Fairy Tales

I need an escape sometimes. I love to read, it’s one of my favorite ways to unwind and escape reality. Between reading, music and traveling most of my life revolves around one of the 3 when I have any free time (sometimes when I don’t really have free time but I make it work 😊). In my lifetime I have read thousands of books, there have even been times when I’ve read 1 in full in a day. I mostly read fiction (hence the escape part) and prefer action, suspense/thriller, mystery and my absolute favorite – romance.

As life has gone on, I think my love of romance novels has jaded my sense of love and expectations and set me up for failure. As crazy as it seems, I like to read these novels because I know they will have a happy ending. Something which has eluded me thus far.  I know that no matter how big of a fight the characters get in, how their story starts, how obstacles may get in the way of their love, how other folks (past or present) may try to intervene, distance, how life’s responsibilities will come up, how miscommunication and disagreements can derail the path to everlasting love they are on – the story will ultimately have a happy ending. That’s not always true in real life. I didn't say it was impossible to have a happy ending, I just gotta get out of the thought process that every situation I go into will. Will save a lot of disappointment and make me even more surprised when it happens. It’s no secret that I’m a ridiculously huge romantic. If folks are paying attention, they can see it in the music I listen to, the books I read, the movies I love, the blogs I write, the way I talk, the way I move, the wants I express, the fact that my top 2 love languages are quality time and physical touch. I think another big reason I love romance novels is because I transport myself into the story as the female character to, “in a fantasy”, live out all the things I actually want in real life. The everyday romantic gestures like flowers, meals with my man, date nights or being sent my favorite things by surprise. Being whisked away on domestic or international trips to experience new things and places, and of course, make love in beautiful settings (*close your eyes mom*). Having fun doing regular degular things like grabbing ice cream and walking in the park, going to the movies, doing anything competitive (sports, pool, bowling, mini golf, etc.). Grand gestures expressing feelings and love. Feeling like I’m the most beautiful person in the world in their eyes (and having them tell me). Dancing under the moonlight, getting glammed up for some fancy event and being showstoppers when we walk in together. Someone who can’t wait to talk to me or see me every day and does everything in their power to make that happen. The ease of the vibe, cuddling on the couch watching a movie or our favorite show, being told I’m a priority in their life and backing it up in how they treat me. Having the romantic proposal and beautiful wedding, and finally the family that we grow and love together. Ultimately, someone willing to fight for the love we have and who wants the happy ending just as bad as I do. However, as I said, life is not a fairytale and unfortunately when I put the book down reality comes back into play. Some of the things from the novels may be in play in my life but the full story has yet to be written and may not exactly look like what I’ve read. I have to be ok with that.

Anita Baker wrote a song that is the title of this blog (you can hear the song below), and the lyrics actually back up what I’m saying. Crazy how that works huh 😉? My mom loves AB so I definitely heard her songs growing up and it immediately came to mind when these feelings came to the forefront of my mind. Here is a snippet:

Fairy Tales – Anita Baker (1990)

I can remember stories, those things my mother said
She told me fairy tales, before I went to bed
She spoke of happy endings, then tucked me in real tight
She turned my night light on, and kissed my face good night
My mind would fill with visions, of perfect paradise
She told me everything, she said he'd be so nice
He'd ride up on his horse and, take me away one night
I'd be so happy with him, we'd ride clean out of sight
She never said that we would, curse, cry and scream and lie
She never said that maybe, someday he'd say goodbye

The story ends, as stories do
Reality steps into view
No longer living life in paradise - of fairy tales - uh
No, uh - huh - mmm - mmm

I know everyone has their own escapes, dreams, fantasies and desires and I hope they come true.

Peace.