There are some moments that live forever. Even years later, as we think back, we can recall the sights, sounds and smells.
ALWAYS, IN THE RAIN:
For my birthday in 1994, my friend Bev and her then husband, gave me a CB radio for my car. I would talk to her on it when coming into town to do my weekly shopping, and then again on my way back home. It never occured to me to talk to anyone else but her or her husband. And, I didn't, until one dark, rainy night.
It was around 10 pm, maybe even 11, not really sure. I was on my way home from Bev's house. The rain that had been only a sprinkle when I left her house, was now coming down in sheets. I had slowed down to an almost crawl, and even put on my emergency flashers to make myself more visable to other motorist, but, there wasn't any other motorist. None that I could see. Until, up ahead, East bound on the interstate, I saw the lights of a semi.
For once, the normally busy channel 19 was silent. Getting my courage up, I grabbed the mic and called out for the east bound rig. Right away came a response, "Yeah, go ahead".
I felt a little silly as I told him that about the only thing I could see was the lights on his rig, I was alone and scared to death. He offered to keep me company on the CB until I reached my exit.
I couldn't tell you what we talked about. All I know is, I was glad for the company. Even via a CB.
From then on, each and every time, and I do mean EACH AND EVERY time it was raining and I just happened to be out and about, I would hear his voice on the CB. It became a running joke with me and Bev.
On night he made a prediction: "One of these nights, I am going to hear you on the CB and it won't be raining, and then I will finally put a face with the voice."
FACE TO FACE:
That night arrived on May 17,1995. Bev and I had just ate dinner at our favorite Chinese place. Getting into the car, she flipped on the radio. Right away we heard his voice.
"Hey, that's ------", She said.
I looked up into the clear, starry sky.
"Can't be. It's not raining." I replied.
She called out for him on the CB and before I knew what was going on, we were on the interstate behind him. He was stopping just over the state line for a cup of coffee, and despite my pleas to turn the car around and forget the whole thing, she persisted.
We got out of the car, looking at his truck, waiting for him to hop down. I had butterflies the size of sea gulls! No way did I want to do this, and yet, here I stood.
Suddenly the door opened, he hopped down and was walking toward us.
"Oh....He's VERY handsome", Bev said, nudging me in the arm.
I could hardly breathe. The closer he came, the more nervous I got.
At long last, here he was, live and in person, and not a rain drop in sight, standing face to face.
"At last we meet", He said.
Bev was giggling and jumping around like a jelly bean. Something about him disturbed and upset all of my senses. He looked deeply into my eyes, and I knew, KNEW, that before it was all said and done, we would be lovers. I also knew that one day the words, "I love you", would come out of my mouth and into his ears.
The main thing, the thing that disturbed me,was 2 words,echoing over and over inside my mind: "That's him"....."That's him". I knew who the "him" was. The "him" as in "the one", that Mama K always used to talk about, your soul mate. How she assured me that I would KNOW him, when I saw him.
"We have to go to the bathroom", I almost screamed into his face, while grabbing her hand and pulling her along behind me.
I secretly hoped he would be gone when we returned.
He wasn't.
Bev didn't linger and went to the car, leaving me alone with his man.I was so flustered at what was going on inside me that I couldn't think straight.
So many things went on during those 15 or so mintues that we talked. And yet, I said goodnight, without offering him my pager or phone number.
Bev insisted then and to this day still does, that he was dropping hints, in hopes that we would return to meet him there on his way back. We didn't.
I couldn't shake him from my mind. I didn't know how or where, but I knew, I had to, I MUST, see him again. So, for the next 2 nights, Bev and I did a stakeout of the interstate, looking for his truck, with no luck. Finally on night 2 she said:
"Look, we can't continue doing this. If it is meant for you to see this man again, you will. If it's not, there is nothing you can do to change it. Just try to forget about it, and put it in the hands of fate.
JUNE 3,1995:HANDS OF FATE
Friday night, June 2,1995. Bev and I went out with a friend of hers, to hear some old friends sing. Something we had never done before, and haven't done since.
Well after midnight when we left, and needing something to eat, stopped at one of the only things open at that time of the morning, the Waffle House.
Bev and I are all about atmosphere and things "feeling right". This particular Waffle House, didn't feel right. I wasn't going to say anything, but she did. Insisting that we just up and leave and go to the other one, about 3 miles down the road.
As luck would have it, "our" booth in the window was open. The waitress had just left from taking our orders, when I looked across the way to the Delta Fuel Stop. My heart began to pound wildly inside my chest.
"Uh....Beverly.....who did -------- drive for?" I asked staring at the truck.
"XYZ. Why...?" She asked.
"Look", I said, pointing to the truck, "Do you think it's possible....could it be...."
"I don't know. Only one way to find out. Watch and see."
And we did.
In no time, Bev screamed and began hitting me on the side of the leg, while jumping up and down in the booth.
"It's HIM!!!!!! Oh, my.....IT'S HIM!!!!!"
I couldn't speak as she and her friend began waving frantically at him, hoping to capture his attention. Which they did, and now, here he was, walking toward us.
"Oh, my....do you remember what you said.....if it's meant to be, I would see him again....?" I asked her, still in shock.
"Yeah, well, here he comes, so it must be, meant to be. OH....I don't believe this!"
By now, everyone and their dog was wondering what in the devil was going on over at our booth.
"He's walking in the door", She said, punching me.
He sat across from me and I couldn't speak. Important to note that around dear Bev, she does most of the speaking, and for once, I was glad.
While she did carry the conversation, his eyes rarely left mine. And for once in my life, I felt, totally exposed. It felt like he was looking right into my soul.
I admit, that I was a bit uncomfortable when Bev and her friend left, leaving me alone with him.
Beyond the verbal conversation that was occuring, one of a non verbal and mental kind was taking place. He was sending out all kinds of signals and I was receiving each and every one.
"You know,ever since we met that first time, I have called for you on the radio while going East bound and then coming back West bound."
My heart jumped in my chest, yet it was years later before I confessed about Bev and I looking for him.
He reached across the table and under the pretense of taking a closer look at my large, gold watch chain, took my wrist. His touch, sending a warmth throughout my entire body. He rubbed his thumb, softly up and down the inside of my wrist.
This time, we did exchange numbers.
He walked me out to Bev's car,and I hesitated, waiting for him to kiss me. Instead, he just stood there staring into my eyes. Loud and clear, as if he had verbally spoken the words, I heard what he was silently saying:
"I know you want me to kiss you. But, I won't. Not yet. I want you to think about and anticipate it."
Without saying a word, I got the message loud and clear,taking my seat in the car.
I watched him walk away and knew that my life would never be the same. And it hasn't been.
I knew he would take me places, mentally,emotionally, physically, and sexually that I could never find on my own or with anyone else. And he HAS!
As I said at the beginning of this post, there are some moments that live forever, and this is one of them.
As the song says, "It was no accident....." and it happend at the:
Later Ya'll...^Belle^
