Book Coincidences

 

 - In "To Tame A Highland Warrior" by Karen Marie Moning, Grimm is a Berserker. 

I'll stop myself from babbling, but that character feels familiar to me. His personality. I love pretty much all the men in her Highlander series, but I think Grimm’s personality is a lot like Patrick’s. 

I actually think there are some similarities between that book couple, and Patrick and me. 

 - In that Until You book Nat mentioned to me, I learned that in the story Patrick suffers from amnesia.

And well… the book I was reading at that time was A Kiss to Remember. Oddly enough, the man in that story is thrown from a horse and found unconscious in the woods. When he wakes up they learn he has amnesia. (By the way… there's yet another recent book of mine I'm reading that has a similar scenario – hunky man found unconscious in the woods).

But I guess I’M the one with “amnesia” about Patrick in this life, huh?

- The lady in A Man in a Kilt is always referred to as being “odd” by her husband. He later admits that he loves her odd ways. (Which echoes the dream Nat had, and maybe even the Beauty and Beast stuff).

 Excerpt from Nat's Gerry Butler (Scots Actor)/Patrick Dream:  

(Well, more like automatic writing while sending me an email about her dream)

**** That you were so different from him that it amused him and attracted him to you like no other. The traits that he once thought were odd about your personality and your ways, now enchanted him and he loved you the more for those "quirks" and personality traits that he found so different from himself. You were like a different species to him at first since the 2 of you were so different in your ways, that he thought it odd at first (that you were a bit odd) but he quickly fell in love with those traits and quirks and found you irresistible. Like a moth to a light. He wondered at your ways and never really did understand all your differences but that's what made him love you even more. You were absolutely irresistible to him and he loved you like no other. A wondrous creature you were. You bewitched him body, mind and soul. You were like no other he had ever seen or met before. ****

- Oh! I just remembered that in A Man in a Kilt there is one part of the book where he's trying to get her on his good side, so he appointed her as a CHATELAINE of his castle. (This book is set in modern times by the way). She was told by a lady there that that proves how high up he thinks of her, b/c he's entrusting the keys to his castle to only her.

Maybe it's all just coincidence, but it's happening with books - and even my own writing - so much lately. It's the timing that gives me pause.  (I read a lot and this was the first time I've seen any mention of a chatelaine).

 

Bought and read “Everything in its Time” by Dee Davis today. It started out really good, but after that it failed to entertain. This story had tremendous potential, only I didn’t really “feel” for these characters. I just didn’t feel their pain. They didn’t feel all that “real” to me after a while. There were some quotes that I liked though.

And again, coincidences popped up. A LOT of them, but I'm only going to share a few. Here are the excerpts, along with any comments:

************

- The word “warrior” popped into her mind. It was an apt description of the man. Yet she knew that, despite appearances, there was gentleness in his strong hands and in the firm curve of his lips. 

(Note: Patrick is always described the same way. A fierce looking warrior on the outside, but really gentle).

Obviously, real or not, you have developed quite a bond with this man. So much so that he keeps you from finding someone here in the, quote, real world.” 

Katherine felt the color rush to her cheeks. “Don’t start that again. You know I’d like a relationship. It’s just that I can’t find the right man.” 

“You can’t find him.” 

(Note: This is what my aunt and mother have said about me and Patrick. But personally, I think it’s possible that they’re romanticizing why I’m alone so far in this life). 

“Iain.” Katherine looked intently at her salad. “His name is Iain.” 

(Note: In my notes for a story that I want to write, which is loosely based on Patrick, I’ve given the ghost the name “Iain”).

“What about ‘our ivy tree?  Does it mean anything to you?"

“Maybe. I’m not sure. It might be a reference to a book. One winter Katherine was really into this author, Mary Stewart. Kitty read every book she wrote, but her favorite was ‘The Ivy Tree.’” 

“What was it about?” She cocked her head to one side, waiting for his answer. 

“I never actually read it, but it had something to do with lovers who had a secret place, a hole in an ivy-covered tree, where they left messages for each other.” 

(Note: In my first book, what did I write but that there was a fallen tree struck during a storm where young couples hide love letters in the gap where the lightning bolt hit). 

“I’ll love you forever. Never doubt that. And know that if I canna be with you in life, I will find a way to be with you in your dreams.” 

(Note: Duh!) 

More coincidences related to that book and the one I want to write that is loosely based on Patrick –

- “Mrs. Abernathy” was the innkeeper of the castle. 

(Note: In my own book “Mrs. McGrath” will be the innkeeper of the castle. But a day or two before I bought the Dee Davis book, when adding notes to my story I mistakenly called the “Mrs. McGrath” character “Mrs. Abernathy.”  That is just w-e-i-r-d). 

************

- “Elaine” is one of the secondary characters. 

(Note: In my story I’ve been considering having “Elaine” be the name of the heroine during her past life).

************

Iain and Katherine’s child is named “Anna.” 

(Note: This is grasping at straws, I admit, but... my aunt and friend have both said they thought my name in my past life was Anna-something.

Just a thought – again, this is grasping at straws – but in a young adult story of mine I gave the heroine the name “Annalea” b/c I liked the name ever since I heard it from my aunt. 

And a few weeks ago I realized that I stupidly made another character in that story’s name be “Ann.” Lol! So maybe there’s a subconscious reasoning to my liking that name? I’m not sure yet). 

Coincidences related to a book I was told about, although I admit this is likely nothing. 

To be perfectly honest, I think this is grasping at straws. I only write it down b/c of all the other book coincidences recently. I'm not going to include all of them either.

************

(email excerpts) 

- There was an age gap between Patrick and I.

Book: “You have shown no interest in a (regal) woman in over 20 years, Patrick. And you could be her father,” he teased. 

“Fortunately, I am not her father,” the earl replied. 

*~*~*~*~* 

- Your automatic handwriting that came through when you wrote about that Patrick/Gerry dream that you had – “You bewitched him body, mind and soul. You were like no other he had ever seen or met before.” 

Book: “Are we bewitched, Patrick?” she asked him.

 

 Love is Real Coincidences - 

For the past couple days I’ve been feeling very uneasy about the twin flame/soul mate theories out there. (It makes me think Patrick doesn’t have his own identity, and vice versa. But over these 26 years I HAVE slowly been learning his personality, ya know?) 

But I was reading about the theories when I came across this.

5. Why do many soul mates continually return to each other? 

Because the love is REAL. It is true, and it NEVER dies. You can be apart for decades, and the love will still be deep inside, even if you are living a full life on the outside. 

