Friday, November 13, 2009

What if I had been born fifty years before you in a house on a street where you lived?

Two years ago tonight, luck slid, in sly silver rivulets, under my door.

It had been so long, I didn't recognize it immediately.

I arrived in a hurry, warm and um, glowing, five minutes late. Nick was already there, seated on a couch, beer in hand.

I entered pulling off hat and scarf, smoothing hair, scanning the room. He saw me first, and began standing, just as my sweep fell on him. I started at couch height, and then tilted my head up and up as he stood.

I've told this story before.

But what I don't think I've explained is that I almost closed the curtain on my luck as it pitter pattered on my window panes.

Because, you see, I canceled our first first date, which was to be several days prior.

It was dark and chilly and rainy and I felt like I was coming down with a cold. It was a grim night for a first date.

And really, I thought, if he doesn't bore the tar out of me, I'm going to loathe him. He won't be as cute as his pictures. He'll be humorless in person. Or I'll hate his teeth. Or his voice. Or we'll scrape for conversation, turning, in desperation, to reptiles.

Or, best and worst case scenario, I'll really really like him, which means he'll be irreparably damaged, and wind up hurting me whether he means to or not.

And once again, that will be that.

Really, those seemed the only options.

But we rescheduled, and on another rainy night, I headed out for my last first date.

I saw him and he stood and smiled and held out his hand. And I smiled back, and put my hand in his.

And with that small motion, I unlocked the door and threw it wide for my luck to pour in.

24 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh...I just teared up. That was so beautifully written. Congratulations.

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  2. Oh, thank you, Susan. That's very sweet.

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  3. beautifully written, love it!

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  4. Yay for happy beginnings! Lucky for you both :o)

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  5. beautiful!
    isn't it funny when we look back on those moments we didn't think too much of at the time... and suddenly now they're so telling vital to our happiness. i'm a sucker for a happy ending! and the picture you chose is PERFECT!

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  6. I'm dying over here, as I have a first date tonight and feel like cancelling it, for the very same reasons you had two years ago.

    This either is supposed to get me in gear, buck up and go out, or it's giving me a raincheck with possibilities -- I can't decide!

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  7. Some people have all the luck. And in this I'm talking about both of you. You probably used up all of D.C.'s dating luck for a couple of years. We can only hope the luck is a renewable resource.

    The fact you met on a day that could be Friday the 13th? Even better.

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  8. I teared up too. Nothing like a beautifully written love story to break up Friday afternoon cubicle monotony.

    -Kelly the raw food girl, I got a new e-mail and it won't let me comment under the old one...

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  9. Aw, how sweet. Great post, Lisa. It's amazing what's happened in those two years, isn't it?

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  10. You brought tears to my eyes!

    And it goes to show, that you really should never lose hope. When you met him and shared with us, it restored my hope, and I too met the last man I ever hope to kiss on a day that I almost didn't go out.

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  11. Hillary - Thank you!

    Miranda - Thank you! Have fun in Zanzibar!

    Dagny - Yes, yay for happy endings, no matter how improbable! Hugs. :)

    nosojenny - It is bizarre how random life can be. And I love this picture - thanks!

    freckledk - Oh, goodness. I have no idea. If I hadn't had so many bad experienes, I'd have been afraid to cancel, for the what-ifs.

    FoggyDew - No, no! There's all kinds of goo dluck out there! If you'd known me before, you'd have known I was using up all the horrendously bad dating luck in the DC metropolitan area.

    And I LOVE 13s!

    Kelly - Thank you.:)

    Luna - It shocks me every time I think about it. Truly.

    Beach Bum - Aww, thanks! And I'm glad you went out that day!

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  12. I'm glad I'm not the only one who teared up.

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  13. Me too!

    Such a lovely post.

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  14. I was in a similar place last week, and I went on the date anyway. And I wonder if my story will be anything like you and Nick's . . . probably not, but I can hope. :)

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  15. I think it was about a year ago I read my first blog ever. I have no idea how I happened upon it. I was in bed with flu. I ended up reading all the back posts, from day one. I now follow about 20 blogs, but the first one I always click on, is Lemon Gloria. You're so real.

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  16. it's amazing how much things can change in 2 years.

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  17. Awwww this was just too darn cute! I got goosebumps! :)

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  18. This story never gets old. The last first date. Keep reminding us - it's beautiful.

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  19. Isn't it odd how we meet "The One"? Amazing really.

    Congratulations to you and Nick.

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  20. I love the Ben Folds reference - that song is so sweet. Congratulations on how it all turned out :)

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  21. When you first mentioned Nick on the blog, I turned to Doug and said "This is the one."

    I love being right.

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  22. That was our wedding song...so happy for you two! love you guys!

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