My poem, Sweet Awakenings, has received many inquiries along with reviews. Let me set the record straight. I was young when this happened and did eventually divorce the husband my family so highly recommended. I wasn't in love with him, but cared for him. I bore him two wonderful children and for that I will never be sorry. I was single for many years and when I did accept my current husbands marriage proposal, I was 100% sure that this was the man I was meant to marry and spend my life with. I have enjoyed a 28 year long love affair with my wedded spouse; he is the love of my life and loves me dearly.

As one reviewer pointed out, I am the person I am today for the choice I made long ago. I enjoyed being a Navy wife, the travel, the many friends made (many are still active today), and being able to pursue my career in every duty station I lived in, culminating in opening my own school and teaching for many years. When my first husband had command of a squadron, I enjoyed the office of Commanding Officers Wife and served my duties well when the men were away from home and standing by my husband at all functions when they were home. My years provided me an education on life, people and the ways of other pilots from different countries while visiting the USA.

I live a different life now, a more slow paced and laid back life style which I also love, especially as I grow older. For 28 years I have felt loved, revered, respected and I now know what it means to grow old with someone, expecting the best years ahead to come.

I have been in touch with the young man of my past for over 10 years now; we were able to talk for many hours about that time and oddly enough, he blames himself for not getting leave to come to me when I stopped writing him because I thought he no longer cared for me when I did not receive any letters from him. We are both happy with our spouses and enjoy talking together on the phone, with our mates joining in the conversation once in awhile. This is the way we interact with one another. His wife is one of my dearest friends, which is also unusual. They read my stories and my poetry and occasionaly email me their comments. As the saying goes, all is well that ends well.

Why am I telling you this? Because the book I am currently writing is based on this story, along with many embellishments that come from my vivid and playful imagination, along with mystery plots with a surprise ending. There are story plots that never existed in real life and an ending that will make your heart glow, making  a tender, passionate, amusing and well rounded, enjoyable book. 

That and the fact that I have enjoyed so many blissfully happy years with my second husband, many more years than I spent with my first husband. I have been and remain a totally contented woman.

Joy L. Hale
Copyright 2011
All Rights Reserved