True love IS eternal. Yadda yadda yadda blah blah blah 

Okay… but then maybe half an hour later I stumbled across another site. On it was a topic with the title Only Love is Real. 

Creativity Takes Courage

Fireworks & Stars

 

I've been dreaming about fireworks lately.

When I looked up fireworks in a dream dictionary, it said they represented creativity, talent and enthusiasm. It also said that stars represent attainment of goals.

In the last fireworks dream that I had, I was looking out through the window to see them. I noticed that as they burst in the sky I could see lots of stars., which I thought odd seeing how only when the fireworks were actually bursting did I see the stars. (The rest of the dream was just boring stuff; like my father saying that a ghost touched him.  Also, the trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean 3 was airing on Mom's tv.  So really.... nothing special).

After writing down my dream I decided to try the tarot cards for a change, about the Patrick book I’ve begun but am having difficulty writing. The cards drawn were interesting, seeing how they're all Wands (manifestation) and then The Lovers.

King of Wands

- Powerful man who is accomplished, confident of his own abilities and strong-willed.

- Talent for inspiring others to reach for the stars. (Stars were in my dream)

- His imagination can encourage us to strive beyond our personal limits.

- Move forward with confidence in what you are doing.

Nine of Wands

- You have the strength to conquer a particular trial that lies ahead.

- This is not the first challenge we’ve faced, and our resolve becomes stronger with each setback. Those past trials have put us in a stronger position than we may realize. (Not being the first challenge could be me finishing two books).

- Do not allow yourself to feel stuck; instead, keep your mind on what lies beyond the present impasse.

The Lovers

- Associated with the #6’ the number of harmony. (I did ask Patrick to help me).

- Choices should not be made lightly, as there is often more at stake than we may realize. (I told Mom the other day I may never write another book again).

~*~*~*~*~*~

 After telling Mom about my stars/fireworks dream and the tarot results, what where we watching on tv but fireworks in “Flight of the Navigator.”

Also-- after Mom read the first 3 ½ chapters that I’ve written so far, and we were discussing it, on the tv was an infomercial for 80’s music hosted by Air Supply. The song playing was “All out of Love,” which is a song mentioned in Ch.2 of my book.

I thought that a little funny.

3 of Swords / A Muse 

(July 4, 2007)

I’ve been wondering if Patrick (or spirits with a talent for writing) is/will help me write this latest story, as it is loosely based on him. So while looking for a new paranormal board to peruse, someone mentioned to somebody else to visit this tarot site. I decided to check it out as well.

I really was doing it for the entertainment value, I admit. I am weary of those sites where some computer program does the tarot readings. Anyway, the question I focused on was if Patrick (or anyone else) is helping me write this book and if it will become easier. (I hope so, as I’m halfway through writing the first draft).



The last card pulled REALLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION. It caught my attention because the 3 of swords is the card I always associate with Patrick. (Because when I first started communicating with him that card was always present for him). The second card, 2 of cups, caught my attention a little bit as well, but the 3 of swords I definitely think is a message.

It’s all about communication and how I shouldn’t be afraid to try to further that communication MYSELF. (Which, I admit, I have been a little frightened of. I just can’t help myself sometimes. I mean… it’s Patrick, but he’s still a “stranger” in some ways. A spirit for cripes sake!)

 I find it funny that it mentioned “obstacles” in communication.

Also “create a dialogue,” not to mention “a relationship situation is tense and frightening.”



Three of Swords in the "Love Challenges" Position



Intervene in the face of a possibly tense relationship situation, summoning the courage others may be lacking.

The card that lands in the Love Challenges position refers to ways that you can turn obstacles into stepping stones. With the Three of Swords in this position, your unique point of view may help lower the stakes in a possibly tense relationship situation. It may even create a dialogue to help relieve the anxiety and strain that has built up or looms on the horizon.

It takes a brave soul to remain optimistic in the face of the storm. You may be able to help salvage some harmony from a stressful situation.

Apparently, you may be the one available person who has the skill and ability to facilitate better communications. While you might resist making a move, it may not be in your best interests to hold yourself back simply because a relationship situation is tense and frightening. Maybe there is something you can contribute that will smooth things out a bit. Have courage! 



“I’m Already There” 
(Feb. 24, 2008)

 

Okay, here is one (possible) sign from Patrick that I received today.  (At first I brushed it off).

After I woke up this morning and sat at the computer, some guy was driving past on his motorcycle with a Lonestar song playing. It was LOUD, and the lyrics I heard were....

Take a look around 
I'm the sunshine in your hair 
I'm the shadow on the ground 
I'm the whisper in the wind 
And I'll be there until the end

I thought the timing of those specific lyrics a little strange, and then add to it me asking Patrick the other day to find a way to let me know that he's around. I had forgotten that I asked him that after I finished my book the other day.

I haven't received many signs from Patrick lately, but seeing how on Wednesday I finished writing "Come Back To Me," I think that that coincidence/the timing alone is saying something.

I just now realized something else...
 On my old website I mentioned another sign with a motorcycle. Maybe that's his way of confirming that yes, this morning's sign really was from him?

Another Impression? 

 

 I awoke early this morning, and around 9 o’ clock I decided to work on my story. I often listen to classical music while editing or writing, and this morning I decided to put in the cd of a song my brother composed over his computer when he was 16. It’s called “Kingdom Skies,” and it has a very medieval/fairy tale feel to it. It’s like the song is telling a very old story.

My niece used to call it “The Beauty and the Beast song.”  (And that's my favorite Disney movie).

It AMAZES me that my brother wrote this on his own when he was so young. He doesn’t even read music and wrote it all by ear/trial and error. Anyway… when I heard that song that’s when I pretty much decided to definitely start writing. I had notes written down, but never actually sat down at the computer and started writing scenes. 

Listening to “Kingdom Skies” got me thinking about how Nat said that Patrick is very good at “impressing” people.    (Like The Phantom? Lol!)

I often wonder if Patrick somehow impressed/influenced my brother to write that song; hence it’s medieval/fairytale-ish quality. (My brother has never displayed any interest in that era). And in doing so, he knew that my hearing that song… which was sooo creative and really did tell a story… would catapult me into the writing. Inspire me.  Light a fire under my arse, if you will.

I don't know.  More than likely that isn't true, but seeing how he seems to be from that era one has to wonder.



Is this over-analyzing?



Even though I NEVER read for pleasure all through school, I was CONSTANTLY wondering how on earth it is that people write several books, much less just ONE novel.



