Tag Board

effie tait: hi carol, just seing if i can do this..thought my smoke alarm was the laptop having a nervous breakdown...F xxxx
Destiny: Hi Carol-- I found this nifty little area too. I liked the story and plan on reading the book! You will autograph it for me won't you? Des
Poppy: Liiiiike the new colors! Vibrant and fresh! Good Job!
Margaret B.: Happy Thanksgiving MacDaniels Clan! from the Biernbaums we'll be over for desert!
Livie: Oh Carol! I have found a new toy. I like how I can stop by and drop in a line or two! Now I can pester you for installments all day long and there is nothing you can do about it! Olivia
Chase & Jordan: Hey Carol-It was the thrill of our life to finally meet you and Steve. Can't decide which one of you we have crushes on. LOL! Let's see more blogging and excerpts please. This story is way too good to let stand still. Chase and Jordan
Danny: hey Kiddo--I know I have teased you about your love of football in the past, but I like your post and admire your presentation. You're a pretty cool chick and Steve is a lucky guy to be able to share football with ya.Here's hoping it all turns out fair. For the record, I am not sure whether or not the Blades can avoid being relegated either, but you are all right about the fine being a mere drop in the ocean. It's just wrong. D.
Louise S.: I think you are so interesting. I have begun to make it a habit to come in here to see what you are up to. Looking forward to more BEHIND THE WALL!
Linda: Carol --I've come in here to read BTW and love the excerpts you've chosen. It was great to see you both in Scotland again (And the kids - how they've all grown!) - even though the circumstances were so sad. You were awesome for Steve at the funeral. I am proud of you. He's a lucky man to have you and I believe he will get through this. With you at his side how can he not.
Rick: CarolPlease extend my condolances to Stve and all your family on the loss of your father in law. I know it ia hard right now, so if i don't get to read you for a while, I'll be thinking of you. Rick
Teej---: Carol and SteveYou know we're here for you if you need anything at all. Grandy was a wonderful man and he will be missed by everyone who knew him.Teej and Deej
Elizabeth: Oh Carol, I am so very sorry to learn of Steve's dad's passing. I am sure it is a very painful time for you and yours. Please accept my sincerest condolances.Eliz
Bea: Carol -\Plase extend my sincerest condolances to Steve on the loss of his dad. I know how much it hurts and how you all loved him. He did sound like a wonderful man and he certainly raised a wonderful son. If you guys need anything... If there is anying I can do...Bea
Danny: Carol-Sorry to hear about Steve's father passing. I can't imagine how much it must hurt. S.
Carol: Danny! You can be so unkind! Does this mean you are happy to see someone hurtin'? LOLFirst of all, he is not MY Sean Bean - Second of all, although his last two films may not have been his best, his performances in both of them were outstanding; I trust you made note of that. Lastly, I saw the game yesterday and truly felt bad about it. There is something fundamentally wrong with how all this was attained by West Ham and I am not so sure I trust what the outcome will be... It has made for
Danny: Hey Carol, Looks like your Sean Bean is having a rough go of it lately. Two bad movies and yesterday his team lost Premiership.
Louise: Carol I stumbled in here on Wednesday evening and have loved every minute. You have a real no nonsense way of writing that I happen to like very much. Terrific job. (Oh and I like your taste in men too. Sean Bean is definitely a hottie!)
Elizabeth: Yeah, Carol, post about your wonderful marriage. We do all want to know. What's your secret for keeping things so tight between you and Steve all these years. Most of the time, I can't stand my husband! LOL.
Carol: Thanks for the remarks everyone - Please remember that the excerpts are very raw. What I have prepared now for the book is infinately more polished... Odds botkins, I love youz!Carol
Bea: Oh Carol, I want to be you! What is your secret for getting on so well for so long with your Steve. We all want to know!
Elizabeth: Carol this is terrific. I am so happy for you! I love the excerpts you have chosen (and I can say that because I know where this is going!) Your time has come and I am so excited to be here to see it all unfold for you!Love you!Elizabeth
TJ: You went to see Christopher Plummer and Brian Dennehey? Why you no good low down... I am SO JEALOUS! I love them both! Still, nobody deserves a wonderful night out more than you, lady!JT
Bea: Hi Carol. Good to see Madison County Event restored. I thought it had fallen off the book.
Ria: Carol this is brilliant! I am amazed at your creativity!
Leah: I love your latest. Perfect Muse. You are so freakin' funny!
Marian: This is really great, Carol! Kudos, kiddo!~ :D
DCH: Ah! As soon as you mentioned Sean Bean, I kind of figured you'd had him in mind for your character. (Which character I'm not certain yet; there seems to be several incorporated in the story -- Steve, Logan and Jamie . . .) I'll read it again! I've known how great Sean Bean is since the first time I saw the "Sharp" series on the History Channel years ago . . and just had to own the videos (now a set of DVDs as well!). I love the Sharp character and Sean is absolutely perfect in that role!
Bea: JEEPERS! How did I miss this?!Terrific stuff, even in its roughest form. I cannot wait to see the final product, m'dear! TJ is right; you MUST finish it! And YOU are right; it IS the best thing you have ever done. How clever you are! INDEED!
Chase: I LOVE THE WAY YOU WRITE! You make me want to be Logan!Chase
Ricky: Hey you! Been reading more Logan. Congrats on rekindling your love affair with Bean! LOLSeriously, Carol, it's damn good!
Carol: Thanks D and all... No, Rick, I have not seen it. I am not inclined to scare myself senseless... LOLCarol
Danny: I love this. Your excerpts from BTW are awesome. I am thrilled for you, Kiddo! Don't let the shock of catching Bean out of his element befuddle you; you're better than that. Loved Madison COUnty Event too! As you would say, it's Good Stuff. Cheers babe.D-man
Rick: You scare me. Have you seen Hitcher? Damn!
Barb -: I am left speechless. But in a good way.
Bea: Girlfriend you are something else. This is awesome tho I am surprised you are sharing it. Is our old fashioned girl going to join the millinium and start blogging?

