Off to the bar I go, hooched up with big hair, smoky eyes and killer dancing shoes. He was tall, blonde hair, great smile and eyes that make you weak in the knees.
We danced the night away, laughing and talking, and after last call, he asked for my number! But in all seriousness, this was a club: colored lights, blaring hip-hop tunes, jell-o shots and all. Not exactly the type of establishment with a track record of decent guys and relationship success stories. I had an amazing night. Period. If I never saw this guy again, I wouldn’t be surprised or upset. It is what it is. That’s what I told myself and my friends.
Please call. Please don’t be a douche. Please be a decent guy for once.... Is what I was really thinking.
To my surprise, he did call. (Thank God!) We had a date two days later and were attached at the hip from then on. He swept me off my feet, by simply being himself. It was more than just opening car doors and letting me pick the movie. When I talked, he listened. Really, listened. He laughed at my jokes even when my best material came from Laffy Taffy wrappers. He drove me to and from work so we could spend those extra few moments together each day. He didn’t mind when I consistently turned his Thunderbird into my personal karaoke booth. When I ordered the salad he shared his fries. He got along with my friends, and invited me out with his. He was patient and kind, generous and loving. He made me laugh, and kept me sane during my final months of college. He was there for me when I was at my worst and made better person. He was everything I wanted; within weeks we were head over heels in love.
But this was not the plan. I was supossed to move 500 miles away in a few months. I was going to "find myself," follow my dreams; become some version of Sarah Jessica Parker meets Jennifer Garner in 13 Going On 30. But I also wanted him, our marriage, our home, our kids. He was Ohio, born and bred. Loved trees and the yard and the space. Most importantly, he loved his mother who was never, no way, going to let him follow me to the big city.
I struggled all summer with this giant life choice. Do I stay in Ohio with the man of my dreams? Follow my heart to the Norman Rockwell life, white picket fence and all? Or pack my bags, say goodbye and leave everything in the hands of fate.
He made the decision easy for me, he told me to go.
So I went. And while it was the hardest decision of my life thus far, I know I made the right one. I now know what true love is. I’m fortunate enough to have had it, and it feels great. Now, I'm on the quest of finding true love, again. He was The One for me when I was twenty-three, and now I need to find The One who is right for me, forever. They say it is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved before. And I definitely agree. He is the man I measure everyone against, and now that I know what im looking for, it makes weeding out the wrong ones, so much easier.
xoxo
xoxo
