Discovering Diane A Journey of Self-Discovery and
Finding True Love
Diane Mele
Boynton Beach, Florida
American Life Publishers www.americanlifepublishers.com Š 2010 Diane Mele All rights reserved, including rights of reproduction. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Published in 2010 by American Life Publishers Boynton Beach, FL 33472 ISBN 978-0-9791086-4-8 Photographs provided by Diane Mele Book cover design and layout by Alex Polo Book design and layout by cj Madigan, Shoebox Stories Printed in the United States of America
Table of Contents
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Preface My Beloved Mother My Beloved Father Edith and Frank Growing Up Marriage and Births Taking Control Romance and Friends Losing Custody Roman Holiday The Greek The Silver Fox The Entertainer Psychic Encounters Third and Last God’s Gifts Life in Florida Good News, Bad News Relay for Life Never Say Never Soul Mate Double Whammy Angels and Dreams What I Love Regrets and Hopes Poetry
ix 1 7 13 17 35 67 77 91 93 107 125 135 149 161 173 175 183 193 199 205 215 219 225 229 231
20 Soul Mate
O
n one very special Wednesday evening, I reluctantly accepted an invitation to join some friends for a drink at Ben’s Steak
House. The restaurant was almost empty, except for a couple of men sitting at the bar. I joined my friends on the upper level and during our conversation, my eyes kept drifting over to the men sitting at the bar. There was one in particular that drew my interest. I only had a view of his back and a small portion of the side of his face, and my curiosity grew stronger by the minute. Having noticed my interest, my friend asked, “Do you see something you like?” “Yes,” I said. He suggested, “You’re not shy, why don’t you go over an introduce yourself?” “Not right now,” I decided. Sometime later, three women I knew entered the restaurant and sat at the far end of the bar. If only they had sat a little closer to the men, I would have had a better chance to make some kind of conversation on my way over to say hello to them. Trying not to act so anxious, I waited for a while before going over to greet my acquaintances. A short time later, the man got up and walked past us. I thought that he left, but he returned after a few minutes. As he passed us again, I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard a voice ask, “Would you like to dance?” I answered yes immediately. vii
My mother, Edith Bruno Mele. It’s no wonder Daddy fell in love with her, charmed by her beauty and her devotion to family.
Irene and Diane, one of the many photographs taken by Daddy’s dear friend, Felix, at his studio in Mt. Vernon, New York
Edith holding her precious twins: Irene on the left and Diane on the right (1936)
Edith and Frank holding their twins, Irene (l.) and Diane (r.)
25 Poetry How Precious a Life A birth, a baby, a breath, a cry, training and caring, not to be denied. Love above all, no limit allowed. Uncertainties, anxieties, knowledge devoured. Learning to be the best that you can be, hopeful and desperate to one day succeed. Love, relationships, happiness, no guarantees, success a possibility, if inner satisfaction is achieved. We work so diligently to a ripe old age, only to wake one day to the reality that it may be our last. Oh God, where has my life gone? This precious life you have gifted me with. Did I really do my best? Achieve success? Find love and happiness? I truly hope my answer can be yes. ——Diane Mele October 2003
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