Mia Carissima Bella Regina,

One of the most beautiful of all women I have had the pleasure to call my own, if only for a temporary moment in time. You were my first true crush and love. Your face and body, pure perfection, combining the purity of Vesta, with the allure and beauty of Venus.

My father would always call you Gina Lollobrigida, although we all knew you had more of the beauty of a young Sophia Loren. He always became so chatty when you were around, and was proud of me for such a catch.

I still remember the first time we met at the lake in Connecticut. I had opened the back door to see who was knocking, and there you were, absolute beauty. My heart started to pound through my chest. I thought I would have a heart attack at my young age. You turned bright red and in a panic you ran away. If one believes in love at first sight, this was truly such an event.

I remember our first date when I came to your home. Your father, a decorated police officer, first greeted me at the door, and with a stern look asked me to come in. He had all his awards and accommodations plastered throughout the house. He might have well been cleaning his shotgun in the kitchen, for all it mattered. We were on the couch in your basement. Thinking your father was lurking around every corner, I was too skittish to make my move to kiss you, and I bailed out at even the slightest thought of violating his daughter with a kiss. Do you recall cooking pasta for me and using tomato soup as the gravy? I knew you were 100% Italian by birth, but it was then that I realized that culinary expertise was not something automatically inherited by ethnicity. 😂

When we finally did kiss at my home by the pool side, it was heaven on earth and fireworks were in the air. I remember, you had almost fainted from the passion and you could hardly walk a straight line, and I could barely breath. It was the first time that I discovered how painful it was being away from someone and wanting them with such a desire that it churned my stomach and made me sick with love every single day I was not with you.

Despite the passion and desire, we never had the chance to make love until we were older, when we reunited. It was like heaven on earth when we did. Oh! how long awaited it was. When we were together, people would call us Ken and Barbie. We laughed when I mentioned that I had hoped the reference wasn't because of Ken's lack of lower appendages. 🤣

But there was someone else in the picture, and the day came, where you two stood in my backyard. If looks could kill, there would be two jealous Italian women that would tear each other apart just to have me. I have to admit, it felt really good, although I knew it was wrong. Neither of you looked at each other for long, but were courteous enough to pretend civility. I could see in your eyes that you both wished for the other's death and burial. My mother looked on in awe, questioning in her mind, when the eye gouging and clawing would begin.

Unfortunately, I chose her, and we were married. I wish I chose you. My life would have been so much better with you. I did hear that you were married as well, and with child, but your marriage ended in the same treacherous fate of deception that mine did. For that I am so sorry.

My mother did tell me you called the house to see how I was doing. I was long gone, and I moved 3000 miles away to escape the similar disaster that you experienced. There was too much pain to stay. I want to tell you that you almost gave my mother a coronary when you told her that your child looked like me. When she told me, I almost fell over and immediately started counting the years on my fingers, but it couldn't be true. I believe our child would have been the most beautiful in the world.

I want to thank you for all the experiences that you have given me. I will always cherish them. I hope our paths cross in the future. Perhaps I'll get a surprise email from you. Maybe I will attempt to send one myself to see how you are doing. I wish you the best in life, because I know you are a good person, and truly deserving of one.

Arrivederci bella signora