Beck's Love Lessons

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L'AVENUE DES SOUHAITS (The Alley of Wishes)

Beck's Love Lessons began as an experimental lens, an exercise in creativity.

My mother always dreamed of visiting Paris. She dreamed of being loved unconditionally by her husband, and of sharing a sweet, nurturing marriage. Those dreams did not come true for my mother. Mom lived on a sad, scary alley so the peace and comfort of the fictional Alley of Wishes was my gift to her. Beck is the kindly husband I wish my mother might have had. Cerise is the woman he loves unconditionally. Their story is an allegory, life written as I wish it could have been for Mother.

The object of Beck's affection lived on a remote Parisian side street. He could barely make out faded letters on the tall stone obelisk that marked her alley. His French was poor at best, but he guessed at the name: The Alley of Wishes

Would the place live up to its name, become a blessing in answer to his prayers and wishes?

Ancient stone walls flanked the worn door leading to a small courtyard and cottage. Beck hoped to find love here in Cerise's quiet home, the lasting kind like that shared by his parents.

Beck's love lessons are universal. Unconditional love is kind, nurturing, and lasts a lifetime.

THIS LENS WAS BLESSED BY A SQUID ANGEL 

Thank you, Angel.

WISHES AND HOPES

Sometimes, all a broken person has are hopes, dreams, or wishes.

Believing goodness and hope will survive is powerful medicine.

My mother diffused her nightmares by imagining a kindly man who loved her unconditionally. Beck banished nightmares by whispering his frights into the soft ear of an angel who would always love him, no matter what life dished out.

Mother's reality and Beck's meet at the Alley of Wishes.

THE FLOWER MARKET 

Whether the day was rainy or sunny, the sight of colorful flowers and their soothing fragrances were a blessing to my mother. Her yard was a riot of colorful flowers and she took comfort from sitting on the back steps with bright blooms all around her.

Beck found joy in walking hand in hand with Cerise at the many flower markets in Paris. He had an artist's eye for color and the flower market fed his creativity. Every trip to the flower market produced a new addition to the garden Beck created for Cerise at The Alley of Wishes.

Sometimes love can be shown quietly, through flowers and fragrance and the labor of a man's hands digging in the earth.

The Seine is a broad, slow-flowing river that curves through the heart of Paris. 37 bridges cross the Seine within the boundaries of Paris.

THE SEINE 

I allowed Beck to search for peace in the broad tree-lined quais along the Seine, just as Mother might have if she had been there. The lights of Paris reflected in the river by night, and sunlight dappled her waters by day. Mom dreamed of standing on the Pont des Arts at night with the lights of Paris shimmering in the water.

The Seine, therefore, became a linchpin of Beck's experience in Paris. Sometimes anger and despair drove him to the Seine. Other times, the river became a place of solitary contemplation where he planned ways of demonstrating his love for Cerise.

Regardless of his mood, the sight and sound of water soothed Beck.

Construction on Notre Dame Cathedral was begun in 1163 and completed in 1345. It sits on the Ile de Cite as a beacon of hope to people of all denominations.

Notre Dame means "Our Lady" in French.

NOTRE DAME 

The Hunchback of Notre Dame was one of Mom's favorite books and movies. She'd always hoped to someday visit Notre Dame, to see the travelers and supplicants gathered around the church made famous in book and on screen. She once said that surely anyone visiting there would experience some sort of epiphany.
Beck stood as Mom's surrogate when he and Cerise visited Notre Dame.

It seems that nothing ever proceeds smoothly for long in life. Beck almost loses Cerise in the shelling of Paris. His short lived joy falters, along with his newfound faith in goodness and mercy.

Hope returned in one moment when Beck sees Notre Dame glowing in the setting sun. His epiphany comes as the sun glows pink on that ancient edifice. It was at that moment he knew, just knew, that the bad times were behind them.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING AND LEAVING A COMMENT 

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Find Beck's story on Amazon 

The Alley of Wishes

The Alley of Wishes

by: Laurel Johnson

Amazon Price: $17.95 (as of 11/29/2009) Buy Now

by lollyj


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