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Rene', Fort Clinch, 1/22/11 |
Have you ever heard the phrase 'Best Laid Plans'? My plan this coming year was that this Spring, I would head North from Florida and make some stops along the way to see various family and friends. That is what the plan was before I met Renee. My last few summers in New York were very painful and lonely. I don't plan to go through that again.
I made contact with this very nice lady way back in July of last summer via E-Harmony. We spoke almost every day from then until our first face to face date in January. She told me later that on that first date she was so nervous that she thought she was going to throw up and ruin everything. I asked 'Why were you so nervous?' and her response was 'I liked you from the get go'. I told her that I was really glad she didn't puke on me cause then I would probably have puked on her. We both laughed at that and have since put together and retold a bunch of scenarios regarding what might have happened that first date had this or that happened. On that first date we ended up at a farmers market and I was introduced to her daughter. I was so touched at meeting her that to avoid breaking down in tears, I gave her a hug. Her daughter Nickie is pregnant with her first child and Rene's first Grandchild. They are all so excited. It is a girl due in about 60 days. As a suggestion for a name I offered 'Dougalina' which for some reason I think scared them all at first.
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True Grit |
Our second date was for a movie and on that day, she sent me a text letting me know she was going to be late. When she arrived she was all upset and seemingly out of sorts. I later asked her what was the matter and she said she was upset with herself for being late and keeping me waiting. I told her 'Don't be Silly' and she responded - 'Be honest Doug, how would you be feeling right now if you had been late and had kept me waiting?'. I stared at her for a minute and then admitted that I would have been sick had I kept her waiting. She then said 'I really like you and didn't want to do anything to jinx what was happening'. I think I said something lame like 'Me Too'. It was starting to get scary because this very nice lady sounded a lot like me.
Our 3rd date was a day at a Park north of Jacksonville called 'Fort Clinch'. We met at 9 a.m.. Because she knew the area she offered to drive us around to the various entrances and views. I got into her vehicle, and when I sat back in the front seat, I asked 'May I Kiss You' and as I sat waiting for her response, before I knew it, she Kissed me. My heart skipped a beat with that very sweet little kiss. We had a wonderful day and I must say I have not felt so happy in a long time. Just sitting, watching the Ocean, the people, the animals and just talking was for me joyful. And somehow natural. She later told me it seemed to her that we had been doing this all our lives.
I invited her to a party at my home to meet my family and she invited me to a party at her home to meet her family. She has invited me to Nickie's Baby Shower in Jacksonville and explained that today, men are welcome. She was invited to a Baby Shower in Savannah, GA and told them that she would go only if she was allowed to invite me to go. I was touched and honored. Unfortunately they have decided to move away from the name, 'Dougalina' and have moved on to 'Bella', at least I think that is the current front runner in the name the new baby department.
Rene' is the manager of an EMS division in Jacksonville. (Emergency Medical Services) I think she said she has responsibility for ten ambulances and their crews along with the central call center. She is a very professional manager of people in situations that can often be highly stressful. Once or twice a week she actually works the phones herself. She is dedicated and very proud of herself and she should be. She isn't required to, but she keeps her company phone on and charged, which keeps her on call to all of her people 24 hours a day seven days a week.
We have learned that we have much in common. Here are some of the things that we have found. She too had lost the love of her life some five years before. She too had suffered a form of depression. She too made some bad decisions regarding relationships since. She too decided to build a wall between her and the outside world and kept it there until her family pleaded with her to take another chance. She is really quite the lady. She is very candid with her thoughts and she doesn't hesitate to challenge me. I took her to a place that has 'Buzztime' and on her very first try almost beat me. Brat! She has a wonderful sense of humor and we spend hours talking about the highlites of our past life. I have told her numerous stories of 'My Pat' and she always says something similar to 'I love that Girl' and or 'I wish I could have met her'. We clearly enjoy each others company and are amazed at the comfort and compatibility that we share.
Renee might be able to visit north for a few weeks, but due to her companies policy, no management personnel are allowed time off during the Hurricane season. So rather than spend time alone in NY, I am going to spend this coming summer in sweltering Florida with my new very nice Friend. One other strange thing was uncovered this past week. When it hit me, the tears just rolled down my face. My Pat Passed away almost 3 years ago, while Rene's Husband Bob passed almost 5 years ago. The strange part is that My Pat passed away on April 19th. So did Rene's Husband Bob.
Love to All, D. MYD
