Love Notes to Dot

Dot on our honeymoon in Key West, December 1975

I wrote these original songs and produced them using AI to tell the story of my lifetime of love for Dot.

Then, to her surprise (and mine), I've learned how to produce a cover of these original songs using an A.I. synthesized version of my singing voice. A.I. will only get better and better. What an amazing time we live in. A guy who got a guitar for his 16th birthday and never learned to play it (still have it), now producing music 50+ years later.

More original songs and my voice covers will be released periodically in the future. Enjoy.

September of '71

September of '71 (Jeff)

SEPTEMBER OF '71

Though Dot and I had seen each other in the halls of Columbia high school as sub-freshmen starting in 1969, neither knew the others name or anything about them. We grew up in different parts of town and had no classes together. But we each caught the other's attention in the 10th grade. Then, by random chance the star's aligned and a friend, Steve Brown, asked if I'd like to go out on a date with Dot on September 5th, 1971, to see the movie Evel Knievel at the Roxy. Finding out Dot was the mystery girl I'd seen at her locker, I quickly jumped at the chance. We went, had a great time together and we had our first kiss in the foyer of her home when we dropped her off. We fell in love quickly and just 20 days later on September 20, 1971, I asked Dot to go steady and we've been together ever since. This song is the story of that first date and kiss where it all began. This photo was taken at Christmas 1971. It's easy to see why I fell for her then and each day we get together.

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AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU

(Dot's 16th Birthday Song)

A few months after Dot and I began dating in September 1971, Dot celebrated her 16th birthday on November 5, 1971. In the love note I wrote her for her birthday, I wrote a poem to express my love to her and how beautiful she was to me (and still is). This song is based on that poem. This is Dot's class photo when she was 16 years old.

As Beautiful as You

(Dot's 16th Birthday Song)

As Beautiful as You (Jeff)

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49 Years

49 Years (Jeff)

49 YEARS

On December 13, 2024, we are celebrating 49 years of marriage between two best friends who've been together for over 53 years since September 5, 1971. If given the chance, we'd do it all over again. This song tells the story of our 49th wedding anniversary celebration.

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LOVE YOU MORE...LOVE YOU MOST

I found these two photos which now hang above our bed a few years back. They reflect our inside joke about which of us has the greater love for the other. She says, "I love you more" and I say, "I love you most." You decide. Dot's photo is on the left and mine is on the right. This duet is about the love debate story.

Love you more…Love you most

Love you more…Love you most (Jeff)

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Love Notes to Dot (Original)

Love Notes to Dot (Jeff)

LOVE NOTES TO DOT

Dot and I didn't have classes together, but we managed to pass love notes to each other every chance we got. Dot, my better half, saved all my notes to her along with the little calendars she picked up at the local Hallmark store each year. In these calendars is a treasure trove of important dates and events including what we did when we got to see each other. Unfortunately, her notes to me are lost to the mists of time. But after spending 53 years together and by reading my notes to her and looking at her little calendars, I can imagine what hers said to me. This is the story of those love notes.

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ONE MORE TIME

This is a photo of the two of us from our honeymoon in December 1975. We drove to Key West and this was our 1st stop at Daytona Beach at the Sea Dip motel. There are actually two photos taken at the same place at the same time, one of each of us alone. But with the help of a friend, I had them merged into one, just like the two souls that have merged into one over the years. Dot's recent battle with cancer (she's cancer free now :-) taught us both not to take the gift of life that we've been given for granted. So we live life and love each other each day. I'd do it all again if given the chance and this song is my story.

One More Time

One More Time (Jeff)

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Always Kiss Me Goodnight

Always Kiss Me Goodnight (Jeff)

ALWAYS KISS ME GOODNIGHT

Dot and I have had this sign hanging in our bedroom for many years. Not only as a daily reminder to express our love for each other, but also as a celebration of the power of love to help you enjoy the miracles of life. We practice what we preach...each night (and day).

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I WISH I'D MET YOU SOONER

(So, I Could've Loved You Longer)

Dot and I were both born in Atlanta in 1955. Our parents settled in the Decatur area near where Columbia High School was to be built. But she went to Snap Finger, and I went to Wadsworth Elementary, so our paths never crossed. After entering Columbia High School our paths grew closer but were still far apart (I'm sure there are plenty of people in your high school that you never met or remember) until they finally converged in "September of '71".

This song is about loving someone so much that you wish you'd met them earlier so you could have loved them longer. Hopefully you've experienced (experiencing) that kind of love too.

