Friday, June 5, 2026

“Two Adult Friends Reminiscing” ("True Love" in a Child's Heart, Circa 1960's)

http://spillwords.com/author/phyllispcolucci/      

https://www.amazon.com/Phyllis-P.-Colucci/e/B00VMU8B44

 

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:

 

            “Two Adult Friends Reminiscing”, is a short piece I’ve written focusing on two “old” friends finding “True Love” in youthful fantasy, in real life - and then, perhaps, back to fantasy. “Reminiscing” is a gift that can bring us great joy no matter what age we are. It can be a pleasant escape to a place of shared memories and beautiful, timeless friendships. 

 

                                                                       (Pinterest Photo)



Two Adult Friends Reminiscing

("True Love" in a Child's Heart, Circa 1960's)

 

            I laughed at you when you asked me if I thought “True Love” existed. I thought it did when I was reading teen magazines and falling in love with actors and musicians through my television screen. Even my Mom played along. I think she enjoyed the concept of “True Love” in a child’s heart.

 

            I remember asking you, my very best friend, to make up stories about you and I double dating with two of our favorite musicians / TV stars, from the “Monkees”. Remember them? We were only twelve years old; but we both loved that group, and I enjoyed your stories. We’d be walking to and from school, and you would continue from where you left off as the storyline got pretty interesting. You were a great storyteller and I was a great listener. You had my emotions on fire and I wanted to hear more and more. You never complained. You just kept telling me more and more. It was all a fantasy; a make-believe world; but we lived in it. We almost believed we were actually out on those double dates. How we yearned for it to be true…The walks on the beach with our two handsome dates from “The Monkees”; the fun in the amusement park riding the roller coaster and ferris wheel, while hiding our faces against their masculine shoulders; the first kiss under the moonlight; and the front row seats at each “Monkees” concert. We would imagine that every girl in America wished they were us. We were THE girlfriends of two handsome “Monkees”, just sitting in the spotlight like VIPs. Our photographs would be plastered on the front page of every teen magazine…Then reality set in and “True Love” in our young, innocent hearts, disappeared just as quickly as it came.

 

            Then we grew up a bit and dated “real” boys. This time there were no stories of handsome actors or sexy musicians. You couldn’t even spin a great story around these “real” boys, even if you wanted to. We were living teenage lives with young boys we met in our classrooms or in the neighborhood who, like us, had no money and no jobs. There was just no more sparkle. The fantasy was so much more fun than the reality. Were we disappointed because a little while back we were on double dates in “Fantasy Land” with older men – actors and musicians from television, stage and teen magazines? Probably. However, there were still some good laughs with these neighborhood school boys.  There were basketball games in the school gym as we giggled, cheered and held hands. There were school dances at the local Catholic School gyms, where we danced the night away and fantasized, once again, over the band members as they competed in the “Battle of the Bands”. What about those fun Saturday night pizza dates, and endless backyard birthday parties, where spin the bottle was the game of choice? Many kisses were stolen from that game. We even snuck in sips of beer and wine when the parents weren’t paying attention. More kisses were stolen as a result.

 

            Now we have become mature adult women laughing over our childhood fantasies and teenage lives... and we did end up marrying regular good ol’ boys from the neighborhood…Maybe not that good, however, because we divorced them somewhere along the road of life…Yes, two children for each of us – Two girls for you and two boys for me. They were the same ages and they grew up together. We always hoped your two girls would marry my two boys so we would be connected forever. Was that selfish on our part? I doubt it, because it happened. Those unions we prayed for brought us six grandchildren; three girls and three boys. We loved them, spoiled them and guided them - together. Now they are ready to take on the world.

 

            We are still strongly connected to our ex-husbands through our children and grandchildren. Those good ol’ neighborhood boys, still single like us, proved to be great parents and grandparents. We all got along great too in this unique family dynamic. But you and me – well, we remained friends throughout the years and shared it all, every day. We shared the happy times, the sad times, our family times; and always looked back with a smile and sometimes a tear.

 

            What do you say dear friend? Why don’t we grab two glasses of wine and sit on the sofa, while you make up great stories about us double dating our two handsome “Monkees”. You were always a great story teller and I was always a  great listener. We established that early on. So I think we need some of “that” again. We deserve to reminisce in “Fantasy Land”. We’ve earned that right since we’ve been around the block a few times, so to speak…Now that our kids and grandchildren are doing their own thing, and our single “exes” are hiding behind newspapers while drinking beer and growing old, we can go back to the days of young love and innocent hearts…So tell me those great stories again, my friend. However, you must make these stories very, very, very interesting. Adult-interesting, if you know what I mean... Cheers dear friend. “True Love” is back!

Monday, May 11, 2026

"Where the Bells Toll"

http://spillwords.com/author/phyllispcolucci/      

https://www.amazon.com/Phyllis-P.-Colucci/e/B00VMU8B44

 

 

                                                                                 (Pinterest Photo)


Past the mountains and through the trees

Riding upon the wings of a Summer breeze

Way down yonder, where rivers flow

Echoing sweetly, along the winding road

Whispering melodies, in unison, do sing

For it is there you will hear “The Bells” ring

 

“The Bells” reach the ears of the Audubon Flight

Who respond in formation, and hum in delight

The rabbits run wild; the deer escape to the woods

They timidly peek through dense shrub and bush

All nature wakes to dulcet sound

Joyful hearts beat all around

 

The Autumn hue falls silently

The vibrant leaves dance poignantly

The crunch beneath every footstep

Speaks of the bounty nature will bring

Still “The Bells” over yonder faintly ring

Harmonies spring up, fit for a King

 

It is Heaven’s way of saying “Hello”

This time it will bring the falling snow

Where daylight fades to an early slumber

White frost covers the Autumn umber

“The Bells” over yonder rise and sing

Again, they whisper with a honeyed ring

 

Springtime awaits ‘round the bend

Soon floral perfumes “Spring” will surely send

More gifts from Heaven and Nature alike

As we welcome the magic in sheer delight

And “The Bells” over yonder rise and sing

They capture our hearts with every ring

 

We do not know why “The Bells” Toll

They come, they go and they warm our soul

The animals wonder too, with eyes aglow

Some things remain sacred, we may never know

“The Bells” are our constant; over yonder they dwell

They will continue to ring –

A story we will continue to tell!

 

…and I yearn to see you one more time

Just a meet and greet would work out fine

Do you hope and dream I may meet you there ?

Where we may frolic in the shadows of Summer’s flair ?

Where “The Bells” do toll for lovers too ?

As the ringing calls out to me and you ?

“The Bells” are our constant; over yonder they dwell

They will continue to ring –

A story we will continue to tell!

 

…and we do not know why “The Bells” Toll

They come, they go and they warm our soul

Each day I listen, I feel my heart glisten

I am tempted to follow the haunting tune

down to the coastline, near “Lovers’ Dune”

Hoping my steps lead me to you

…for I yearn to see you one more time

Just to share a bottle of ruby red wine

 

“The Bells” are a spectacle we don’t quite understand

They echo through the wind and bless the land

I beg of you to listen to their magic as it calls

…The ringing, the chiming amongst the waterfalls

All I have left of you is a photograph

It brings a tear or two, perhaps a laugh

 

…Again, I am tempted to follow the haunting tune

Down to the coastline, near “Lovers’ Dune”

Will  I find you where “The Bells” Toll ?

Will you hear me call your name into the breeze ?

Will you know it is me waiting ‘neath the trees ?

 

If so, please let your spirit wave

…as I pull up a chair and sit at your grave

“The Bells” are our constant; over yonder they dwell

They will continue to ring –

A story we will continue to tell!