Monday, July 8, 2013

Is this a sign . . . literally?

Cade drove up Mosher Lane where I lived. He parked in the field behind my house, and got out of the car so he could help me out.
     I trembled inside when he opened my door and took my hand. I wouldn’t kiss him, refused to, but that was a bad place to park. The lane was so private, so utterly concealed that some of my friends would go there and make out.
    Cade put his jacket on my shoulders and led me through to a clearing in the weeds.
    “You’re so beautiful,” he said. He leaned closer and put some of my hair behind my ear. I got chills, just from a single touch; I couldn’t imagine how wild it would feel kissing him.
     I thought of closing my eyes. That’s all I’d have to do and he’d kiss me; hold me in his arms and I could melt away, just like millions of girls had in the same field. I knew it would be worth it. I’d be the one tasting paradise. I’d be the one kissing a handsome guy in the moonlight.
     I looked up at him and thought all those things. His green eyes turned to mine, and he slid his hand behind my neck. All I had to do was breathe—close my eyes and breathe. He pulled me closer. My eyes flickered shut, and just before he could kiss me, I stopped.
      “Why are you here with me?” I whispered. “We’re so different. You know I won’t kiss a guy until I’ve known him six months. I won’t have sex until I’m married.”
      “And you’re worth the wait.”
     He pulled me closer. I almost wished he’d kiss me and take the choice away, but then instead of pulling me in for a kiss, he put my head against his chest.
     Tears flooded my eyes as I heard the beating of his heart. I wrapped my arms around his strong chest. He held me like that for a long time, rocking me in the moonlight.
     He smelled like Old Spice and mint gum—he smelled like home.
     I sniffed and smiled up at him. We stayed inches apart; so close his breath tickled my cheek.
     I thought it again. All I had to do was close my eyes. That was all. I shut them, slowly willing Cade to take me away.
      He leaned down, his breath getting closer and closer, until I felt his lips smiling against my skin as he kissed me on the cheek. “I better get you back to the house,” he whispered.
      “Yeah, I guess that’s a good idea,” I said back, hoping he had no clue how hard it was saying those words.
     As Cade walked me to the door I remained quiet, wondering: How could Cade make me feel that way? Was I doing the right thing, and why . . . hadn’t I kissed him? 


As you might know, I've written three memoirs about growing up, being homeless, and losing a child.  Well, Cade and I decided to go photograph/videotape some of these places.  Every Monday we'll be showing locations where my memoirs took place.

   So far, some strange things have happened.

First off, we visited the lane written about in Bible Girl & the Bad Boy.  


   It used to be named Mosher Lane.  Look what they recently renamed it!

    Cade and I are in shock!  Is this a sign . . . literally?


Sometimes life is stranger than fiction!

13 comments:

  1. First, that's a beautiful snippet of your memoir. And about the sign, well, stranger things have happened!

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  2. Dear Elisa, I'm glad to learn that you and Cade are going to be revisiting those places you pictured so vividly in your three memoirs. What about Hawaii? Are you going back there??? Peace.

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  3. Elisa, I love how you write! You are wonderfully talented and I have no clue how you do what you do! I love reading about the love between you and Cade and just hope it goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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  4. Wow, that is odd, but I am still stuck on the television show potential and I thinks this adds to it. Now, I envision a packed bus of smiling tourists turning from Ft. Union Blvd. onto that street--with Cade collecting residual profits from allowing his name to be used.

    Anyway--the excerpt is a nice reminder of how much I enjoyed reading Bible Girl.

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  5. You are all soooo awesome! :0)

    Dee,
    I'm not sure about Hawaii. Instead I might share the post from Debra Kristi (the sweet woman who visited the places and then took pictures of the sites I wrote about).

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  6. Can't wait for your videos!!

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  7. Wow!

    On another note...half of your
    comments seem to be missing.(the
    section to the right)

    :)

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  8. Spooky. And Cade wore Old Spice? Retro.

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  9. I think it is a great idea for you two to revisit these places while you are still young. I feel the same way about writing one's memoirs. I absolutely love that you have written three already. I'm looking forward to more pictures. And that doesn't look much like a Lover's Lane???

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  10. I meant to say it does not look like a lovers' lane -- phew, too hot around here.

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  11. Awesome that you are taking pics of the spots in the books. That is rather eerie too.

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  12. Thanks, guys :)

    Inger, it's so sad because they've demolished all of the houses that used to be there. There was a horse up there and everything. Now it's completely industrialized. At least I still have pictures from the good ol' days.

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