HI Beady friends!  Here is my column for May 2002

I’M HAVING AN AFFAIR -- SO WHAT!

Yes! I’m having an affair. There I finally said it. I feel so much better now. I’m glad it’s all out in the open and I can finally quit leading a double life.  It’s been hard keeping it a secret. Well sort of a secret. Of couse, my very closest friends have  suspected it for years. But none of them were ever brave enough to confront me. You see, none of my long term personal friends run in the same circles as I do. Oh, yes, we meet for the occasional luncheon, run into each other at conferences and sometimes in Wal Mart by accident. I have seen the raised eyebrows and exchanged glances  when I’ve accidently slip and said  something I shouldn’t have.

Of course, there  were all the tale\tale signs.  Being out very late at night, staying up to the wee hours in the morning ‘occupied’. Mysterious phone calls,  making plans to meet somewhere,  Jumping in the car at exactly fifeteen minutes to five with a crazy look in my eye, arriving home late and stashing bags of mysterious items before he could see them, adjusting the budget to hide my rendevous and finally, traveling all over the country and staying in romantic hotels.

I admit it, I am having an affair but I am not ashamed. Actually, the affair started years ago...... Way before I ever met my hubby and way Way before I had kids, or grandkids. I’m sorry baby, but I just couldn’t give my Love up.. I tried..Oh yes I tried but I couldn’t help it. Like an addict, I’d find myself stalking my Love.  Even getting up at wee hours in the morning just to be the first in line to get a quick peek before I had to go to work. Or lurking in public places watching others doing the same thing. I even haunt the malls watching to see if my love is on someone’s arm, or hanging from their neck. Yes, I am a little obcessive, but love makes one crazy you know...

I have even joined or started societies  about my Amour. People have written poems heaping great  compliments and affection  on my Amour.. Oh  yes, we share our Love and addiction.  Yes, I am also an addict too... In fact, we take pride in it. We actually go out of our way to make more addicts and introduce them to our Love.  They in turn, make more addicts etc. We have large gatherings where thousands of us go just get a glimpse of and invite our Love to come home with us. Yes, home right under our family’s noses!

My first Lover was from Czecholovakia. .. But in the past few years I have added additional lovers; some from Japan, oh they are wonderful.. And  even a few ‘old vintage geezers’ from France and other points in Europe.. Oh yea, I can’t leave out India.. This lover brings me  gifts made with beautiful silver and sometimes bright shiny glass. 

Have you guessed who my lover is yet?  Sometimes this mysterious lover uses the name Hank, or Charlette, or Toho, or Miyuki, or Bali or .. But always has the last name of BEAD. Yes, My affair is with beads! Large, small, skinny, tall, round and flat, rough, smooth, shiny, dull, some even crackled. Well, now you know it all.. Yes I’m having an affair and proud of it!  - Barb Grainger