Epilogue


I wish you all could know how much your comments have encouraged me and kept me inspired. For what is a story-teller without someone to listen? and critique…and edit…and suggest, Cheryl, RA, and FS. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I see from your comments you’ve rememberd my weakness for not letting go of characters so if and when Annie Joy and Urs tell me more of their story I’ll gladly pass it on to you.

We know when we read these fan fictions, that indeed, that’s what they are…fiction, make-believe. We are right there with the characters sharing their angst as well as their happiness. Whether they are larger than life superheroes or more ordinary folk, their romantic storylines fall in and out of place with a regularity that excites, frustrates, maddens, and delights us.

And through it all if we dare admit it, a tiny spark deep down flickers, ‘what if’ as we are drawn into the story, into the romance. So now I want to tell you a true life love story celebrating the fact that art does indeed imitate life and that the romance we love is alive and well even off the written page.

I was already well into writing and posting Man Overboard when we went on a cruise last July. That is when I met Joan and Charlie and became captivated by their story. They are in their mid 50’s and would not stand out in a crowd except for their friendliness and easy going attitude.

They were part of our group that had been organized by a couple who arrange our cruises. Our tour organizers had met Joan and Charlie on a world cruise and subsequently helped them plan their wedding.

Joan and Charlie met on a cruise to Alaska. His wife had recently died after struggling with cancer for several years during which he had stayed home and looked after her. She was recovering from a bad marriage after 25 years and an even worse divorce.

At the Captain’s reception the first evening they were introduced, made polite conversation and that was that. The next day when Charlie got on the bus for his tour Joan was there sitting alone in the front seat. He was torn. Should he sit with her, the rest of the bus was mostly couples, or go to the back of the bus? He chose the front seat.

For the rest of the cruise they got to know each other and discovered they were both from San Francisco and even had a few friends in common, though Joan and Charlie had never met before. At the end of the cruise they traded phone numbers.

As Charlie explained it to me, when he got back home he walked into his darkened house and just stood in the hall not even knowing which room he wanted to go into. He went to the phone and called Joan and they went to dinner that night and thus began their friendship. Joan however was so overly cautious she would only meet him for their dates. It took six months for her to finally tell him where she lived.

During the next few years they went on several cruises together including two world cruises. Yes, they are well off financially but I didn’t hear that from them and the old cliché ‘you’d never know by looking at them’ does apply in this case. Creating memories seems to be more important to them than acquiring stuff.

And so last June they invited 20 of their closest friends and their rabbi to join them on another Alaskan cruise. On the afternoon of their wedding they all went dogsledding and played in the snow. Then they returned to the ship to change into their wedding finery. The guests assembled in Joan and Charlie’s suite as she walked out of one bedroom on the arm of her son and he walked out of the other bedroom to join her. Her son was also Charlie’s best man. So as the ship sailed out of the harbor at Juneau on the fifth anniversary of the day they met. they exchanged their vows.

Following the ceremony there was a dinner and reception in one of the restaurants. It was the first wedding ever for that ship line. The chef was especially thrilled to be able to provide the wedding cake.

We were with Joan and Charlie on another cruise in October and I happened to stop them one morning after breakfast to tell them about my story and ask about their reception. As we were talking, Joan suddenly asked, “What’s the date?” I told her. “It’s our four month anniversary!” And as if on cue they turned and gave each other a little kiss.

We’ll be seeing them again in April as they finish the last leg of yet another world cruise. I’m going to give them a copy of Man Overboard and thank them for inspiring me after the fact.

So I would like to propose a toast to all the people who inspire us with their real life romance.
To Joan and Charlie!