 One day, her family moved to the country, where Laura was introduced
to trees and grass. She became a tomboy because boys had so much
more fun than girls. Laura climbed trees, rode minibikes and raced
the boys in her bare feet. Bluejeans were her clothing of choice,
and everything she owned was made of denim, even her shoes, should
she decide to wear them.At some point, in middle school, Laura
suddenly discovered boys... and chocolate. The boys, however, didn't
know Laura existed, so chocolate became her best friend. The boys
were still unconscious when she got to high school. Laura began to
do things like brush her hair more than once a day. She started to
wear shoes and let the boys win a race now and then. She still wore
hand-me-downs, but they were from people who didn't know her.
The boys remained comatose.
Laura thought, "What do I have to do?" She thought about hanging
a neon sign around her neck that said: This is a Girl! How silly.
Then one day in 11th grade, while working at her first job, a boy
-- an actual boy -- came to talk to her! She wasn't even wearing her
neon sign! He put his arm around her and she felt safe and happy...
like she didn't need chocolate that day. Amazingly, this boy, who
was definitely not unconscious, came to talk to Laura every day.
They shared their hopes, their dreams and their chocolate.
[to top of second column] |
 Laura was awed by this guy. He didn't seem to care what she wore
or whether she went barefoot. He made it clear that he would love
her whether she brushed her hair or shaved it all off. He was proud
of the fact that she could win a race against him. He just wanted to
be the guy she ran with. He told her that the guys at her school
were blind and their tastes probably ran toward sheep rather than
women. Laura loved him for that.
One year after graduation, Laura married her knight in shining
armor. Over the years, she had many bad hair days, and he found out
that she doesn't cook so well either, but he still loved her. His
armor dimmed just a bit, but she loved him even more. She encouraged
his dreams and he made them happen. She was finally able to buy her
own clothes.
Babies and mortgages, job losses and setbacks, dirty diapers and
midlife crises, Laura and her man welcomed all of these challenges
with the strength that comes from true love, new clothes and
chocolate.
Truly, they lived... happily ever after.
[By LAURA SNYDER]
Laura Snyder is a nationally syndicated columnist,
author and speaker. You can reach her at
lsnyder@lauraonlife.com
or visit www.lauraonlife.com
for more info. |