Please type in the four characters shown in the black box.

Thursday, March 2nd 2006

6:48 AM

A MADISON COUNTY EVENT!

 
~o0o~

A MADISON COUNTY EVENT!
Carol Marsella


Whenever I would spend time with my beloved pal, Connie, there was always a towering pile or an overflowing tote of reading material close by. It was our intense need to devour the written word that introduced us seventeen years ago and immediately sealed our bond as girlfriends. We’d share stories, articles, novels, science projects, recipes, medical advice, you name it. We’d read it and proclaim ourselves overnight experts on any subject that dared to challenge us. Very few writers passed our stringent expectations and those who did became our immediate heroes. We spent many an hour picking their style and cadence apart until we discovered every literary trick they had up their proverbial sleeves.

Connie and I knew we had a good thing going. We’d meet at least once a week for lunch and about twice a month for dinner to chat about our hobby, uh, passion, uh, obsession…all right, addiction. No matter what the discussion, debate or argument, we’d always end the meeting by acknowledging how lucky we were to have found a partner with whom we could freely share our secret worlds of words.

Unbeknownst to me, however, the dynamics of our calm, sophisticated air of intellect and debate were about to undergo a radical change.


Connie’s desperation to speak to me one Sunday morning after Service was palpable. She vigorously made her way through the meanderers lingering about the church aisles and took hold of my forearm. Hastening me away from the pastor, she interrupted his efforts to guide me in selecting the next week's music.

In a hushed but deliberate tone, she instructed me as only a teacher can. “Put aside everything else you are reading and read this book first. The Bridges of Madison County. Got that? The Bridges of Madison County. Stop and get it on the way home. It’s an easy read. You’ll be done with it by tonight and then we can talk. I will phone you at about 8 o’clock to discuss it.” She went on to say it was the story of a photographer – a National Geographic photographer - who had found love while on assignment. Connie knew what a sap I was for a wonderful love story. She also knew I had begun a lifelong love affair with National Geographic when I was a teenager. She assured me it was the book I had been waiting for. Trusting that she knew my likes and dislikes as well as I knew them myself, I did not question her authority.

I knew what I had to do; Barnes and Noble made a sale that day.

