From the Editor | February 2017
Dear Readers,
People often ask, “What is love?” Is it a feeling, a knowing, or something else? While preparing for our February issue, I found myself surrounded by love over the course of interviews.
We all know love comes in many forms. We can love our friends, our spouses, significant others, and the many pets that come into our lives. We can love what we do for a living, love a book, a place or even a thing. But from what I witnessed these past few weeks is that love, real love, is action.
Meet your neighbors, Don and Helen Rowland. In December they celebrated 50 years of marriage. What makes this couple unique is where and how they met. In 1966 Don was an APO specialist with the U.S. Air Force serving in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Helen, a former member of the U.S. Women’s Army Corps, was serving with the United States Agency for International Development, also in Kabul. They were in their early 20s when they first set eyes on each other in a club at the USAID staff house where Americans gathered to socialize. It didn’t take long for this couple to know they were in it for life, Page 11.
Meeting someone with the potential to be your life partner can be a challenge. There are so many ways to meet someone today, with social media playing a big part in matchmaking. But for two Central Texas couples, the old fashioned way worked well.
Cooper and Amanda Terrill were introduced on a blind date by a mutual friend. It only took a few turns on the dance floor and some conversation for this young couple to know they found their life mate. They were introduced in 2014 and Cooper knew in just four months he wanted to marry Amanda, Page 24.
Matthew and Molly Mastrilli married in December 2013. They grew up together in Rowlett, Texas, attending the same church and eventually the same middle and high school. Molly first noticed the dark-haired, dark-eyed boy at church when she was in the third grade and he was in second. By the fourth grade, she found a way to let him know she liked him and a childhood friendship began and endured well into their high school years when they started to see each other in a different way, Page 26.
Anyone who has ever loved an animal knows the bond between human and pet. In today’s world there are many cats and dogs left homeless by abandonment or surrender. Many are brought to area shelters that often euthanize overpopulation. With the help of Texas Humane Heroes who rescue excess animals from shelters, many of these orphan animals have found new families, love and a fur-ever home, Page 40.
Giving seems to come natural for our volunteer couple Larry and Beverly Luedke. Married 39 years, this selfless duo finds time to help out at local charities and sometimes they even travel overseas to help less fortunate citizens through local organizations such as Rotary International and Altrusa International, Page 56.
Looking a fun thing to do on Valentine’s Day with your sweetie, or even friends? Shernell Mays of Painting with a Twist invites couples and singles to come and find their inner artist at one of the studio classes. No experience necessary, Page 33.
If you want to shake up your exercise regime, try Krav Maga at Legacy Martial Arts. Krav Maga is an intense form self defense that teaches a person how to make the right moves to disable an attacker twice their size, Page 49.
Wherever you are in your day, take a break, pour yourself a cup or glass of your favorite beverage, dip into some special chocolates and read about love in the February issue of Tex Appeal.
Catherine Hosman
Catherine Hosman is editor of Tex Appeal Magazine. Contact her at editor@texappealmag.com or 254-501-7511.