Annie MacGregor/Sunshine MacGillicutty

Modern Day Virginia

“Torn Between Two Lovers”

This is a TRUE story. Although it certainly does not show my more mature/logical/sane side…….. It IS true, and that should count for something!!

Everyone in the contintental United states must know by now how enamored I am with U.S.Marshal Matt Dillon/James Arness, of “Gunsmoke ” fame. I write about him ALL the time on YA. In my stories, Miss Kitty has been replaced by my literary counterpart…… Sunshine MacGillicutty. I have several neighbors who try to keep up with the fictional doings in Dodge. As a matter of fact, it seems that wherever I go, the subject comes up……Usually by me!! By the time I leave wherever I’ve been, another person has been made aware of that WONDERFUL show, “Gunsmoke” and the stories I write……. Although I never tell them which site I participate on nor do I tell them my code name.

I spend HOURS on YA……. I am not one to frequent the questions that ask about my favorite color or when was the last time I had sex…… The answer to THAT is so pathetic, it would only illicit email of pity!! The funny thing is, up until a year ago, I swore I’d never get a computer. …And NOW……Well….. Now it is as much a part of my life as my visits to the Physical Therapist…… Is there a connection, there? Hmmmmmmm…Good question.

You might say I am (2) Torn between two lovers…… Marshal Dillon and the computer ………. More specifically, YA.

Okay. Now I’ll get to it. Today at 3 PM, the GREATEST EPISODE IN THE HISTORY OF TV, was on. It was entitled, “Matt’s Love Story.” Although I have seen it several times, it still brings me to the brink of ……. No…. Not THAT…..

But it does bring me to the brink of the cut-off zone separating sanity and insanity!

I was totally poised. I had a brand new tape in the VCR. I closed my curtains so the light from outside would not dance across the screen. (Also, I wanted NOBODY to know I was home….If anyone had knocked on my door, I would NOT have answered!)

The show began. I was laying on the couch. Victor French…whose acting is TOP NOTCH, was just about to shoot Matt. ((((BANG))) Down went Matt. He is eventully rescued by the LUCKIEST actress that ever lived…. Michael Learned. She nurses Matt back to health and soon learns he has amnesia. Now this is very interesting. Matt behaves totally different with her than he EVER behaved with Miss Kitty. He is frisky,sexy (dear GAWD he is sexy) and VERY suggestive and romantic. Did you know that when this first aired, many years ago, it caused a HUGE stink?!! It’s true. MANY people thought it dirtied the image of Matt…….. The idiots!!!

Anyway, you could tell Matt and the woman were falling in love!!!!

At each commercial, I would end the taping and run back to my computer room. Then, after a few minutes of LONG commercials, I would run back to the couch, usually (6) In a New York second.

.

WELL◄◄◄◄………. JUST before the big kissing scene was to take place, I was typing madly at my keyboard. This time the commercial break was tiny!!! I heard the love music begin. I screamed, and ran down the hall ! “(1)Run faster,” I yelled to myself !!

I ran SO fast that I slipped on a rug in the hall. Somehow I managed NOT to fall !! I knew the big scene was moments away. The back of the couch was facing me. I had NO idea where the remote was. I knew that time was of the ESSENCE…….

Ohhhhh…..Did I tell you……… There is a small table at the back of the couch.

And remember….I currently go to the Physical Therapy office twice a week. It must REALLY be helping; Because……….

I literally DOVE OVER THE TABLE, clearing several picture frames before landing on the couch!!!

Even as I was airborne, I frantically looked for the remote.

“(4) Who took the remote,” I screamed out!!!!” As I live alone, it is unlikely that it could be anywhere other than where I had left it, minutes earlier.

Success!!! I clicked on the VCR…..The taping resumed…….

And then………. The electricity went out!!!!!! I sat there stunned.

“(5) I feel my ulcer growing, ” I cried as I pleaded to God to PLEASE turn the power back on. I hit the button…… All was well….. Thank GOD<<<. By the time Matt joined his love interest in the BEDROOM, I was in hormone heaven. I smiled like a fool as he quietly joined her for a night of love making. When the show was over, I lay there, hugging a pillow which may NEVER regain it's original form!! The desperate dive I had negociated in combination with the range of emotions I had experienced, had taken their toll. "(3) Where's my aspirin," I muttered. As I got up and started back to the computer room, a thought entered my very weary mind..................................................... "(7) I have GOT to get a life !!"

“Do your own homework,” said Sarah, surveying the classroom, her domain, as the bell rang and class let out. Some days it seemed as if the clock just took its merry time moving the minute hand; on those days, Sarah wished it would run faster.

“One of those days?” asked Miss Williams, the aide.

“Yes. Where’s my aspirin? I feel my ulcer growing.” replied Sarah.

Miss Williams handed her the bottle.

The audiovisual staff had brought in a TV, so the class could watch an educational tape on the life of the Bronte sisters. “Hey, who took the remote?” asked Miss Williams. “Ah, here it is.” The TV and its attached VCR shut off. Sarah had given the class a lecture earlier about one of the common literary plots of that time: a man or woman, torn between two choices, or torn between two lovers.

“It sounds interesting,” Miss Williams thought to herself, “but the way it’s presented in these old moldy books… well, I’d be reading the latest Harry Potter book in a New York second, given the choice.” She never dared give voice to such thoughts in front of Sarah.