 I mean, it was ALWAYS in my head even though I loathed reading with a passion back then. (I think it was because the required reading in school bored me and was a chore).  I’m starting to wonder if it was Patrick who planted the idea of writing into my head in the first place. I mean, why would a person that never even read for the fun of it - a person that loathed reading - ever think so obsessively about how it is that people write books?

 It’s just like with the paperweight doggie we have lying on A BOOK, which Mom named "Patrick."  (This was loooong before that name ever came up).



How we acquired it is even strange.  My parents and I were at some furniture store, and my father actually told the salesman that we would purchase the piece of furniture only if he agreed to give us the dog trinket for free.  (I remember when he said that I was shocked.  It was just so out of the norm).  The funny thing is that whatever piece of furniture it was that we had ordered - I can't recall what it was now - we never even got.  There was delay after delay after delay, so we finally canceled the order because it was so frustrating.

When all this happened, I wasn’t even writing stories yet.

And one more thing:  In my English class during senior year we had to write a poem.  Now, my initial thought over this announcement was terror.  Absolute raw horror.  How on earth was I going to pen a poem?  How on God's green earth could I ever turn in something so personal and out of my comfort zone?  (I think it had to be two love poems).



When it came time to write the darn thing, I just forced myself to get it done but the strange thing to me is that during that time I felt such RESOLVE.  I dreaded it, but there also existed this ENERGY behind it.  Not only that, but I took it upon myself to write other poems for myself! And would you believe I wrote one years after high school?  I titled it "I Remember."  (Which I now think strange seeing how over a decade later I began having dreams where Patrick says things like "Remember me" and "Don't forget me in my time or in your modern time"). And get this.. the "I Remember" poem was about a spirit!  In the poem this spirit kept saying "I'll never be far."  I even mentioned him "staring into the depths of my soul."  (Corny as hell, but I've had so many dreams where that happened and this was written decades before I started having those dreams).  There was even a part, right before he disappeared, that we looked up at the starry night sky.  (Which echoes that automatic writing where Patrick said "We often looked up at the stars and wondered at them.  I still remember it well").  It would win the Most-Poorly-Written-Poetry-Award-Of-Shame, but the theme matching Patrick/Myself is pretty interesting.  I mean, back then Patrick was just "that ghost" or "that knight" to me.  I wasn't even consciously thinking of him when I wrote any of these poems.

Another poem that I wrote echoes what Nat has said in her readings.  This poem told of a couple that had to only be friends and nothing more.  (That even matches a dream I've had). It's pretty corny, so I'm only going to share the parts that best reflect the readings/my dreams.

Just be forewarned that I had zero aspirations of becoming some poet, so this is like Kid-quality with a lot of sappiness thrown in for embarrassing measure.  (Remember, I wrote this in high school and back then I didn't even like to read!)



We both said it’s over,
And can only be friends.
Still, I can’t help but love you
I know you feel the same.

Whenever I look over my shoulder,
I see you staring at me in a daze.
Then you quickly turn around,
And walk the other way.

 ..................

You kissed me and said that you missed me.
We made such a big mistake.

 .......................

If we can’t be lovers,
We can’t be friends.

.........................

I really have to wonder if that theme wasn't coming from me, but instead Patrick.  Or perhaps it was me sort of remembering that past life?

By the way, back when I was either writing my Patrick novel, or researching agents, one day Mom was in the dressing room at Kohl’s.  While in there she heard a lady in the next stall asking someone if the outfit she was trying on would be good enough to wear at her book signing. Lol!



Forget-Me-Not
 (12-14-09) 



This entry isn't a biggie at all, but is something I ran across yesterday. When my niece and nephew were little, for years I would write in journals for them pretty much every single day. (I have about 40 of them).

I was looking for something in one of them when I stumbled into an entry from one October several years past. In it, I mentioned going to bed one night only to have a scene pop in my head to write into the book I was writing at the time. (This was my first book).

In short, it was a scene set at a train station and "forget-me-not's" (the flower) were mentioned. It was just a little scene, but in that journal I mentioned how I felt like it just popped up from way over my head and didn't come from me at all.

Which now gets me to thinking of all the dreams I've had where Patrick tells me to "Remember" him, or that we "never want to forget each other."

So maybe, just maybe, that little snippet from that story was a scene (also message) that came from him? (Maybe he really IS good at impressing things upon people).  Not to mention the fact that the hero in that book always reminded me of "Neil." Lol!

Reminder: Neil is the character from the old tv series, 'Christy,' in which Patrick used to come to me in dream-state as. I think he went incognito as Neil back then so that I wouldn't be afraid like I was when he came as himself in that tent dream.

Haha!  I just now noticed that the picture I chose to use for this entry has a TRAIN in the photo.  When I chose to use this pic, all I noticed were the forget-me-nots and the sweet cottage.  I was just about to click on 'Publish' when I saw the train in the background of the pic. I gotta say I find that a fun surprise.  I'm not saying it means anything, but it is odd because out of all the pics I was trying to choose from, when I saw this one I immediately knew it would be the one I'd use.



Think... Think... Think

 

Overanalyzing or not?

Seems I'm not alone in receiving a form rejection from Trident after they read the full manuscript. (It's said to be a big deal when Trident requests the full ms, so being handed the rejection after they read the full was a huge let down.  They say it's an "honor" to be rejected by this agency, but I gotta say that's not how I'm feeling).

Yesterday I posted my rejection letter on a writer's board, curious to know if anyone else has received the exact same letter. Afterwards, I noticed that the poster above me (whose name is Patrick, btw) said he sent his full ms request to Trident Media, and that his rejection was a form letter.

So this morning I received a private message from the same guy, stating that his form rejection was the same as mine word-for-word.
 

Does this mean that MY Patrick sent this other Patrick to make me feel better?  I have learned that he's good at impressing things upon people, and this "Patrick" person was the only one to PM me about that rejection, but honestly.... not so sure about that.  It's a pretty thought, but common sense tells me this is just wishful thinking on my part.

 

Coincidence or confirmation?

 

One of the replies to my post yesterday was someone nitpicking how in the rejection letter their grammar was poor. They quoted a section of my rejection:

"Please understand ... what one agent thinks might be different than the views of other literary agents."

Then they responded to that: "Hmmm, I thought it was a form letter until I read that annoying grammar error. If it were a form, it probably would've been proofed to read "different from" the views of others."

**************


Now just WHY would something so trivial catch my attention? Because I was desperate to have some sort of sign that Patrick is around, or was it an actual sign? I'll explain below:

One of my top favorite films of all time (I'm talking up there with Phantom of the Opera) is the old black-and-white film The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.

