One Single Impression: Romance

The boy liked her awfully much
But he was a poor kid
From the hills of Woodbury
And she was from Yonkers and then Stamford
And so refined--
She knew how to paint
To play the violin
To sail, sew, embroider
And to shoot (she was a crack shot)--
And her mother was
A Baptist and so very strict
But the boy liked her awfully much
One day he dressed like a girl
And applied to work
As her mother's household servant
But her mother the Baptist
Was as quick and sharp as a switch
And she chased
Her future son-in-law
Who would become a plumber
Down the road.

My grandmother told me this story many a time when I was young. It goes without saying she was proud of her dad's gumption and grit. The story went on: after the death of his father-in-law, my great-grandfather would take in his mother- and sisters-in-law and support them. They would live in the home for which my great-grandmother drew up the plans and my great-grandfather had built for her. My great-grandparents would have six kids, live well, and love each other to the very end.


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42 Comments

  1. What a wonderful poem and story Sandy! I'm so glad you also explained the history behind your words. Well done with the prompt!


    PS:I sent an email earlier. Now I am online for a bit, change of plan. Hugs...

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  2. Thanks for sharing this love story that bloomed!

    Aloha-

    Cloudia's Comfort Spiral

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  3. what a fun family story, hope you are collecting them for the younguns to appreciate their heritage.

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  4. Because of the opposition, their love grew stronger!

    My oldest sister was like that. Parents disapproved of her getting married jsut after her 16th birthday (she had graduated from high school tho) and because of this, her marriage lasted longer than anyone predicted. She had to prove to them that he was the guy for her. She died a couple years ago, still loving the man our parents opposed.

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  5. Thanks for this. I liked your background to the verse.

    I hold myself in the doorway

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  6. Hi Sandy, I like this. As a sow's ear who married a silk purse I can feel for the fellow.
    I do like it that you called him the future SIL. From that it means they lived happily ever after. Right?
    Your vignette gives the answer.
    ..
    Oh yes, even the sow's ear can catch some runoff poise from the silk purse. But still he will never ever become a silk purse.
    ..

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  7. Anonymous12:47 AM

    Oh, I love a true love story!

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  8. Sandy, I like this poem: there is love, there is great positivity.
    Happy Sunday!

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  9. What a great story!

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  10. wow! it's so nice of you to share this story because it somehow reminds us of the stories that our grandparents shared to us. the values. their priceless experience.

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  11. As the story teller of your family now you should indeed pass this on. It is a very romantic story. One we know that they 'lived happily ever after.'

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  12. Enjoyed this one.

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  13. zoya gautam9:27 AM

    .. never understood why plumbers are so romantic,..till now ie ..

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  14. A true romantic story :)
    Beautiful Sandy!

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  15. heartwarming through and through

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  16. Beautiful and lovely story !! Thanks for sharing...Unseen Rajasthan

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  17. How many times has this scene been played out?

    You really gotta like the girl an awful lot to work that hard. But that was the point after all, wasn't it?

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  18. I loved that story. Different, fun and honest.

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  19. This is a very wonderful love story and I admire his persistence!

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  20. Sandy: That was such a neat story to share in your tale.

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  21. Now, this is true romance...what a wonderful story, and all the better because it's true. Beautiful!

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  22. Sandy,
    Thank you for sharing this tale, it is one that makes me smile and to imagine that it is a true tale, wonderful!

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  23. beautiful lovely story!

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  24. What a sweet, sweet story..

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  25. That could be a parable from the Bible. That's it's true and part of your family history makes it all the more powerful.

    If this is one single impression of romance, who needs more?

    Beautiful!

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  26. Wonderful story, Sandy. You had a most interesting family.

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  27. lovely flowers in the window.

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  28. Sandy, I love this storyand I am grateful fr your comment and really like being your friend.

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  29. I love this story. A person's occupation certainly doesn't dictate the person they are on the inside or how much love they have to give. Thanks so much for sharing. XX

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  30. it was a fun read and lovely at the same time. love would make someone do the undoable :-)

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  31. what a wonderful story!! all the more so because it is true. thank you for sharing a perfect pairing of true romance & humor...

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  32. Anonymous6:40 PM

    such a cute one..

    i love this prompt

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  33. such a lovely story of love and romance! thank you for sharing it my Dear Friend

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  34. I love true romance, lasting love and personal happiness. This was a true delight to read!

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  35. Better than any reverse-cinderella! Thanks, Sandy--lovely to read and more so to contemplate the adventures they had...and then, here you are!

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  36. Anonymous3:58 AM

    beautiful! :) the words stand out in itself, but the background makes it even more better!

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  37. What an interesting legacy you have there Sandy. Very sweet and romantic. Heart and love won!

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  38. So glad that you wrote this bit of your history down so this beautiful love story can be shared through the generations.

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  39. What a wonderful story!! I love how you incorporate your family history into your poems- they are fun to read!!!

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  40. How wonderful! thanks for sharing this!

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  41. I so admire your great grandfather's pluck and the endearing generosity that has become your legacy. A heartwarming story of enduring love, told with such tenderness.

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  42. what a fabulous story, and so nicely expressed. But the last three lines are priceless!

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