Upon my arrival home, I put the kettle on and changed my clothes. In order to read the perfect book, one must be completely unconstrained and have all significant creature comforts close by. This was going to require that I brew a large pot of tea. I freshened up the sugar bowl and sliced a plump, fresh lemon. Then I selected my favorite mug from the cabinet and made up a tray to take to my study. I strategically placed it on the table next to my reading chair. Next, I turned off the phone and the computer. I selected Bach to accompany my read and inserted several hours' worth into the CD player. My favorite fuzzy throw was the last item on my list. I picked it up and made my way to the sanctity of my favorite chair for a reader’s version of an afternoon delight.


As I made my way through the character introductions of the first few chapters, my brow furrowed, my glasses needed constant adjusting, and I could not seem to keep from fidgeting. I cannot imagine why Connie would have told me this was the book I had been waiting for; I just don’t get it. This is not the fine writing in which we are typically interested... It was all I could do to keep from being completely distracted from the story by Waller's high-schoolish style, or lack of style as the case may be... She does not know me at all, I fretted. …And after all this time together, talking books… Go figure… I consoled myself by deciding that it was the story itself and not Waller’s writing that she wanted me to seek after. I did as was expected of me.

Before dinner, I was approaching the final chapters and took a moment to refresh myself. On my way back from the necessary room, I deliberately crossed my study to turn my phone back on. Connie would soon be calling. While standing at my desk fussing with ringer control, I picked up a handful of tissues in anticipation of where the story was headed. They sat next to my empty teapot awaiting their turn to be my significant creature comfort.

As the story and the day drew to an end, I had become consumed by the emotions stirred up by this story and the two people about whom it was written. It didn't seem right to subject them to the harsh glare of my halogen reading light. I lit one single candle in their honor, and let it burn while I dabbed my flooding eyes and pulled my throw over me. Curling up into the barrel of the chair, without realizing it I assumed a fetal position. Seems Mr. Waller was not the literary klutz I had originally presumed!


It was the harsh electronic beep of the phone that awakened me. Connie was eager to hear my thoughts. I wept as I shared my torn feelings of compassion and disdain for both the author and the couple. Honoring or condoning adultery on any level just doesn't sit well with me.

Afterwards, I outlined my plans to get to the library first thing in the morning. I felt the need to weed through old issues of National Geographic until I found a photograph of this phantom photographer. It seemed odd that his name did not ring a bell. My inability to recall his face was driving me quite mad with curiosity.

For some reason, Connie found this amusing.

I didn’t care. Next morning, I jumped out of bed in anticipation of the day. After hurriedly consuming my morning pot of java, I enthusiastically made tracks for the library and my personal version of heaven: hundreds of issues of National Geographic!

For some reason, the librarian had been expecting me, and she appeared to be amused.

It hit me as I sat at my table in the research room clumsily trying to balance a teetering pile of slippery yellow magazines. The research Librarian had also seemed to be expecting me and also seemed to be... amused.

It was an impeccably planned, flawlessly executed practical joke. Connie, my serious friend, my bossy, opinionated, teacher friend had pulled it off. And I, her streetwise, instinct-proud, sentimental friend, had risen to the bait. I took hold of it: hook, line, and sinker. It had further dawned on me that it was more probable than possible that she had shared her expectations for my unwitting victimization with more than just the two librarians.


As you can well imagine, Connie turned out to be one of the most significant women in my life. We shared many a practical joke after that – on both the giving end as well as the receiving… having dubbed that particular one our “Madison County Event”. Through the years we often referred to it, laughing each and every time as though it was all brand new to us.


My dear, delightful Connie is gone now, but the memories of her and of that magnificent "Madison County Event" still linger warmly in my heart. I think of her often and most especially whenever The Bridges of Madison County or National Geographic or Robert James Waller unceremoniously come to mind.
____________________________


A few years ago, while on a weekend trip with my friend Barb, in celebration of my 50th birthday, I visited the covered bridges of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania.

I do not recall whether or not I mentioned Connie or shared stories of her, but she was there in my heart, and for some reason… I was amused.


CM
*A special thank you to "JC" for kicking down a roadblock.
**Additional THANK YOUs to WriteArtista, CleverQuill, Kristen, GrandmaPenny, Doc Dent, and Judy Hanging In for your quidance and advice. You'll never know how much I value and appreciate your help.
 
 
 
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