That next weekend we went out and I can’t tell you what we did. I don’t remember much about that night. I only remember this: Before he took me home, Bachelor #5 asked, “Do I even have a chance with you?”
That sounded a little heavy to me. And because I wasn’t about to be serious, I had to lighten things up. I joked, “Sure! I try to keep an open mind. Everyone has a chance with me!”
But that didn’t deter him. He then said, “I would marry you tomorrow if you were willing.”
“I would marry you tomorrow if you were willing?” THAT was COMPLETELY unexpected!
I didn’t know what to say. All I could think in that moment was, “He doesn’t realize what he is saying or how that sounds when it’s verbalized. He can’t know what he just said.” So I didn’t respond much.
Instead, waves of memories washed over me. I thought back exactly eight months to the day, to July 13, 2009, the day my divorce became final.
The day I left my life in Colorado and headed into the unknown, so broken and devastated I couldn’t even look back at what I was leaving as I drove away or think about anything that had happened to my children and I or I wasn’t sure I’d have the courage and strength to go.
The day I was sure my life, hope, and any dreams for a bright future had ended.
The day I was positive no one would ever want an “old bag” like me again.
Back to the days when I had to try so hard every minute of every day not to cry, because I was afraid if I started I might not be able to stop. (Trust me, I failed a lot more than I succeeded in that attempt!)
In the pause as I thought all of the above, Bachelor #5 added, “But no pressure. I can wait as long as it takes you to decide what you want.”
Isn’t life like that?
COMPLETELY unexpected!
“A Scout is never taken by surprise; he knows exactly what to do when anything unexpected happens.” (Robert Baden-Powell)
Too bad I’d never been a Scout. (Or even a Brownie!) Because far too often in my unexpected life I don’t know exactly what to do, or what to say.
In the words of Corita Kent, “Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries.”
Thank you Andrea for your ‘Love of the moment’s’. I enjoy the happiness that has come from the heartache.
And to put a different spin on it, “The only history that is worth a tinker’s damn is the history we make today.”
Henry Ford
So continue….
LOVE Henry Ford’s comment about history–now I love him for more than cars!
Totally saw that comming, but only b/c I’ve been through it. My husband’s response when I finally figured out how “right” we were together…”I knew the first day I met you that I wanted to marry you, I’ve just been waiting for you to figure it out!” Sometimes I think we women think too much and it clouds our judgement. I think men are more “doers” than “thinkers” so they figure out matters of the heart quicker. They don’t worry so much about things. They know what they want and when they see it they go for it.
Just so you know, I am TOTALLY living vicariously through you with this story. I love being married, but sometimes I actually miss the drama and excitement of single life. Thanks for letting me live it through you, and like you, I LOVE a good fairy-tale! ๐
Thanks for reading and commenting. I appreciate that you’re relating to the story and I hope it turns out to be a good fairy tale, myself!:)
Yeah, no pressure. ๐
Really, he said no pressure and I take people at their word! So…no pressure:)