First Loves

First Loves Blogfest

I have joined another blogfest hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh which is focused on our First Loves. Participants need to post 4 first loves: first movie, first song/band, first book, and first person. So, here I go!



First Movie: The first movie I ever remember going to was The Jungle Book. However, the first movie that I remember that made an impact on me was E.T. I loved everything about E.T. The friendships, the love, the science fiction, the hiding, and the discovery. I mean, who can resist loving a cutie, wrinkly little alien creature who says, "Ill be right here." I can't even count on my fingers how many times I saw this movie. I even had an E.T. birthday cake in the 5th grade! 



First Song/Band: I'm not sure if this is the first song I heard or first song I loved, so I will share a little of both. My first concert ever was Olivia Newton John. My oh my.... Let's Get Physical!  But, my first band love was Duran Duran. I was completely obsessed, much like the little Beilebers are now. I had my walls covered with the band, all their longplay albums (remember those) and belonged to all the fan clubs out there. 




First Book:  I became a reader in the fifth grade when I discovered the book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Then the movie came out which made me more of a fan because of all the cute guys... Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe... :)

My hubby and I

First Person: Now, what is this supposed to mean? [{blushing}]  My first real boyfriend was in the eighth grade, Steve Ngyugen. I can't believe I remember his real name. My first love was Shelby. And my first real love was my hubby, Rafael. 






Love my first loves! Thanks for reading!

If you want to read more entries or participate, visit the link above. 

Love Metaphors

Since I am an English teacher, I have the opportunity to teach writing to my students. I have a Writing Notebook I share with my students and require that each student keeps their own. Whatever assignment I give my students, I must do. In honor of this, I will share with you my Exploring a Love Metaphor assignment.

Love is an empty field with only one other person there.
     The one person is your soul mate.
     The field is empty as your heart until you see your true love who fills the space.

The image that came to mind when I wrote this metaphor is from the last scene in the latest movie-version of Pride and Prejudice, my all-time favorite romance. When Elizabeth Bennett takes a desperate walk outside and sees Mr. Darcy striding across the field in the early morning. You see the determination in his movements and the delight in her shocked expression when she recognizes him with the sunrise behind. Ah! Sigh! That is love!


Love is a new song playing on the radio for the first time.
     The excitemnet of hearing it swells up your heart.
        The enjoyment of dancing and singing along.

In the 80's, I was a big-time Duranie. If you are a child of the 70's, you must know what that means. Duran Duran encompassed my dreams, thoughts, and actions my entire early teenage years. When their new single, Notorious, hit the radio, I still remember screaming as if the world was about to end. Turning the humongous dial on my casette-tape/radio boombox, I danced around the room giddy with happiness. As Casey Kasem told the band's story afterwards, I jumped to my telephone to call my best friend so we could scream into eachother's ears. I will always remember Duran Duran and the LOVE I felt everytime I heard a new song.

By the way, the one on the right, John Taylor, was supposed to wait for me and marry me when I was legal.  Guess he didn't hear the news back then. :)

Love is counting your babies fingers and toes the minute after he's born.
      Touching this little baby and feeling them for the first time.
      Smiling down into his face, counting off 1-2-3-4-5

My mom's first memory of me as a baby was how she counted my fingers and toes, "to make sure they were all there." I always remembered that and when all three of my children were born, I counted each and everyone. There's nothing more special than holding your child in their first seconds of life. The only word I can use to describe this is LOVE. That overwhelming feeling that evades your body as you look down into that precious face. LOVE.



I invite you to write your own metaphors of love. It's quite fun once you get started. What do you compare love to? When do you feel love? One sentence is all you need! Now it's your turn.

Happy writing,
Melinda