Note: Since this song is about suspending reality and revising fate, I thought I'd feature the photo you see of the two of us. This photo was created by merging a photo of Dot at the 1970 Jr. Sr. with a photo of yours truly from our 1973 Jr. Sr (I didn't start going to Jr. Sr. until Dot and I went in our Jr. year in 1972). Again, with the help of my talented friend, I conveniently replaced her actual date (who shall remain nameless) with mine. ;-)

I Wish I'd Met You Sooner

(so I could have loved you longer)

I Wish I'd Met You Sooner

(so I could have loved you longer - Jeff)

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My Miracle

My Miracle (Jeff)

MY MIRACLE

Dot wrote in my 1971 high school annual, a few days after our first date on September 5, 1971, that she felt our growing love for each other was her "miracle"... but after spending a lifetime loving her and being loved by her, I know for a fact she is "My Miracle". So, I produced this song (with Drew Tabor, before A.I.) for her in 2021 after she was diagnosed with breast cancer to express my love for her and to thank her for loving me for a lifetime. She is now cancer-free and I thank god every day for another day with her by my side and in my arms. This is a photo of "my miracle" and I when we were dating in high school.

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PICTURES OF YOU

My screensaver is a rotation of pictures of Dot from her 1st baby picture throughout her life up to the present. I've watched these photos rotate for years, so much so that I can close my eyes and see them in my mind anytime I want.

When I see her, I don't just see the beautiful image she is today, but all the images of her throughout her life. Time changes all of us (if we're lucky), but in my mind she (and I) are forever young.

Pictures of You (Original)

Pictures of You (Jeff)

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Forever Valentine (Original)

Forever Valentine (Jeff)

MY FOREVER VALENTINE

Our 1st Valentine's Day was February 14, 1972. I gave Dot a box of candy. Big spender. I didn't have much money back then, just love. Valentine's Day 2025 marks our 53rd Valentine's Day celebration. This year's Valentine's gift was different.

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CLOSE TO YOU

Being close to Dot since the first time we saw each other has been electric for both of us. We've delighted in this feeling for over 53 years now. We now spend most days together and my morning and evening ritual is to spend time with her in my arms, her body as close to mine as possible, until we both fall asleep. The next morning, we start the day the same way, falling back asleep together or just holding each other, maybe talking, until we have to rise and start the day. Almost heaven.

Close to You (Original)

Close to You (Jeff)

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Greatest Fan of Your Life (Original)

Greatest Fan of Your Life (Jeff)

GREATEST FAN OF YOUR LIFE

Dot and I have spent most of our lives together. I've seen most all the photos and videos of her since the time she was a baby, then throughout our lives together up until today. I had the privilege of spending time with her mother and dad for many years until they passed. I've heard her stories as well as heard stories about her from people who knew her well before I met her, and our lives came together. If you have a story about Dot, please share it with me. She is beautiful inside and out, smart and capable, compassionate and caring and my life has been made immeasurably better by her being an integral part of it. I'm the greatest fan of her life.

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Sail Away with Me

We discovered sailing when we lived in Hawaii in 1985-90. About a year after we moved to Bryn Mawr, Pa., I received a promotional booklet via mail about the Bitter End on Virgin Gorda in the BVI. I took Dot went to the BEYC resort several times (even though I'd just arranged it all and "surprise, pack your bag we're escaping to the Caribbean for a week" and escaping was it - to the edge of the world) We stayed at the romantic resort for 10 days, day-sailing the North Sound ... then after 2 visits I said, "let's charter a sailboat bareboat and sail the BVI and USVI by ourselves alone. I'll be the captain and you be first mate." I sent in our sailing resume "Members of Waikiki Yacht Club and J26 sailing lessons off Waikiki" and surprise, they said yes? We sailed for 10 glorious days, just the 2 of us on a 36' Jeanneau single hull. of course, full of beautiful, erotic sailing stories in the tropics. We've sailed alone and together with friends and family over the years. Dot is the perfect first mate (always my superior ;-) and has followed me on a ride of a lifetime all over the world. In spite of everything going on in our lives, I asked Dot to sail away with me again on a 2-week luxury cruise to the Caribbean to celebrate my 70th birthday. I can't wait for my next adventure with her by my side.

Sail Away with Me (Original)

Sail Away with Me (Jeff)

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Promise Made...Promise Kept (Original)

Promise Made...Promise Kept (Jeff)

PROMISE MADE...PROMISE KEPT

As you know, our love story began in the 10th grade high school halls in 1971, even before our 1st date on September 5. We fell hard for each other and on September 25, I asked her to go steady. But we were both just kids...hoping...but still wondering, would it last?

Then, on March 31, 1972, I surprised Dot with a promise ring. It was a tiny thing because I couldn't afford much at the time, but it signified the promise I had made to her-my heart belonged to her forever and the love she had risked with me was real and would last forever too.

We wed on December 13, 1975, and this December we will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary and 54 years together this coming September.

When you're young you think you know more than you actually do...we both took a leap, together, into the great unknown and I'm happy to say it worked out for us both.

A promise made...a promise kept.

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