I go through spells where I am just obsessed with watching this movie. Just a couple days ago actually, I was thinking of watching it again. Anyway, in this film the ghost of Captain Gregg helps Lucy write a book so that she can afford to keep Gull Cottage. There's a scene in there, when they've just started writing, that Lucy admonishes the captain's word usage.

Below I'll paste part of that scene:

 

Captain Gregg: (recites) "The customs of Marseilles are different to any--"

Lucy Muir: "Different from."

Captain Gregg: "To or from, who cares? This isn't a blasted literary epic. It's the unvarnished story of a seaman's life."

 *************

So maybe that really was Patrick's way of telling me he's around? Most signs are subtle and not grandstanding. Not to mention that I have always thought of this latest book of mine as being similar to The G&MM in that I think Patrick helped me write it.

I wish I knew for sure that this meant something. I'm pretty bad about recognizing signs b/c I tend to over-analyze and not have much faith in them.

That is, when the signs happen TO ME.

 I think this is another case of wishful thinking, but wouldn't it be awesome if it was the opposite?




Pep Talk?

 

Now this I meant to mention long before Christmas, but I kept forgetting about it. Long story short, I've been VERY upset about not finding a literary agent for my book. This book is loosely based on Patrick, so not finding an agent makes me feel like my writing must really suck or I'm just not receiving any help whatsoever from anyone on The Other Side; Patrick included.

Then one day I stumbled across a post on a Writer's Forum. This person was really down in the dumps about the submission process and overcoming the odds of ever becoming published. The thread received lots of replies, but one in particular made me feel better about my own pity party.

 I'll post it below:
  
"Wherever you are in the process, keep plugging. I know there are much tougher examples, but I wrote a 110k book, slogged through the process of trying to get an agent, then wound up shelving it. Wrote another book. Got a ton of requests, several quick offers, and now have an agent and am on submission. But guess what? 

After reading the book he offered on, he read the first one. Guess what he said? Yep. 'This one is amazing! Better than the one I offered on.' 

Don't quit.

Don't quit."

So, you wanna take a guess on what this poster's name is?

That's right........ Patrick. The same Patrick that PM-ed me a while back about an agency I was waiting to hear back from and which they were warning me about.

So maybe reading that post was a pick-me-up from Patrick.

Or not. I mean, was that an actual message or was it just something I needed to hear? I have no idea.

While I still feel a lot of unpleasant things about all of this right now, that advice from Patrick # 2 I do try to remind myself of every single day.

To be perfectly honest, I think my first chapter is what's killing my chances.  I feel so strongly that I need to rewrite it.

Coincidences In My Writing

REBECCA, aka "Becky"

- One of the characters in my books – who happens to be Mom’s and mine’s FAVORITE female character b/c she’s so funny and stubborn – name is REBECCA. 

Her nickname is "Becky" of course, and I wrote my book l-o-n-g before I received that evp with Patrick calling me “Becky.”  Also, my sister told me once that she thought my name back then was "Becky."  (FYI: This was my first book by the way).

Rebecca is the one character in my books that seems the most real to me, too. She came to me as a fully-fleshed out character. I intended for her to be a minor character, but she just pushed everyone out of the way and wouldn’t stop talking –  for YEARS. Literally, for YEARS she never shut up. I would be trying to catch some sleep at night, and a line or a scene for her would pop into my head and so I’d have to turn on the light and write it down.
This went on continuously each night, too – for years. She made me lose a lot of sleep.

- However, in the sequel Rebecca finally shut up. Instead, Joseph became the one who wouldn't leave me alone.

Which was fine with me. He’s a handsome Scotsman with an intriguing scar on his left cheek, so I couldn't complain. That would be stupid.



- The one other character that had me losing a lot of sleep... and I do mean A LOT of sleep... was "Iain" in my book that's loosely based on Patrick.  (It's titled Come Back To Me).

I was actually in the midst of writing another story when an overconfident Scot’s burr demanded it was time I inscribe his tale instead, and that I get to work “post haste!”

Not being one for arguing with an intense sixteenth century laird with a claymore hugging his side, I allowed him to talk my ear off for the next year.

  

 PERSIAN CAT and SAD IN CASTLE

I was editing 3 of my stories yesterday when I came across a sentence in my book that matches one of the readings. Since it’s only one sentence, I’ll post it below. 

But first… here’s what that reading said: 

"I keep seeing a picture of you alone in the castle I described earlier looking very sad and lonely. Like you are waiting for him to come back or something. I don't think he ever returned or if he did it was years later."

"I also saw a white persian cat with you in the castle, when I saw you alone and sad." 

The Trouble with a Scot and its sequel, The Trouble with Love: 

There is a white persian cat in these stories. (The white horse, too). The excerpt I'll type below is from The Trouble with Love. The Trouble series is set in Edwardian times.

   “Those castles you’re speaking of can be drafty, lonely places filled with echoes of nothing save your own voice and your own footsteps.”

The Wizard’s Daughter: 

(Here, Annalea used to be obsessed with wanting to live inside the castle walls and be treated like a queen. But now that she has that, she’s miserable and LONELY for some form of companionship. So, again, we have a young lady living inside a castle whom is miserable or dissatisfied.  And FYI - This is a first draft. I only wrote a few chapters before giving up on it).

   “Yes, ‘tis only me, Ann. No footman. No pageboy. No artilleryman or guard.” Mathias carefully and methodically relit his pipe before setting free his cautious afterthought in an unusually brass voice for a wizard of his years. “Although a watchman could very well be searching for you from his post in one of the towers.”

    An impressive moon’s spherical form traveled slowly through the wildwood with each of Annalea’s footfalls. “I won’t be seen tonight,” she supplied. “I was careful.” Annalea dropped her willowy form to sit in the tall grass at her feet. She rested against the rough bark of a tree and closed her eyes.

   “Before, you were nigh screaming to be let into the sunlight of Castlegate, and now you want to hide in its shadows. Why?”

   “It isn’t that at all. I only wanted some privacy.”

   “Don’t you mean companionship? I tried to warn you that the lives of crowned heads are oftentimes lonely, despite being surrounded by persons at all times.” 

LOVE OF ROSES

 Also… remember how it was said that Patrick planted roses for me because I liked them? 

From the Reading:

"Ok, he keeps saying that they're roses but I don't believe roses grow in fields, but I keep hearing 'No, they're roses!' He said he planted them for you!"

"You loved roses he said!" 

 And here’s what I wrote in The Trouble with a Scot: 

   “While people wondered how Mr. Sampson had even met such a girl, they did know that he was devoted to her. Before, he was only committed to isolation and his garden. His wife loved roses, so he planted an entire plot of them for her behind the house.” 

