The Gift of the Magi

We are never told how Jim and Della meet in O.Henry's famous Christmas short story, The Gift of the Magi, but their deep love for each other is demonstrated by the sacrifices they are willing to make to assure the happiness of the other. The story tells us that...

... there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy. 

It's the day before Christmas and there is no money to be had in the Dillingham Young household to buy a gift for her beloved Jim. In desperation Della decides to sacrifice her greatest possession to get enough money to buy Jim a beautiful watch chain for his prized gold watch. She rushes out and sells her long flowing hair before she has time to change her mind.

F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Sayre

F. Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was named after his famous, distant cousin, Francis Scott Key.

As a young man, Fitzgerald attended Princeton University, where, ironically, his writing interfered with his coursework. He was placed on academic probation, eventually dropped out, and joined the U.S. Army.

Now commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry, he was shipped off to Camp Sheridan outside of Montgomery, Alabama. Here he met and fell in love with "golden girl" Zelda Sayre.

When Zelda called off the engagement, due to Fitzgerald's lack of fame and fortune, he returned to a previous autobiographical piece, The Romantic Egotist. 

His revised novel, This Side of Paradise, was a triumphant success.

F. Scott and Zelda were married and went on to live their now famous lives of heart ache and despair.

Their only child, Scottie Fitzgerald, said about her parents,

"People who live entirely by the fertility of their imaginations are fascinating, brilliant and often charming, but they should be sat next to at dinner parties, not lived with."

 http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/

Luis Tiant and Maria Navarro

Back in the 70's any Red Sox fan was familiar with the chant, "Looo-ee, Looo-ee"
whenever Luis Tiant came on the field.

Tiant was one of the early players coming out of the famous Cuban League. He was always a huge presence in any game and a huge hit with all the fans. His love of cigars earned him the nick-name "El Tiante".

As a young player Tiant traveled from Cuba to pitch for the Tigers in the Mexico League.In 1960, on one of his days off, he accompanied friends to see a woman's softball game. As Maria Navarro came running in from center field, she saw a handsome young man in the stands blow her a kiss.

A few days later, Maria and Luis met more formally at a teammate's party. They talked, danced and began dating soon after.

On October 1st of that year, Luis went back to Cuba The couple stayed in touch through letters and occasional phone calls. On May 25, 1961 Luis landed in Mexico City on one of the last flights allowed to leave Cuba.

Luis and Maria were married. Maria remained in Mexico City to live and raise their children, while Luis played in the major leagues. In 1974, at the height of his Red Sox success, the family moved to an area just outside of Boston, and Maria could be found at Fenway Park whenever the Sox were in town.

Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson

I am a shameless Barack and Michelle Obama supporter and really admire the Obamas as a couple.


Michelle Robinson is an attorney and was, at the time of their meeting, working at the very prestigious firm of Sidley Austin in Chicago. In June 1989 she was assigned a summer associate to mentor,Barack Obama.


By all accounts, Barack had a pretty good opinion of himself, and I would bet that Michelle's first impression was one involving eye rolling and raised eyebrows, but...that Obama charm, personality, and smile eventually won her over.


Barack and Michelle attended many social functions together and, although she was impressed by his intelligence, sense of humor, and good looks, she always declined Obama's requests to date. Finally at the end of the summer she gave way to her feelings and their friendship evolved into a relationship. Michelle Robinson and Barack Obama became engaged in 1991. They were married on October 3, 1992.

So, here's to a couple who inspires me everyday and provides truly great role models for couples everywhere.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama

John Keats and Joseph Severn

 If you find yourself over on the Spanish Steps in Rome, take time to stop in at 26 Piazza de Spagna to view the rooms occupied by John Keats in his final months of life.

On Spetember 17,1820 Joseph Severn accompanied Keats to Rome in an attempt to find a cure for Keat's lingering illness. For Severn this trip was a sacrifice born of the love and admiration he felt for the young poet. Severn was leaving England as his own artistic career was beginning to flourish. His decision also marked the end of  his relationship with his father. He writes about their farewell that (his father)"in his insane rage he struck me a blow which fell me to the ground."

Severn provided constant care to Keats as his health failed and he began to slip away. Often watching his beloved friend endure the horrific attempts of 19th Century medicine to cure tuberculosis, Severn was at a loss as to how to relieve the emotional and physical suffering barely endured by Keats.

Recognizing his friend's selfless devotion, Keats wonders aloud to Severn,

""Severn I can see under your quiet look -- immense twisting and contending -- you don't know what you are reading -- you are induring [sic] for me more than I'd have you -- O! that my last hour was come --"






Severn's poignant sketch of Keats, finally sleeping peacefully just before the end, revelas a patient and enduring love for his subject.

Joseph Severn lived the remainder of his life in Rome. After a successful marriage, art career, and service as British Consul in Rome, along with fathering 7 children, Severn died at the age of 85. He is buried in Rome alongside his once loved friend and poet, John Keats.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Severn

Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis

 

The romance between Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis remains one of the legendary and tempestuous ones of modern times. Maria Callas, an American born Greek soprano, was considered one of the most renowned opera singers of the twentieth century. 

Aristotle Onassis, an émigré from Turkey, established himself over time as one of the world’s wealthiest men. When the two superstars met in Venice in 1957, both were at the height of their power, fame, and attraction. The fact that Callas was married at the time of their meeting, did nothing to dissuade Onassis from pursuing what he wanted. He extended several invitations to Maria and her husband to join him on his yacht, the Christina, and each time the invitation was refused.

Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied

The closest I came to watching the brilliant, yet disturbing film, "Black Swan" was surreptitiously glancing at my seatmate's movie screen on a transatlantic flight.  Even with the cushion of visual distance and no sound, I watched the tortured Nina through fleeting sideways glances, unable to endure her emotional and physical despair. So, it was with great joy that I learned the true ending of the film;the happy union of Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied. For those of us who love a "happily ever after" ending...thanks!


The brilliant and beautiful Natalie Portman was swept off her feet by NYC Ballet principal dancer, Benjamin Millepied during the filming of Black Swan. Millepied trained Portman to execute her amazing Oscar winning role as Nina, the lead dancer in the company's rendition  of Swan Lake.




Millepied also played the role of Nina's dance partner, and found himself in awe of Portman and her performance. Natalie and Benjamin are engaged and had a son this past June. In her Oscar award acceptance speech, Portman thanked her fiancee' for giving her "the most important role of her life".
Happy endings to all!

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett

Will Smith met Jada Pinkett in 1990 when she tried out to play his sassy girlfriend Lisa on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

 Though she lost the part to actress Nia Long (due to her small stature), Pinkett brushed past the 6’2” Smith while leaving the set.

He stopped her and asked, “What’s up?” She responded coolly, “Yeah, how you doing?”

It wasn’t exactly a sparks-filled start, but the two soon discovered they had mutual friends and started hanging out and speaking in more than three-word sentences.

Pinkett supported Smith during his split from his first wife, and shortly thereafter, the pair realized they were meant to be. They wed in a lavish, very private ceremony in 1997 and have been together ever since.


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