It all shouted, “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

Before we went in, we walked the porch to look out at the Mendocino lights. Alli got busy with her camera with a variety of filters and lens. The inns and all the shops as well as the homes were brightly lit against the black sky in a kaleidoscope of color below us. It was truly a sight to behold.

The interior of the Victorian Inn was even more delightful. The decorations were clearly from the past, oddly different from what we use today, including pine trees dressed with burning candles and strings of pop corn, plus home-made paper chains and other rustic ornaments.

I found the hosts and tape recorded our conversations with a small hand-held recorder as Alli took photos of them. The mayor introduced himself . He was a jolly, white-haired fellow with a gift of gab who could have put a red suit on and posed as Santa Claus. It was all very pleasant and at first, the time went by quickly. We strolled from room to room, enjoying the many holiday canapés that were laid out on small tables as well as champagne and other wines, available at the bar.

Then I began looking at my watch. It got to be 7 p.m., then 7:15, 7:22, 7:31, 7:44.…..

The mayor latched on to us again and began to chat. I smiled appropriately but wondered how to excuse myself gracefully because it was time for me to go. Then I saw him looking over my shoulder, his eyes got big and his mouth fell agape. I turned to see what had caught his eye and there SHE was, standing – framed in the border of double doors, like a portrait of a silver screen goddess.

She literally took my breath away because she looked so incredibly beautiful. She was wearing a red lace cocktail dress with spaghetti straps. It was shorter than mine and showed off her legs that were covered with sheer red nylons complimented below with red sling heels. Her bountiful hair was fluffed with curls and her face was accented with bright red lipstick and rosy cheeks.

She appeared to be searching the crowd for a familiar face and when she saw me she  flashed a radiant smile. What a vision she was as she walked closer to where I was standing, ambling with power and confidence, even a little bit on the cocky side. I felt goose bumps surface on my skin and my pulse increased as I suddenly realized that I was falling, falling, falling madly in love with her.