Description
A heartfelt and evocative memoir of unwavering love, Our Own Westside Love Story: With Words from Tony to Marie, Including Poems Born of Enduring Love is Anthony R. Balista’s moving account of his thirty-three-year relationship with his soulmate, lover, and friend, Marie. Through a combination of narrative biography, poetry, and photography, Balista chronicles the highs and lows of their love story, from their accidental initial meeting to their premature parting, offering insights and inspiration for those seeking to foster their own enduring romance.
The first part of Our Own Westside Love Story tells the story of Tony and Marie’s relationship from their chance meeting when Tony briefly returned to his hometown of Warren, Ohio, and engaged in a spot of future planning by visiting the employment agency where Marie worked. That meeting led to a dinner date and movie, and then the next day Tony moved five hundred miles away to his new duty station in New Jersey. Still, the connection between the two was so strong that Tony drove the thousand miles there and back every weekend to see Marie until they married just five weeks later.
What started off as a whirlwind romance evolved into an enduring relationship that saw Tony and Marie buy a home, have a child, pursue their careers, and build a life together. Their commitment to and support for each other throughout their relationship were quite remarkable, and Balista’s devotion to his family shines through in every recollection. They also supported each other through the difficult times, including a miscarriage, job loses, home foreclosure, and caring responsibilities. They clearly took their (self-written) marriage vows extremely seriously and could serve as an inspiration for other couples.
Sadly, after thirty-three years of marriage, Marie died of total organ failure and sepsis following bodged quadruple heart bypass surgery. The chapters that detail her death and its aftermath are very emotional and moving, with Balista’s devastation about the loss of his soulmate being abundantly clear. Fortunately, his faith helped to sustain him and led him to recognize a sign from Marie, which started the healing process. Finally, ten years after her death, he felt able to start writing the reminiscences that would become Our Own Westside Love Story.
In addition to his memoir, Balista also started to write poetry, and a collection of his works form the second part of the book. The majority of the included poems are addressed to Marie, and they all pay tribute to the relationship between the pair. “A Basket of Love,” for example, offers an allegory of how Marie’s heart was won, while “My Treasure Is You” makes it clear just how precious Marie was to Balista. In the final poem, “Ode to Marie,” Balista lays bare all the sorrow, confusion, and emptiness he felt following Marie’s passing, although there is a sense of hope due to fond memories and the belief that they will be together again.
And that, above all, is the message of Our Own Westside Love Story: hope, like love, springs eternal. A brief memoir that represents a treasure trove of recollections and endearing memories, it is a book about the power and salvation of love, which should warm hearts and inspire those looking for their own perfect romance.
