Contest Recap
Midlife Collage sponsors a weekly contest of midlife short stories. U.S. citizens and legal residents age 40 and older may enter. The Editor selects five stories for publication on our website each week. Readers leave comments and Facebook thumbs-up likes urging the panel of Judges to choose a contest winner. Readers also send the Judges their opinions of the best story on our Closing Arguments page. The contest period is Monday through Sunday noon PT. The first-place story enters the Winner’s Circle and receives a cash prize of $50. Winners of a $50 cash prize are eliglble for a $100 contest, which we run quarterly. See the Submissions Page for the Contest Rules for details. ANYONE, worldwide, age 18 or older can comment on the stories in a contest.-
The U.S. consul politely asked me an awkward question. “So at your age, why are you leaving your family, friends and country to marry someone who is practically a stranger?”
I was determined to get the consul to stamp a visa on my passport. Back in the U.S., my fiancé had begun working on our wedding plans.
Glenn and I met through an online matching service. I liked the idea of meeting someone and building a friendship online. It was an improved version of having pen pals via snail mail. But never in my wildest dreams did I expect to find a husband by simply filling out a questionnaire and ticking off my preferences for a possible mate.
When the consul posed his question, I was quick to answer. I mentioned that I was the oldest among the group of fiancées applying for U.S. visas that day. Then I said, “At my age, marrying my fiancé is no longer about falling in love. It is about growing in love.”
After hearing my answer, the consul gave me a fiancée visa and I boarded an airplane with a one-way ticket to the United States at age forty-eight.
My home with Glenn is a cozy log house near the Cibola National Forest in Mountainair, New Mexico. I will always remember the time he took me for a walk one clear starry night. All was still except an occasional coyote yipping in the distance. Glenn motioned me to stand beside him and listen intently. Then he cupped his hands to his mouth and loudly called out “Ri—ley” several times.
A couple of minutes later, I heard thudding sounds in the distance. The thuds increased in tempo; they were horses’ hooves pounding hard on the parched ground as the equines outraced each other towards us. Soon four gentle creatures surrounded us, heaving as they stood waiting for their master to acknowledge them. This was an awesome first of many new experiences American life had in store for me.
I transformed from corporate executive to domesticated homemaker, from city girl to country lass. And each day I spend with my husband is a privilege to grow in love.
Editor’s Note: SlimSam has another winning vignette “Outranking Barbie” from the April 16, 2012 contest.
Beautiful!!
Glenn is lucky to have WON you. This is not only an affirmation of your indomitable spirit, it is also an example of how our contemporary style of dating can strike it right. Grow rich in spirit and even more in love, SlimSlam. Good journey!
love it!
Sounds like a movie, boarding a flight to the U.S., a starry night, and wild horses.
I love the way you are able to paint a picture in the reader’s mind. Life around horses can be very therapeutic and rewarding. Lucky You!
What a great start to a wonderful mid-life future. How sweet it is to know there are people in the world who are willing to take that leap of faith by only looking forward……………
‘Growing in love’, I like that! We should all ‘grow’ or ‘rise’ in love, not ‘fall’ in love. A wise spiritual guru said ‘falling in love’ is unconscious and rising or growing in love is conscious. I suppose it is a more intelligent way to be in love, thus ensuring a more stable and loving relationship. You must be wise, you didn’t need a guru to teach you this.
It’s a beautiful story. The horses coming to meet you is specially touching.
Growing in love is wonderful, isn’t it? I was reunited with my true love at age 46, and it’s been an amazing time.
I cant wait to hear more…that’s a beautiful sory
Yes, growing is what is all about! Certainly a well written tribute to your love for life, for Glenn, for the One who made us! You care, you embrace life, you celebrate! Thank you for sharing.
It should be the start of a script for the movies. Not too sappy, but sweet.
Your love story is inspiring especially for those from different cultures …just keep the flame of love blazing…
Trully a lovestory. I believe, good things happen to good people.
May you both grow old & stay inlove… ’till death do us part.
God Bless.:)
What an amazing journey. I loved the section where you cupped your hands and the horses came. I could see and hear what you were trying to portray!
What a sweet story of hope, faith and courage to find true love. I agree with Earthianne about growing in love and rising versing falling in love. Rising in love seems so much more hopeful for a happy ending, a happy life. So many of us settle or become settled, losing the joy and love in our relationship. May your new love and new love stay forever new.
Fantastic
Beautiful!
Sister, I’m excited to experience the beauty of your new home plus of course meeting Glenn… nakakakilig malaman ang bagong yugto ng iyong buhay America! Pang-MMK entry din….
Now I’m hoping to grow in love too! =)
That is one true inspirational story for people to remember that true Love is not always meant to be like a celebration of exploding fireworks, but a blossoming of two lovely roses growing together somewhere in the middle of a forest instead.
Ohhhh, I’m feeling in love again! That’s so sweet and romantic! I love hearing stories like this, it tugs on my heart strings. It reminds me to be more appreciative of my husband, and life itself. To be in love is just plain wonderful, but it is more than exquisite when one managed to stay in love after so many years of marriage.
More power to you and Glenn! God bless your marriage!
Simple yet beautifully worded evoking not only vivid visions but also poignant feelings. Yep, yep. Glenn is real lucky to have you and you, him. You are a testament that real love exists and fluorishes. Can’t wait to hear more, more, more
I know how well Noela cares for the horses. Always giving them apple flavored horse candy — and talking to them in Tagalog. They are so lucky!
This is such a sweet vignette that is striking in its simplicity yet profoundly heartwarming. I like the way the elements of mature committed romantic love are intertwined with a story of mutual regard and recognition that is possible between humans and wild animals (and thus showing us the true nature of unconditional love, the most perfect form of love that we as humans are still gaining mastery at).