Exceptional The best time of my life... Contest Entry and Winners : Sealed With A Kiss by Begin Again      The time of my life: Contest Winner

I am one of those old-fashioned people who believe a man’s word and a handshake should seal the deal. I believe in respect and loyalty to all. I think if you love someone and promise them your heart, you don’t need a piece of paper to prove it. I was content to live my life within those thoughts.   What bothered me was discovering that my family was slipping away right before my eyes, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. In December 2016, my son-in-law was helicoptered to the hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival. In February 2017, my father complained of a side ache and four hours later died of sepsis. Shortly after that, we learned that my mom’s breast cancer had returned for the third time, and this time it had the upper hand. The doctors said the man I’d loved for the last twenty years was terminally ill.   During that time, I quickly learned to treat every day as if it might be our last. When my sweet mother asked us to be married before she died, neither of us thought about a piece of paper; her wish was all that mattered.   Our first date, twenty years prior, as a couple was in April. So we chose that month for a wedding. The first fresh signs of daffodils, budding trees, and chirping robins promised new beginnings in spring. Since a beach wedding was not an attainable dream, we decided my childhood backyard with the river flowing by would be perfect. Wheelbarrows of sand became our beach where we would stand and exchange our vows. Mother Nature gifted us with gusty winds and a twenty-degree drop in temperature on the day of our wedding, but it still was our day.   The Man of the Hour swore he would never wear a suit, but there he was, standing on the patio with a new black suit and a burgundy shirt. His forever sidekick, the walker, was at his side. As the bride, I wore a mauve gown with simple pearls in my sweptback hair. I was standing inside my mother’s home, watching everyone outside. When the music began, much to my surprise, the love of my life shoved his walker aside and shuffled down the grassy aisle. He hadn’t been able to walk alone for months. I stood wide-eyed and holding my breath while two relatives walked close by his side. When he reached the minister, he turned and smiled, giving thumbs up to the crowd. Someone pushed the walker to him, but he shook his head.   Pharrell Williams honored us by singing his single, “Happy,” by recording, of course. Our family started clapping to the music as my three grandchildren danced and twirled as they walked down the aisle. My oldest son took my arm and walked with me to the walkway entrance, then he laughed and spun his way merrily toward Mike, giving him a bear hug when he reached the end. Bursting with love and happiness, I danced, swayed, and sashayed to Pharrell’s rhythm till I arrived standing beside the man I loved.   As I reached the Man of The Hour, he took my hands in his while tears streamed down my big ole bear’s face. He tried to speak, but all he could manage was to mouth, “I love you.” I recited a short vow I’d prepared, and then he knocked me off my feet with his vows. I don’t recall the words because I was drowning in his eyes. The minister pronounced us man and wife, and we shared the kiss of a lifetime. The joining of our love, the kiss, and our lives was the best time of my life. The love of our family and friends washed over us as we became one, not only in our eyes and the world but in God’s eyes, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM PHARRELL WILLIAMS - “HAPPY”   It might seem crazy what I am ’bout to say Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space With the air, like I don’t care, baby by the way Huh (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you know what happiness is to you (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do Here come bad news talking this and that (Yeah) Well give me all you got, don’t hold back (Yeah) Well I should probably warn you I’ll be just fine (Yeah) No offence to you don’t waste your time Here’s why Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you know what happiness is to you (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do Uh, bring me down Can’t nothing, bring me down My level’s too high to bring me down Can’t nothing, bring me down, I said Bring me down, can’t nothing Bring me down My level’s too high to bring me down Can’t nothing, bring me down, I said Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you know what happiness is to you (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you know what happiness is to you (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do Uh, bring me down (Happy, happy, happy, happy) Can’t nothing (Happy, happy, happy, happy) Bring me down, my level’s too high To bring me down (Happy, happy, happy, happy) Can’t nothing (Happy, happy, happy, happy) Bring me down, I said Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you know what happiness is to you (ayy, ayy, ayy) (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you know what happiness is to you (hey) (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do Come on   Writing Prompt Write a short story. The topic is: The best time you ever had in your life. It can be as an adult or as a child. Please keep it clean. Minimum length 100 words. Maximum Length 4,000 words. The time of my life: Contest Winner Recognized Author Notes Sorry I did not know how to transfer the video for your convenience.

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