“So, what are you doing this weekend?” Miss Williams asked Sarah.

“Grading essays, same as you,” said Sarah.

“I’m sure there are some that will be worth reading; the creativity of the students always amazes me,” said Miss Williams aloud. To herself, she subvocalized, “I have got to get a life.”

Torn, between two lovers, Sarah’s heart started to run faster with each thought. So much so, she felt as though her head would explode. Looking around, she thought, “where’s my aspirin?” Lying on the counter, Sarah spotted the bottle and realized she had not put them away. “I have got to get a life,” she thought, as she opened the aspirin bottle and took out two of the aspirins and tossed them into her mouth; hoping they would ease the throbbing within her head, as she certainly knew it would take more than two aspirins to ease her aching heart.

Not wanting to think about the decision she had to make, Sarah looked around for the remote…”where is it?” she grumbled to herself. “Who took the remote?” as she stumbled over the otttoman in search of the one thing which could bring her an escape. An escape from her reality and these two men whom she loved deeply, passionately.

Sitting on the floor now, she began to weep. The pressure had mounted within the very crevases of her heart, consuming her every waking moment! “How do I choose between them?”, she cried. “I feel my ulcer growing and I don’t even have one!”, she exclaimed aloud. Tears stinging her now soaked cheeks.

Suddenly, Sarah heard a knock upon the door. She reached for the tissues and tried to dry all the tears as she she scrambled to the door. Upon opening the door, Sarah was amazed to see Brian. It was Brian, Sarah’s first love and the one with whom she had always wanted to marry, have children and grow old together.

Brian saw that Sarah had been not just crying but rather, his first love had been weeping, mightily and deeply. Without a single word, Brian scooped Sarah into his strong arms and as they gazed into one anothers eyes, Sarah knew the choice had been made for her!

In a New York second, they were years back as their hearts reached out, beating together, as one. Brian swept her from her feet as she lay hopelessly helpless, in her one true loves arms!

You wore me out with the first occurrence, Sarge. If you try me again, I may lay like a dead eagle. Next time though, babes, I promise to be hotter than the first time. OOOOH Baby!

Sarge, I’d just like to know whether you ever get any ‘good’ answers to your ‘questions.’ And what do you consider a ‘good’ answer? I’d also like to know why you ask the ‘questions’ that you do. Are you doing research? I like research and I’d be interested in your findings, but I have no intention of wasting my time writing a story with your phrases. Any 5 year old could do it.

Climbing Back Up. My husband Alex of fourteen years had just lost his job because of cutbacks and was not taking it well, especially when he thought he was up for a promotion, not that I blamed him but he had me worried the way he was carrying on the past week. He’d been home two weeks now and it wasn’t easy for either one of us under each others feet night and day. Well I shouldn’t say night because the past five nights Alex had been going to the local pub which wasn’t like him. Oh, he has an occasional drink but not the way he’s been doing lately. I was reading my book in bed when Alex walked in, or should I say, staggered in. Before he left he had said, “DON’T WAIT UP FOR ME tonight, I’ll probably be late,” but as much as I wanted to ignore him I couldn’t. I hated what he was doing to us and answered as calmly as I could, “Just WATCH OUT FOR YOURSELF.” I felt like screaming at him but I knew that wouldn’t help. “Yeah, whatever.” He snorted back at me and left and now he was back climbing into bed reeking of booze. “WILL YOU KISS AN OLD FOOL GOOD NIGHT,” he slurred. I couldn’t handle it, so I bit my tongue and rolled over. I wanted to give him a mouthful but I knew he wouldn’t understand a damn word being in the state he was. I was sitting at the kitchen table having coffee when Alex managed to come downstairs a little after 11:30. He tried to apologize again, just like the last three mornings, but I wasn’t having it this time. “Alex,” I started, “What you’ve been doing the past few nights, DO YOU THINK THAT IS THE ANSWER to our problems and you trying to find another job?” “No, but what do you suggest?” he replied back to me with a hint of sarcasm. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself for starters and start to COUNT YOUR LUCKY STARS that we have a little put away to tied us over until you can find something else. You can also COUNT YOUR LUCKY STARS that you have tons of experience, talents, references, and friends to help, and that goes for me too, but I won’t be sticking this out much longer. I’ll go to my sister’s for awhile until you can wake up and realize what you’re doing to yourself.” “Yep,” he answered, “and TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY too,” then headed back to bed. Alex left earlier than usual that night and dressed better than he had the other nights. He was freshly shaved and had on my favorite shirt. My thoughts were everywhere. Was there another woman already? I had a hard time reading or watching T.V. I kept wondering where Alex was and with who. To my surprise Alex came in at 10 o’clock, walked towards me, and handed me some blueprints of a house. I looked at him slightly confused and asked what the heck they were for and why would I want them. He grinned at me slightly and asked, “Would you accept A BUSHEL OF HUGS and then tonight WILL YOU KISS AN OLD FOOL GOOD NIGHT?” “Alex, will you please start making some sense?” “TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY and I’m starting it with my new job. I went to talk with Bernie like you said and he said they needed another carpenter so I’m it. Only you would have stuck with me Mary and I love you for getting angry with me. I’ve been so stupid.” I told him to hush up and give me A BUSHEL OF HUGS like he offered a few moments ago. The rest of the night I will keep to myself.

Now who could ever top Sunshine’s story!! I say, Bravo!!