New York Rendezvous (Pt. 1), A Love Story (Sort of): The New York Rendezvous (Pt. 2)…)
Darlene Craviotto 
Cookie is right! I wish you had written this 2 weeks ago. I met someone and totally ruined it. Should have just not done that. Eeeks >.<
And he is married so well you know
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Oh No!!!! I should have put a disclaimer on that first story. “Caution! Do not try at home.” I’m so, so sorry. But look at it this way – I think many of us experienced something like that when we were young. It teaches us to grow up and be smart. Once burned, never tempted to sit too close to the fireplace again. Or something like that…
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hahaha sigh! At least something good came out of it and one night in a drunken stupor I bought this domain http://www.roastedkeyboard.com hahahahaha ❤
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Oops! The link led to this:
“This is somewhat embarrassing, isn’t it?
It seems we can’t find what you’re looking for. Perhaps searching can help.”
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hahaha I know cause I haven’t posted yet! but you can view my portfolio, personal blog and contact me! Isn’t that rad? 😉 hahah http://roastedkeyboard.com/personal-blog/
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I would definitely be interested in hearing the male perspective here. After reading the latest, I am torn! Maturity has a certain wisdom that shouldn’t be ignored.
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Yes, I agree about wisdom ruling the day here. I certainly don’t want my friend to get hurt.
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Well I took the plunge got the ticket and off I go in July. Did I do the right thing? I think so….
Cookie
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You’re a pretty smart cookie, Cookie. I trust your instincts. Marty must be thrilled.
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Marty is MORE than thrilled!!!
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This is wonderfully told, and I can see the screenwriter in the dialogue and narrative pace. These stories cross the world too, because I’m sitting in a tiny village in a remote part of England, and cheering Cookie and Marty on. Mind you, I know Brooklyn, and have Norman Mailer’s Brooklyn growl in my head after spending three years writing about him. But this is great storytelling, Darlene, so keep on keeping on!
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Thank you so much for reading this, and for your compliments, William! And yes, I love dialogue so I have a tendency to use it a lot in my writings. Originally, I wanted to just be a playwright, but I got carried away by Hollywood and screenwriting.
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I am counting the days to seeing Cookie again and embracing her. I’m sure a lot of tears(happy ones) will flow.
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I am so happy that the two of you will finally be in the same place at the same time. I think everyone is rooting for you and Cookie.
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Hi Darlene, Great story, can’t wait to get the next chapter after Cookie comes
home. I love his line that she doesn’t have a Bronx accent. Maybe he needs
a hearing aid, :). I was one of the pushers in making her book that ticket. I’m
glad she did it and I bet it turns out great.
Laura
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It’s so ironic that I wrote this second installment on the same day Cookie booked her airline ticket. What are the chances, right?! I’m glad you encouraged her to take a leap of faith and travel to see Marty. I have my fingers (and toes and everything else) crossed that it works out great. Cookie deserves it!
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Hello,
I have nominated you for the “Inspiring Blog Award”
http://raaniyork.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/inspiring-blog-award/
The rules are:
1. Thank the nominating person with a link to their blog.
2. Post 7 things about you
3. Nominate 15 bloggers for this award
4. Inform them that you nominated them.
Have fun.
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That’s so kind of you. Thanks!
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You’re very welcome. I think you deserve it.
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As soon as I find some time (tomorrow or the next day) I will be setting up a special page on my website to post the award. I’ll come over to your site and let you know when I’ve done that. Thanks again!
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Funny. I met a guy I knew in grade school at a reunion seven years ago. He is on one coast I am on another. We speak on the phone at leat once a day and we see each other when we can. It is a great relationship. We often talk about getting together in one place permanently. Maybe one day….. 🙂
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Hmm, a trend possibly…?
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Not to be a party pooper, but what does Marty’s wife think about all this?
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That’s a good question, and one that I’ve been waiting for someone to ask. According to my first post, Marty and the wife have an understanding. If you haven’t read the first part of the story – “A Love Story (sort of)”– you can read it here: https://darlenecraviotto.com/2012/05/17/a-love-story-sort-of/.
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I think it’s all gonna be good. They two owe it to themselves to meet face to face. I believe in those black and white classics. Why can’t it have a happy ending? They certainly derserve one. To be able to build a relationship without all the physical stuff getting in the way. That’s how you know it’s real. It’s time for the next step. I can’t wait!
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You can never have a happy ending if you’re afraid to take that next step. You’re right: It’s time.
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Oh dear…I certainly hope their visit goes well. True love is so rare, and I’m glad she made the choice to purchase that ticket! She would regret it forever if she didn’t do this so she will KNOW. Wish her luck for me!
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Will do! Cookie promises me an update, and I’ll be posting it on the blog.
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