......................

   “He continued his growing of roses for her and spying children saw him out in the garden, talking as if she were standing right in front of him.”

 

And here's an excerpt from The Trouble with Love: 

   The Chapel Hill Cemetery was silent, save for one visitor opening the small wrought iron gate. He bent to one knee, placing a bouquet of flowers on a grave.
   “I brought you some roses, Lucretia. I picked them from Mary’s garden early this morning. Every time I see her roses, they make me think of ye. I’ve ne’er forgotten how much you loved them.”
    Joseph lifted his gaze from the fancy scroll work on the headstone.

Also from The Trouble with Love:

   “Nathan assisted wi’ a lot of the repairs. The roof especially. Mattie and Telia helped wi’ the gardens while Rebecca and Mary polished the inside. The Culbertson children planted those two rose trees that you’re gawking at.” 

   Emily temporarily tore her nose away from the sweet smelling buds. “John Samuel and Beth did this?”

   “Aye. They wanted Amelia and Genny to each have their own tree. It was their and Mattie’s idea. They’ll plant a new rose tree for each new bairn that we have. That’s why there’s nothing planted beside them yet.” A slow smile curved his lips and he executed a quick wink. “It looks to me like they’re expecting us to have at least five or six. And while I assured your grandmother that planting the clover wasna necessary to bring us good luck in the baby-making department, still she insisted upon it.” 

   “Well that certainly puts my mind at ease,” averred Emily with a friendly pat on his arm. “I wouldn’t want my own grandmother staying awake at night, doubting your ability to impregnate her granddaughter a second time. At least you’ve given her some reassurance and peace on the subject matter.” 

   To Emily’s bafflement, he merely sniffed and nodded his head in reply. It really is true, Emily mused silently to herself. Nothing in this whole wide world embarrasses a Highlander.

WATCHING UNAWARES

(And then there’s what he told Nat in a reading as well as in that Gerry dream, about watching me when I was unaware.  I also wrote that in that one stupid poem that I wrote back in high school).

From the Readings:

"I'm seeing a big grassy field with a ton of rabbits hopping around and there's a young girl there with reddish hair sitting in the grass playing with them all having a ball. And I get the feeling you don't know he is there and he is coming to see you and is tripping over all the rabbits. LOL! This is too funny!!!! I can't stop giggling."

*******

"He used to watch you when you didn't know it and just smile while you would roll around in the grass with the rabbits." 

From her Gerry/Patrick dream: 

 "You know, while I was courting her, I would often watch her as I am now when she was unaware that I was watching her and a huge smile would cross my face at the wonder of her enchantment." 

From The Trouble with a Scot: 

(This is one of those times Joseph is watching Emily while she’s unaware.  So far Joseph is the only character I've written that has a habit of doing this). 

    After settling the boarding house’s mare inside the warm stables for the night and measuring out the oats, Joseph took notice of a familiar young creature scurrying her way toward the house. Her dress, once the color of blue violets, was now soaked through and muddied in browns and blacks. Her hair, as Rebecca would say, was “a sorry sight to behold.” Cloaked deep in the shadows he hung back, his wide shoulders shaking as he let out a soft, amused chuckle.

Also from The Trouble with a Scot:

This is when he’s telling a bedtime story to 5 year old Beth; hence the ‘sillies’ statement and the childlike way the story is told. (It was done on purpose. Lol!) And the “peculiar” remark is sort of “Belle-ish” I suppose.  Even Nat mentioned that in her Gerry/Patrick dream he mentioned me seeming odd to him at first because we were so different.  Lol!  But it implies that he’s watched Emily at least a few times from a distance without her knowing:

   "Whenever there was an exceptionally bright, silvery moon shining high in the sky, this fairy would tell it her deepest thoughts. Some people thought the fairy peculiar for talking to the moon, as she often did to the flowers and birds. But there was one man, the prince of the kingdom, who loved all her sillies, even if he pretended to laugh at them. Feeling lonely one evening, the prince went out for a quiet stroll in the countryside. At the crest of a hill he saw the fairy princess standing there all by herself. The prince drew nearer, hearing her telling the man in the moon that she ne’er wanted to marry a prince like the other fairies.  She wanted to spend all her days talking to her man in the moon, the flowers in the fields and the birds in their nests, while she lived in her castle wi’ the two children she often played wi’ in the middle of the woods. The prince knew that the children would one day move away and ha’e children of their own. He didna want the fairy to find herself all alone in the world…"

From The Trouble with Love:

   Watching her stepdaughter blowing out the candles on her birthday cake this afternoon, Emily wondered what Joseph’s reaction was to the news of Amelia’s anticipatory arrival. When Lucretia told him they were going to have a child, was his reaction not unlike the one he had about Genny? 

   She had caught several glimpses of him watching Amelia today. For the first time since before they were even courting, Emily recognized the return of that old, yet familiar ache in his eyes. She knew he never wanted her to see that pained look of his past grief mixed with the present joy he experienced each time he looked at Amelia. And while Emily was aware that she was not the only woman to ever have shared his heart, she understood that it was a great feat for him to make the first step toward building his new life with her. Where would she even be today, had he chosen not to break free from the past? And what of Genny? If he hadn’t started over, Genny would never even exist. Emily held back a sob at the thought. 

   The sound of familiar footsteps echoed behind, breaking the stillness of the room. Emily instinctively felt that he had been watching her from the doorway for some time. 

    “You’re even more beautiful when you’re in the middle of a deep thought and think no one’s looking. D’ye know that?”

RABBITS 

 

This might very well be nothing, as it’s a very small thing, but remember how Patrick mentioned I loved rabbits and that he only tolerated them because I loved them?

From the Reading:

"I asked him what the rabbit meant and if you had owned them in your past life and he was waving his hands around in the air and rolling his eyes and said 'They were EVERYWHERE!' lol I also heard 'she loved them like there was no tomorrow' and then I heard 'it was a gift to her'. He looked like he was acting out a scene from that life and was stumbling over the darned rabbits because they were everywhere! I think they drove him a bit nuts! LOL! This is too funny- I am actually laughing here. He's got a good sense of humour. You should see him jumping around waving his hands around in the air like he is tripping over rabbits trying to get to you. LOL!"

  "That is why he had the sly grin on his face and the twinkle in his eyes when he held the rabbit- they drove him nuts but he put up with them because he knew you loved them so much and he loved you and wanted you to be happy. It made him happy to watch you play with them in the grass. He used to watch you when you didn't know it and just smile while you would roll around in the grass with the rabbits."

