Moments in Time: Stories of Love, Courage and Sometimes, Even Happy Endings

By Bobbi Sullivan

From a botched WWII parachute jump into enemy territory to a sad dog finding a new master, and from a misdiagnosed shortened life span to a love story sealed on a mountaintopeveryone has a story. This collection of segments of real peoples lives each teaches a lesson or shows love, heartbreak, or courage. These stories were told to me, not in confidence, but with the idea of sharing events that shaped those individuals futures.

Stories of love, courage, and sometimes, even happy endingswhat a premise for a book. Contained in these pages are moments in time from strong, determined, wise people who have come through experiences and were able to move forward in their lives.

From missed opportunity and choosing honor over love, to a life-changing event that awakened gratitude and awareness, to the gift of a second chance, and on to the knowledge that sometimes miracles do happen, these pages show the courage, devotion, and determination of the human spirit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524580209

Bobbi Sullivan

Bobbi Sullivan—retired educator, wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, writer, gardener, traveler. All these facets are components that combine to make up a life. Bobbi Sullivan used her 35 years of experience as an educator to write her first book, Help to Help Your Child. She has now related the experiences of a diverse, courageous, compassionate, aware and dedicated group of individuals in order to present her second book, Moments in Time. She is presently contemplating her third major writing effort with her grandsons in mind.

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by By Bobbi Sullivan.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2017901780

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-5245-8022-3

      Softcover      978-1-5245-8021-6

      eBook         978-1-5245-8020-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 03/07/2017

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

(I) A Promise is a Promise:

Missed opportunity and the choice of honor over love.

(II) Young Love, Always:

An account of love, dedication, and strength.

(III) A Valentine’s Day Story:

A life-changing event that awakened gratitude and awareness.

(IV) Never Too Late:

Music and movement leading to a celebration of love.

(V) The Dalai Lama’s Scarf:

Love and commitment prevails.

(VI) An Act of Love:

True devotion and compassion knows no bounds.

(VII) You Just Never Know:

Sometimes when you lose, you win.

(VIII) Obi Wan—Won:

The gift of a second chance.

(IX) Six Months Can Be a Long Time:

Sometimes miracles do happen.

Epilogue

For my husband

who makes everything possible.

Acknowledgements

While it may be difficult to know how to thank all those wonderful individuals who have made this book possible, I do know with whom to begin. My husband, Pat, has always stood beside and behind me with support and love. He’s never stopped or stilled any of my somewhat crazed impulses, but has helped my ideas and projects to come to completion. I love you and thank you for all the little things that have added up to this wonderful experience we’ve had together.

I must also mention my mom, Irene, who is no longer with me. She has been perhaps the most influential person in my life. Believing there wasn’t anything she couldn’t conquer, she moved fearlessly, not dwelling on the past, but dealing with the present. She would be so proud to be included in this book. Encouraging me, she often said, You know the words. Why don’t you just write them down? OK, Mom. I did.

To my daughter, Casey, who has become my best friend, thank you for sharing your wisdom and for being such a wonderful part of my life.

To my family, David and Debbie, I appreciate the time we had to spend together and the opportunity to see your love for each other. Also, to my cousin, Lucille, whose passing gave me the opportunity to reconnect.

To Darryl and Kim, thank you for sharing your music and your story. What fun it is to be a part of your world.

To Rosie and Joanne, two of the most gentle, caring, compassionate and intelligent friends and former teachers, I thank you for your honesty and courage.

To Jenny, thank you for revealing your heartfelt, heartbreaking, and heart warming family story. It was a true act of love to do so.

To Obi Wan’s adoptive parents and owners, Bill and Janice, thank you for sharing this story containing the lessons of kindness and compassion and the warning to not take anything for granted.

To Vicky and Bill, thank you for teaching me that sometimes, when you lose, that’s just when you win.

And, to my very good friends, Bev and Bill, you were then and are still the brother and sister I never had. Our adventures together have been so joyful. Thank you for sharing.

And to my readers: one note. Please know that some names have been changed to protect the innocent. The guilty will just have to live with it.

Preface

These following events were told to me, not in confidence, but in the spirit of sharing. Written on these pages are people’s real stories—stories of individuals who had to either effect or accept change in their lives. Due to circumstances or decisions that were or were not made, situations were permanently rearranged and the life once known vanished.

Much time has passed since the journey of recording these stories began. Lives have been altered, sometimes drastically. Voices have been stilled; laws have changed, but none of that matters. What has unfolded after these reflections doesn’t modify the pivotal events. These stories are finite unto themselves. They each represent a slice in time, with choices, actions and decisions indelibly affecting the outcome.

It is human to think ahead…to plan for the future…to try and set a course to a desired outcome…or to keep things the same for just one more day. However, while waiting for our own stories to unfold, we sometimes look so far in advance that we forget to enjoy what is happening in the moment. We bypass the present in order to anticipate the future. Methodically taking pictures to attempt to review our experiences sometime in the future limits our ability to focus on the here and now. Then something happens that shakes us to our core and we find that we can no longer just float along. Our life picture has