Victoria, I mentioned her in a three part story: The land of Dixie 1; The Circus Comes to Town 2: and Victoria In the Garden of Eden 3. Even thought the last title has her name in it she was not the focal point and received little personal attention in the story. However, she was one of the most unique women I have ever known and deserves attention from my storyteller nature.

Holding Too Tight Is Not Possession

I had met her over a plate of Grits in a back road dinner in the Carolina’s (see 2 above).  Suffice to say that she was strikingly beautiful; knew it; but didn’t care in the sense of the way beautiful women often present themselves. While a somewhat rare commodity, I have found this more often in the south than other parts of the country. Best as I have been able to determine is they have mothers that are even more beautiful and it keeps things in perspective for them. Just my opinion ….

As I said in the last story, we were not soul mates but we did have a more basic connection. We were lovers and old friends within hours and no pretenses necessary. Usually men wanted to own Victoria. It’s a curse very attractive women have to deal with. She told me once that she dreaded a second or third date and often turned it down with a guy she liked because they read more into it than there was. I suppose possession of pretty things is a curse men must deal with. Thanks to a very wise old Grandfather (see A Grandfather) that curse was lifted from me. He taught me when I was a little boy, “Why want what you can’t have when there are so many other things you can have.” I respected him too much not to take heed. The lesson has served me well.

 I guess Victoria picked up on this through that connection we had and was always comfortable with me whenever we went out. I only saw her when I was in town and even then not all the time. I ran into her on some of those occasions we did not go out but we were both OK with it.