The Trouble with Love:

(This is the chapter where “Thistle,” the 6-toed cat, is introduced.  Also, "The Fair Gwen" is the little persian cat that I was speaking of earlier.  I've decided to share quite a bit from the passage because it illustrates that Joseph tolerated his wife's pets). 

   “We have two cats now,” Emily shared, working the pump. “Amelia found her larking about in Grandma’s thistle bush this afternoon.”

   “We are not keeping another pet, especially a cat. They ha’e an uncanny habit of multiplying, not unlike rabbits."

   “She and The Fair Gwen get along famously.” 

    Joseph made an inarticulate noise at the back of his throat. She truly believed that that was reason enough to adopt the scrawny little mouser. “One cat is more than enough for this family. The awful buggers cough up hairballs inside my boots, sleep on me, trip me on the stairs, and lie on the newspaper the second I start reading it. And as prissy and quiet as The Fair Gwen is, she’s still a cat. I’ll not have a pair of the little buggers sleeping on top my head every night.”

  “Call them that one more time and you’ll come back as a mouse in your next life,” Emily warned. She dried her hands on a dishcloth and put her rings back on. “We’re keeping it, Joseph. Amelia’s heart is set on it. She’s already named the sweet thing, so it’s in the bag.” 

   Staring at his wife fumbling with untying the wet knot of her apron, a smile flirted the upper corner of his mouth. So she thinks that’s the way of it, aye? He stretched out his arms, cracking his knuckles in anticipation. After clearing his throat first he straightened his shoulders, taking a deliberate step forward. “Nay,” he commanded in a guttural voice. His arms crossed against his broad chest. “It is not ‘in the bag’ as ye say. You indulge Amelia far too much, and I’ll not be allowing it this time. No more pets. That’s my final answer.” 

   Succeeding with the knot at last, Emily swiveled to meet his critical eye. Not two seconds later her whisky eyes had already warmed him into submission.  

   Well damn, he muttered silently to himself. At least Amelia didn’t find an escaped elephant from that traveling circus last week foraging in Mattie’s garden. “Okay. We’ll keep her,” he resigned reluctantly. “But only on trial. So you say Amelia found her in the thistle bush and…” 

   Puzzlement creased Joseph’s brow as the scrawny feline sat at his feet, curling it’s black-tipped tail around its paws. Joseph immediately noticed that this cat had extra toes. 

   “She found her in Miss Mattie’s thistle bush and thought it fitting to tie a hair ribbon around her tail?” 

   “His tail,” Emily promptly corrected behind a grin. 

   “Poor lad,” Joseph professed with a chuckle. He scooped the feline up into his arms, scratching him behind a silky ear. Was Emily absolutely positive it was a domesticated cat? It looked more like a scrawny, half-starved miniature tiger to him. “And what did my little girl name you, you little shedder?” 

STARS

 And I suppose this could echo the whole stars thing. (Or not. I mean, people DO like looking at the stars. Lol! Perhaps I’m just one of those people). 

From Automatic Writing from Patrick:

"We often looked at the heavens and wondered at them.  I still remember it well."

The Wizard’s Daughter: 

   The twinkle of light shining in Mathias’s eyes quickly spread into his wrinkly visage. “Your mother,” he supplied with a kindhearted smile.

   “But mother was—”

   “A born queen.” He sighed during the words. “Not all queens wear ropes of diamonds, Ann.” He pointed up at the ceiling of the woodland room. “Your mother used to wish on that star right there.”

   “The evening star?”

   “Dear me, I should say not,” announced the wizard in sincerity. “Never would your sweet mother wish on the evening star. Your mother used to tell me that the evening star was so engaged in receiving people’s innermost desires, that no wish made on it ever came true. No, your mother wished on that faint star just to the left of the evening star. She said it was often overlooked, same as herself, and so that star was to be exclusively her own.” 

AGE GAP

(According to Mom there was a really large age gap b/w me and Patrick; 8-12 yrs, I believe).

In my Trouble series the age gap is around 12 years.

The Trouble with a Scot:

   Emily tossed her mop of wet hair out of her face before stabbing Joseph’s broad chest with a pointed finger. “You are nothing but an insufferably impolite, boorish, mean spirited, sour faced, wrinkling old man with a superiority complex! A regular tyrant you are!”

 
   The Trouble with a Scot:

   “Don’t act so floored, Emily. It isn’t like I’ve never called you on it before.” 

   Emily freed an absurd, shaky laugh. “I thought you’d given up that ridiculous notion by now. He isn’t in love with anyone, and he’s certainly not in love with me. Why, he’s an old man, Rebecca.” 

   “Give the man a break, will you? He’s not ready to be put to pasture. The way you talk, you’d think he was as old as God or Medusa.” 

   “Medusa was a woman with snakes in her hair that turned people into stone. I think you mean Methuselah.” 

   “Whatever. My point is if you truly think he’s ancient that only proves you’re still a little wet behind the ears. I’ve no doubt he’ll wait for you. A few years down the road you’ll change your mind about him.” Rebecca became aware of Emily pretending not to listen by reading the recipe book. “On second thought,” she reflected judiciously, “I don’t believe you’re being honest with yourself. You’re using the difference in your ages as an excuse not to look at him the way your heart is.” 

   “Believe what you will, Rebecca.” Emily peered over the pages of Ms. Culbertson’s receipt book. “Drivel. Absolute drivel is slipping off your tongue.” 

   Placing both hands on the countertop, Rebecca leaned forward. “Are you telling me that you and that masculinely mannish man you’re always talking to and having fun with are only good friends, that the two of you are nothing more than acquaintances?” 

   “Of course!” Emily shouted her answer with more enthusiasm than really felt at the moment. “And you know full well that we don’t always get along.”

The Trouble with a Scot:

   Emily dropped to sleep over a pile of graded papers when droplets of rain pelted down on her face. She half hazardously awoke to find an inky blur on Kayley’s spelling test.   

   So the old man was right after all, mused Emily unpleasantly. She stared defiantly at the tiny patch of sky she could see through the roof. There wasn’t time to ask another handyman to do the job. Already it was growing late and there was school to teach tomorrow. Emily was painfully aware that she must swallow her pride and ask Joseph to fix the roof. She tried comforting her feelings of frustration in words. “That hole doesn’t look as big as the heel of a boot to me. The old man must need glasses.”

 

The Trouble with Love:
 

   “You dinna think your father will like me?” 

