December 19, 2001 - In One Corner of My Heart
 
 
Welcome to 2TheHeart!


"Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart... filled it, too, with a melody that would last forever."
~Bess Streeter Aldrich


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Whispers From Heaven for the Christmas Spirit" is a beautiful coffee table book of uplifting Christmas stories, co-authored by Susan Fahncke and is available now at 30% off! To see the book and ordering info, visit: www.2theheart.com/books

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Send a FREE OhAngel Christmas card! With hundreds of angel ecards and beautiful holiday cards to choose from, this is a wonderful way to send Christmas cheer to loved ones!
www.2theheart.com/free_ecards_/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



"In One Corner Of My Heart"
by Nancy Julien Kopp
 
Michael's arm was wrapped protectively around my shoulder.  He pulled me closer and gave me a little squeeze.  We were deeply in love.  We were also in kindergarten.  Michael Stella was the first boy to fall in love with me.
 
That particular day we were sitting on the rug, gathered around our teacher, who was reading a story aloud.  Miss Horst, who was a sophisticated, silver-haired woman, stopped reading and
said, "Michael and Nancy, we do not sit like that in school."
 
I responded quickly.  "It's all right," I told her, "we're getting
married."
 
She moved quickly then to separate us.  But, it didn't matter. 
Michael continued to be my boyfriend that year and through many more years of our grade school career.  He was always kind and protective, even when I began to dislike his attention.
 
We walked home from school together frequently.  I carried his books and mine, while he toted his big tuba that he played in the school band.  I was a welcome visitor in his home.  His father was a quiet, kind man, and his mother was loud, flamboyant in her apparel and demeanor, and very loving. She was the only mother I knew who wore a leopard skin coat and hat, bright colored dresses, and spiked heel shoes on platforms to go grocery shopping.  She love me, too...probably because her son did.
 
We were definitely a contrast in looks.  His Italian-Greek heritage
showed in his olive skin, dark hair and eyes, while I, of French and
Irish heritage, had curly red hair and a very fair complexion. 
Michael was big for his age, and I was smaller than most of the other girls in my class.  Quite a pair we must have made.
 
We reached an age when our classmates began to tease us, and I began to avoid Michael.  I would walk home with my girlfriends instead and giggle with them about things he might have said or done.  It wasn't that I didn't like him anymore.  I did, but I was too immature to stand up for him when others laughed at the big projects he always talked about.  Oh yes, he was a Wheeler-Dealer, even as a kid.
 
The summer after seventh grade, he asked me to come over to his house one day.  We were there alone, and he told me he had three things to ask me.  First, he wanted to know if I liked him.  "Sure, I do," I answered.  Second, he asked if I would 'Go Steady' with him.  See him exclusively, only dance with him at the rec complex.  I told him no and gave him no reason.  My heart began to beat more rapidly because I knew what the third question would be, especially if I had said yes to the one he had just asked.  He looked so sad and dejected after I had turned him down.  Then, he sighed and said, "No use asking the third thing now."  And, I was saved from that first, scary kiss.
 
Now, I know the only reason I turned him down was that I was afraid of what all the other kids would say.  Again, youth and insecurity. 
 
But, Michael never gave up.  The next summer, he took me to
Riverview, a Chicago amusement park, and we had a wonderful day together.  It was the last time we saw each other before high school started.  I went to the public school, and he attended the Catholic Prep school. He called occasionally just to talk.
 
Finally, my high school graduation dance arrived, and, since it was
Girl Ask Boy, I called and invited him to be my date.  There was no
one special in my life at the time, so I thought immediately of good old Michael.  And, like always, he came to my rescue.  We went to the dance and had a lot of fun.  He called one more time shortly after that to ask me to go on a Blind Date with a friend of his, which turned out to be a disaster.  It was the last time I would talk with this boy who had loved me for so many years.  We both went to college in different places and moved on with our lives.
 
I eventually met and married my dear husband, Ken, and have never regretted it for one moment.  Our nearly 38 years together have been filled with love and happiness.  But, I sometimes think about Michael Stella...wonder what became of him.  I hope that he found a girl to marry who would appreciate his kindness and gentle ways.  Forevermore, there will be a tiny corner of my heart reserved just for him.


 
Nancy Julien Kopp  copyright 2001
kopp@networksplus.net


I write for both children and adults.  I especially enjoy sharing
memories of days gone by.  I live in the Flint Hills of Kansas with
my husband, Ken.  We are both active in our church and community.  You can find more of my stories in the archives.  Look for "To Celebrate A Life", "My Little Chinese Angel",  "Tears In The
Water", "To Touch A Child" and others.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's not too late! Send a spa gift certificate or Gift Bundle for a
spa located in any area! Voted the BEST way to give a spa to anyone, anywhere, this is the Christmas gift that will be her favorite! http://www.qksrv.net/click-404250-19638

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Letter Box:



Dear Karen,
I loved your story so very much.  I've had a really hard day today
and finally sat down at the computer to your story and was amazed that you were telling my story.....but, with different names.  My Pawpa Gore was a "Pentecostal.....fire and brimstone" preacher and I adored him!  He always called me Susie-Q!   Imagine my surprise when I went to your picture on 2theHeart and there was a man who could pass as my Pawpa's twin!  I needed this story.  My Pawpa passed away 2 years ago last Sunday and instead of sadness now.....I'll concentrate on his legacy!~  Thanks for a wonderful story and the great memories!
 
Blessings!
~Sue Henley
doupray2@charter.net



Karen,

I, too, had a Grandpa Harper and just reading his name in your warm, beautiful story brought back wonderful memories.  His favorite phrase was "my landy," which preceded (and ended) so many of his stories--stories of his youth, of simpler times, and of his first wife, Minnie, my grandmother, who died before I was born.  He was also a devout man and an ordained minister. Though he didn't preach in public after my birth (at least not in my memory), I can just imagine him bringing the Word of God to others in his endearing way, praising Jesus, and scattering "my landy" throughout his sermons.
 
Grandpa also chuckled a lot and today I heard that chuckle again--
thanks to you.
 
Yours,
~Deb Simmons
simmons@pathwaynet.com



Dear Susan,
This is just a little thank you note! I have LOVED your Christmas
quotes that you put at the top of 2theheart every day. I had a great idea and printed them all out. On Monday when I get together with my sisters for our yearly Christmas Eve brunch, I will present each of them with a little booklet of the quotes that I am making. I know they will love it! Thanks!
~Kim Everett


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


www.2theheart.com
Making a difference, one story at a time!


Subscribe: 2THEHEART-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Free eCards: www.2theheart.com/free_ecards_/
See our store! www.2theheart.com/our_store_/
To submit a story to 2TheHeart: www.2theheart.com/submit_story/
Archives: www.2theheart.com/archives



To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
2THEHEART-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

 

    Making a difference, one story at a time!