Chats, Strolls and Cleveland

Eyes were melting through my back.  Both my arms were crammed with assorted spiritual readings for purchase, ready to showcase attractively on the shiny church table. I positioned the books just so, then twisted around, still feeling as if I was being watched.  There he was, a man I had never seen before, the source of the odd staring.  Probably a new person just visiting.  

 Suddenly, he grabbed the next stack of books and winked at me.

“Hey," he said.

“Hi. Just put them over there to the right. Thanks, and that should do it.”

The new guy with bright eyes gave me a wide, toothy smile. I grinned back ever so quickly as I checked off the remaining titles on the book list.

Heralding guitars filled the room as the prayer meeting began. I looked up, watching this kind young man vanish into the song-filled crowd. Quickly, he reappeared carrying two songbooks, pointing out two available folding chairs.

So, there it began. Long walks in the park, tasty lunches and assorted church functions.  And after a long day, we often became comfy couch potatoes, sharing our hopes and dreams of what life could be. Should be. And perhaps, would be.

Until one day. That evening, our after-dinner chat danced to an entirely different step. I swallowed hard, the rich dessert lumpy in my throat.

“You mean you’re leaving?”

“Yes, taking off really soon … on a jet plane to a most wonderful opportunity."

“You are moving to where?”

"Cleveland, Ohio.”

“Really?”

I spoke softly as the news torpedoed, shattering my heart into a dozen pieces. 

Now it was time to really pray. Hard. 

The best of life that had been so sweet… had just detoured.

Hmm …

Several months later, I longed to get home after a trying day at work. Driving quickly, my weary body anticipated the cozy recliner with a great read and a cup of herbal tea. Yes! But then a recent church meeting nudged my thoughts. That afternoon, I had sat near a likeable fellow having a light conversation with everyone around him. Perhaps he was new to our parish, since I didn't recognize him. And curiously, he spoke with an odd accent, saying he had just relocated here.

Making small talk, I asked where he was from.

“Cleveland, Ohio," he said, smiling with pride.  

Oh no! I felt a heavy flush fill my cheeks and my eyes twitched.

 Finally, I was home. Entering my apartment floor, I heard the telephone ringing, ringing, and ringing. Running down the hall, I clumsily unlocked the door and rushed to the wall phone.

Oh no, had it stopped? Hastily grabbing the receiver, the trailing cord wrapped around me. “Hello.”

A cheerful manly voice answered. “Hi. Remember me? I’m the new guy who sat across from you at the last church gathering. We spoke and, you know, I mentioned I just moved here and was wondering… if you would like to have dinner with me?”

My thoughts swirled in confetti of color and design. My heart thrashed with the question, "Cleveland, Ohio?" Again? Could I do such a thing?

“Hello, hello… are you still there?”

 “What, um… dinner?” My brain suddenly whipped into scrambled eggs. "I need to think." Oh... Should I forget the past and move on? Could this surprise be any good? Would the best of life still happen?

I thought aloud to myself, “Hey, get a grip, it is only dinner.”

“What did you say?”

Sweat flowed down my neck and my stomach tightened. All of this was very unexpected, … but yet so marvelous.  Who would think that Cleveland, Ohio would take my life away only to flip and return it. Destiny was looking me clearly in the eye.

“Yes, I would really like to go to dinner with you,” I said. 

And it was a wonderful meal, the first of many. So much had yet to come. And it did. That Cleveland guy is my husband. We've been married for forty-five wonderful years. And hope for many, many more.

Indeed, good things do come to those who pray and wait.

 … “and that’s how I live it.” 

Postscript -  Yes, Ohio was meant to be. And it was a definite surprise. Huge. I have been honored to have been married to that fellow from Cleveland. We have had an abundant life with the adventure of children and grandchildren, and more of life’s journey yet to come.

P.P.S. - And to my friend, “E,” Am appreciating your surprise gift, the exciting pink sparkle hat in my pic. Thank- you.