   “I’m sure he will,” Emily called over her shoulder. With her handkerchief stitched with tiny violets, she began swabbing the crushed pebbles and pine needles from the toddler’s mouth. “But presently father sees you as a man twice my age that’s stealing his little girl away.” 

   Joseph cocked a brow. “Well-- I may not be an auldjin yet, but I am a man almost twice your age, stealing you away.” 

   Turning, Emily stared affectionately at the mischievous one-dimpled smile, accompanied by his wicked wink. “So you are,” she easily agreed, returning to him.

Come Back To Me:

   “A gentle-born lady does no’ ask such things, especially of a strange man,” he answered, waving her question away. “Ye need ask someone like Maggie. She’ll answer your questions.” 

   “But you’re…nevermind,” she said weakly.
   “I’m what, m’lady?” 

   Elaine thought he seemed to derive pleasure from seeing her rose-flushed cheeks. “Well you’re… how old are you anyway? Uncle’s age?” 

   Her Uncle Callum’s age? Och, but the lass was blind. “I’m closing in on six and thirty.” 

   “You don’t look as ancient as that. I mean, you have a few dips and valleys around your eyes but I expect that’s from the tension of working for my uncle and hacking at enemies all day. But you don’t even have one gray hair on your head. I’m surprised you look so young to be so old.” 

   Iain swallowed a little chuckle. “Aye, well, it’s my women that keep me young.” 

   When Elaine turned her gaze briefly away and then snatched a piece of that distasteful jerky, Iain knew something else was upsetting her.

IRISH

And I think I’ve mentioned before that there are 2 characters in my story who I’ve always seen as being Irish. One IS Irish, but the other (Joseph’s sister) I made Scottish but have always seen her as being Irish. 

And Joseph I TRIED to make German several times, but always saw him as Scottish. So maybe Patrick really was Scottish and myself Irish. 

Now that I think of it, Joseph’s sister reminds me of the maid that was in my tent dream. It makes sense that if I were Irish, she (my handmaiden/whatever she was) would be Irish as well. Maybe that’s why I’ve always seen Joseph’s sister in my book as being Irish. Perhaps, on a subconscious level, I’m remembering her. 

I don’t know. It’s a thought anyhow. It’s interesting to speculate at any rate.

ANSWERING MY QUESTION ABOUT TWIN FLAMES VIA MY PATRICK BOOK 

4-27-07 

I’m not sure all coincidences are signs, but I am into fact recording when it comes to Patrick. And well, the day before I stumbled into what I'm about to post below, I did tell Patrick that if he wanted he could give me a sign; find a way to tell me something he wants me to know.

So maybe this was his way of saying we are Twin Flames, or just that he’s helping me write my new book that's loosely based on him. (My book is titled Come Back To Me).

So I was reading an intro to a book on twins flames today (online excerpt) and ran into this: 

Some days it feels as if your heart will burst out of your chest and fly to your true partner.

In my new Patrick book, look here at what I had already written. Instead of just sharing the one sentence, I'll include the entire passage.

Come Back To Me:

     The chatter swimming around Lexie took backstage as she eyed the ancient trees lining the winding drive. She had lost her breath over quite a number of castles during their day’s drive, but from the first moment Dunscrathe Castle appeared in her sights, she felt a painful tightening in her ribcage. Restlessly, her trembling fingers toyed with the cameo necklace at her throat. The feeling could only be described as returning to an old lover after centuries of separation. She was certain her heart was growing wings and at any moment would fly out of her chest to answer the unrelenting call of her lover. It was close to impossible keeping the tears at bay. Only, she wasn’t sure if they were tears of sorrow or unbridled joy that was long in coming.
  When Lexie felt an insistent tapping on her shoulder, still she could not tear her gaze from the citadel rising from the earth with the strength and importance of a celebrated queen. The raindrops glistening off the exterior granite sparkled like millions of tiny stars and the Scot’s Pine, dotting an impressive mountain range which stretched across the sky, seemed to tower toward Heaven itself.

Regular BOOK as well as MY BOOK 

The book I'm currently reading is "A Garden in the Rain" by Lynn Kurland. Turns out the hero's name is Patrick. Also, this book is the sequel to one about his older brother, Jamie, which I've already read. 

That book was one of the stories that had a few signs/coincidences for me, and in the one I'm reading now Jamie is obsessed with self-help psychology books. 

 And well... in the book I'm writing right now (Come Back To Me) the heroine's best friend DOES THE SAME THING!

Her husband is a psychiatrist, so she's always nosing through his psychology textbooks trying to digest everything she can. She thinks she's an expert because of it. 

THE EYES

I had a dream once where I was seeing the right side of Patrick's profile. In that profile I saw his eyes. They were really beautiful. They were a crystal blue color. Very light and icy. 

In my 'Trouble' series of books, I had already given Joseph in my story the same color eyes.

I understand that such a small detail could be nothing - there are only so many colors to choose from for eyes - but I remember back when I created his character that I had to get the color of his eyes right.

It was a really big deal to me, but only with his character. (To this day Joseph is my favorite male lead from my books).

A DIFFERENT SPECIES



Nat's Automatic Writing/Gerry (Patrick) Dream:

**** The traits that he once thought were odd about your personality and your ways, now enchanted him and he loved you the more for those "quirks" and personality traits that he found so different from himself. You were like a different species to him at first since the 2 of you were so different in your ways, that he thought it odd at first (that you were a bit odd) but he quickly fell in love with those traits and quirks and found you irresistible.****

The Trouble with a Scot:

   “Why don’t you go over and talk to him?” 

   “I don’t think I can.” 

   “Why not?” 

   “Because I think he’s still cross with me after all.” 

   “That’s nonsense,” countered Rebecca. “He never stays angry with you.” Rebecca became aware of the odd expression crossing her friend’s face. “Well, he doesn’t stay angry for long anyway. No more than a day or two.” 

   “A day or two? We’ve barely spoken in weeks. I think he hates me.” 

   “Hates you?"

   “He’s terminated his laughing and swearing at me. He even ceased speaking Gaelic so that I have to guess what it is he’s barking at me. He used to love tormenting me in all those ways, so what other explanation is there to be had? He must hate me now. I don’t know why I should care anyway. Honest to God, Rebecca, that man is an enigma. I sometimes swear that he must be a different species all together. There are so many times when I could happily box in his ears.” 

   “Aren’t you friends anymore?” 

   The aggravation in Emily’s voice melted into disappointment. “I’m not sure.” She briefly looked away before muttering faintly, “I hope so.”

