Almost 13 years ago, The Yankee came rolling into my life on 18 wheels. Fate kept pushing us together. Even after I let him get away after FINALLY meeting face to face, without exchanging contact info, fate made sure several weeks later that our paths would cross again.
Our memories in the beginning stages of our relationship are scattered from north east Alabama, all the way into Georgia. Last night, we revisited many of those places in a literal drive down memory lane.
After a nice Mexican dinner in town, a drive seemed in order. The moon was big and bright as it beamed down on the interstate. Many times and hundreds of hours when he was driving the highways and byways of the United States, the moon was our link. Just knowing that separated by a few states, we were looking at the same moon, made him feel close.
Sitting close beside him in his truck (one with 4 wheels), the moon dancing around us, music on the radio, stealing a kiss and coping a feel every now and then, I felt more like a teenager than the 40 something Me-Ma, that I am.
DRIVE BY MEMORIES:
1-HANDS OF FATE:The spot where fate intervened, putting us (after a strange chain of events), in the same place at the same time. Weeks earlier, we had met face to face, yet I let him get away. Or, maybe, closer to the truth is that I wanted him to go away. He upset my senses and emotions more than any man ever had or ever will. Yet, here we were face to face. He reached across the table, taking my wrist in his hand, under the pretense of looking at my watch. The moment he touched me, I had chills inside and out. He walked me to the car, opened the door, and I hesitated. Waiting for, wanting him to kiss me, but he just stood there, his eyes drilling into mine. Inside me, I heard his silent thoughts on the matter:
"I know you want me to kiss you. But I'm not. Not now. I want you to think about and anticipate it."
Also, nearby to this spot: The place where he forced/tricked me into telling him that I loved him for the first time. Followed right after by me almost shouting:
"This is all your fault. Get me the hell out of this truck!"
2-The First Kiss: After exchanging numbers at number 1, the next week found us spending some time getting to know one another. When it was time for goodbyes, he stood outside my car, offering that, "If this window were not in the way, I would give you a hug."
A hug! Oh heck no!
BELLE: You remember last week when you walked me to my car?
THE YANKEE: Yes.
BELLE: I wanted you to kiss me. You knew that didn't you?
THE YANKEE: Yes, I did.
BELLE: You wanted me to think about and anticipate it.....right....?
THE YANKEE: (trying not to look shocked), Yessssss.........
BELLE: Well, I have. Now kiss me.
THE YANKEE: (trying to go Marine on me) Is that a demand?
BELLE: No. A request.
He leaned his head in, and everything seemed to go in slow motion. The moment his lips met mine....it was all over but the shoutin! Have you ever had a kiss that was so perfect, in each and every way that you didn't want it to end...? Well....that is the way, each and every kiss with him is....I never want them to end.
3-FIRST TIME: Won't go into details, but I think about that night/morning alot. The first time with him, felt like what I imagined the very first time ever would feel like, had that not been taken away from me.
4- FACE TO FACE and THE NUT: The place where he jumped out of that truck and came walking toward me and Bev. The closer he came, the more nervous I was and the louder the voice inside my head that whispered, "That's him......that's him". He introduced himself and the only thing that would come out of my mouth was:
"We have to go to the bathroom."
I jerked poor Bev, pulling her away to the bathroom with me. Secretly hoping when we returned he would be gone. But, he wasn't....and I am so very glad.
THE NUT:
Ah...the infamous and much talked about "nut". In a teasing manner, hiding it in his hand, he offered it to Bev one night. She sat it on the console in her car. After having coffee with him, on our way back home, I grabbed it, put it on my key chain and there it remained. The edges are smooth as glass now from years of rubbing it.
5-HIS I LOVE YOU: The place where he told me HE loved me for the first time.
6-CHANGES PLACES: The spot where after a night out, me, Bev and a friend of hers decided to stop by the Waffle House for some breakfast. But, the mood and atmosphere wasn't right, so, Bev decided, we would get up, leave this Waffle House and proceed to another one about 5 miles down the road.
No sooner had we been seated in the second Waffle House, I look over and see The Yankee's truck. My heart began to pound. I grabbed Bev's arm, asking her to verify what company he drove for. When she did, I pointed to the service station across the road, where such a truck was parked.
For 3 nights, after finally meeting him face to face, Bev and I had sat and watched for his truck to come by, with no luck, after which she said to me:
"Look, if it's meant to be, then you will see him again. Nothing can stop it."
I had resigned myself to that.
So, we sat and watched for the driver of the big truck. Finally he appeared from the store. Bev started screaming:
"It's him.....it's him!"
I couldn't speak.
BELLE: Do you remember what you said, about if it was meant to be, I would see him again?
BEV: Yeah, well....it must be meant to be, because here he comes.
My life, has never been the same. The love and bond we share has weathered many ups, downs and separations, yet, it has never faltered or died.
He accepts me, Lucy moments, conclusion jumping, emotional wreck and all. When I am going off in a hundred different directions, he grounds and centers me. When I am afraid, he comforts and soothes me. Most of all, he loves me.
It was fun driving by those memorable places. I cherish each and every one.
Hope everyone has a nice weekend. Not burning anything or beheading Beanie Babies this weekend. Did the adult/mature thing, I ran away from home. Too many outside factors are calling the shots in my life. It's time not only to change gears, but change directions, roads, scenery and drivers.
Not an easy decision to reach, but one that has been in the works for quite a while.
***A BIG THANKS TO MISTRESS REBA FOR THE BEAUTIFUL BLOG BACKGROUND AND DESIGN.
Later Ya'll...^Belle^