   Rebecca spied Joseph tugging at his collar. His steadfast gaze roamed the surroundings, ceasing their labors upon spotting Emily’s presence. “Would you look at him? Whenever that man gazes in your direction, it’s as if he’s kissing you in his mind! Any person with intellect can see that he’s mad only for you. Why, he looks like a lost papa bear without you. And it’s you that’s doing that to him. Can’t you see he’s hurting?” 

   Emily chose to turn a blind eye to this observation, but Rebecca would not stop there. 

   “You’re hurting yourself too, I see.”

 

Elaine/Twin Flames

 (7-7-07)

 

For months I’ve been searching for a new paranormal forum, and last night I found one that looked interesting.

One of the first posts I saw today freaked me out. I think it's so awesome how another person's dream can actually carry a message for someone else (whom they don't even know) as well. This has happened to me a few times.

I don’t mean to say this in a selfish/I’m so special way either. What I mean is that as human beings we are all connected in the grand scheme of things.

Just read the poster’s dream below:

(Thank you for allowing me to post it here, Elaine)

I have had this in meditation and had the same dream for 3 nights in a row. I was in a room with black and white tiled floor, and the room was calm and inviting too. The room was old and had much old wooded curved furniture and old paintings and stuff. I walked up to the table and someone was present but I never see them, just sense a feeling of togetherness. I pick up a heavy gold cup, similar to the Ace of cups from a tarot deck. A heart is on the front of the cup, and as I pick it up, two blue flames rise up out of the cup and rise together and spiral up together out of the cup. They form into a beautiful ball of white light and go upwards and disappear. The atmosphere in the dream is one of peace and harmony and the feeling on waking is the same. I look forward to having this dream as I feel it to be a good sign, unless anyone knows different. 

When I first read her dream I instantly thought it sounded like Twin Flames, and then I realized her name is "Elaine."

A lot of people have told me they think Patrick is my twin flame, and well… the book I'm writing right now is loosely based on that and guess what the name of the female lead in my book is – Elaine! That's the same name as the person that shared their recurring twin flame dream.  (Elaine is my character's name in her past life by the way.  In her current life she has a different name).

Not only did this forum member's name catch my attention, but the other day I was thinking about describing a recurring Twin Flames dream that Elaine (aka "Lexie") has where you see two flames merging into one.

Here’s the dream passage that I eventually wrote in my book: 

   The atmosphere was black as pitch, and she accelerated through it in a breathless panic. With every rush of breath, the pounding in her ears intensified. Through every step her grief turned more despairing. 

   Unable to run any further, the blackness immediately banished; replaced with a blinding flash of light. The air pulsed all around, and with the force of a wave come to shore, an overabundance of feelings washed over her. 

    Serenity. Warmth. Shelter. Tranquility. 

    Rippling inside the beams of golden radiance was a familiar image taking shape. 

   Iain. 

   The beautiful, smiling face was encouraging her to move forward. Arms reaching out for her, reassurance flickered within the depths of his eyes. Devoid of hesitation, Lexie hastened towards him. 

   But then the vision took on a new form. Two flames flickered side by side, continuously merging into one and spiraling towards the sky. The cavernous sound of Iain’s voice vibrated all around. 

   “Two bodies, one soul. I am always with you.” 

   The blackness returned, swallowing her whole.

Troy

A few weeks ago I had a line inside my head that I was thinking I should have put into my book that's loosely based on Patrick. It was just a simple quote along the lines that when the heroine is in the hero's company, he feels at peace.

A couple days later I was playing that "Remember" song by Josh Groban from the Troy soundtrack.

It made me think of watching snippets of the movie. (We've had the HD-dvd for a while now, only I've never bothered to watch any of it).  I put in the dvd and there's this line from Achilles ---

I thought the timing for that a little weird.  I also thought it a little strange that it was Brad Pitt in Troy that said that line.  Remember how on my intro to this blog I shared a photo of him in Troy, to show what I think Patrick sort of looks like?

This might all just be coincidence, but I'm going to remain open-minded.

 

Moira

 

This is another tiny coincidence. I just read a fantastic post on a Gerry site. (It was so spot on). I thought her name – Moira - sounded familiar. 

A few minutes later I was glancing at a page of my story that I printed out for Mom to read. Turns out the name was familiar to me b/c the other day I gave a servant in my story the name Moira. Lol! 

That isn't even a common name, so I did think that was a little odd.

Here’s some of that person’s post -
 (Just for the heck of it, I’m copying and pasting it here) 

As for the type of woman I think Gerry needs:

I think Gerry needs a real lady, someone that he would be proud to take home to his family. Someone that is open-minded and can communicate well. Someone who expects to be treated with respect. Someone who hasn’t been around the block too much (if you know what I mean!). Someone who is mature, a woman with class, the patience of a saint, smart with excellent listening skills. She should have a good sense of humor and be able to put him in his place when necessary. She should be able to match him in temperament and be able to “dish it out” as well as he can. She should be able to understand why he sometimes needs time alone without taking it personally. She should accept him as he is and not expect him to change. 

She should be someone who is beautiful inside and out. Maybe not ‘model/actress’ beautiful but pretty in her own special way. She has to be confident in herself and love herself as well. NO woman should EVER be willing to be placed second to his career and she should always be his top priority. No doormats, please!

Also --- and please don’t :blowup me for saying this but ------- IMHO, I think that Gerry would be better off with a woman who would want to be a mother and wife and not a career woman. Someone who values family life. I think Gerry should avoid any women that are in the public eye. Now, I’m not saying that it would be wrong for his lady to have a career of her own and to have her own goals and dreams. I’m sure that Gerry would want a woman with her own interest to keep herself occupied when he is not available. I don’t think he would enjoy having a ‘clingy’ or needy wife. We also know that he likes to be alone sometimes and would not want anyone hovering over him at all times. I just think that if Gerry is away on business/acting, it would be beneficial to their children if at least one of them was present with their offspring at all times. Again, this is just my opinion. Gerry shouldn’t have children if he doesn’t have the time for them. No one should.

Lastly, it would definitely help if she was very organized and punctual. Also, knowing how to sew/hem clothing would be a big PLUS, too!!

 ****************

And another the next day: 



(And no, it means nothing. I just thought it kind of funny, and I wanted an excuse to post his gorgeous picture. Lol!  I mean seriously... look at him!!!  Those eyes!)

But in that cabin dream of mine Patrick and I thought “To Hell with what anyone else thinks!”

  And today I read this on that thread - "I think Gerry is going to pull a Warren Beatty and wait until he is MUCH older before settling down. When he does...she will be perfect...in HIS eyes, and he will probably say, 'To hell with what anyone else thinks'...as it should be."