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I had no idea that particular night would greatly alter my life plans.
I mean, when one is 22, single, homeless, and a struggling college student trying to scrape up enough money to find an apartment and pay the bills, who really thinks that attending a party on a Saturday night is going to make a huge impact on one's life?
But there it was. I got off of work around 10:00 p.m., and my colleagues were all tired. No one wanted to go to our usual club to party. They all went home. And I was left on my own to try and find a place to hunker down for the night.
The Dork saw my dilemma and pounced. He'd been trying to get me to go out with him for weeks. I flat out refused. I mean, who wants to go out with a guy who had no regard for personal hygiene and smelled like his pet ferret?
But The Dork pounced. He invited me to attend a party at the home of a friend, and since I was bored and had nowhere else to go, I had a moment of weakness.
I caved.
I drove myself. The party was easy to find; it happened to be at the apartment right across the hall from the one I had vacated two months earlier. I walked in not knowing what I'd find, but I figured I'd take a chance.
I should have turned and run away.
There was no music, no laughter, no FUN.
There were only several guys, out of high school anywhere from a few months to a year, sitting around drinking illegally obtained beer and shooting the shit.
I nearly walked out, when out of the back bedroom He came.
My heart stopped. Just for a moment.
Then it raced.
I could hear the blood pounding in my ears.
He smiled at me, recognition lighting his eyes. He remembered me from across the hall; we had met briefly as I was moving out and he was moving in. It was right before I dumped my last loser boyfriend.
That night changed my life. That night, 25 years ago, I was swept off of my feet and into a maelstrom.
It took only seven months for us to get married, but three years to divorce. The intervening years were filled with heartache, infidelity, and suicide attempts.
I should have run. But I didn't.
And I am a better person today for having taken the risk.
I mean, when one is 22, single, homeless, and a struggling college student trying to scrape up enough money to find an apartment and pay the bills, who really thinks that attending a party on a Saturday night is going to make a huge impact on one's life?
But there it was. I got off of work around 10:00 p.m., and my colleagues were all tired. No one wanted to go to our usual club to party. They all went home. And I was left on my own to try and find a place to hunker down for the night.
The Dork saw my dilemma and pounced. He'd been trying to get me to go out with him for weeks. I flat out refused. I mean, who wants to go out with a guy who had no regard for personal hygiene and smelled like his pet ferret?
But The Dork pounced. He invited me to attend a party at the home of a friend, and since I was bored and had nowhere else to go, I had a moment of weakness.
I caved.
I drove myself. The party was easy to find; it happened to be at the apartment right across the hall from the one I had vacated two months earlier. I walked in not knowing what I'd find, but I figured I'd take a chance.
I should have turned and run away.
There was no music, no laughter, no FUN.
There were only several guys, out of high school anywhere from a few months to a year, sitting around drinking illegally obtained beer and shooting the shit.
I nearly walked out, when out of the back bedroom He came.
My heart stopped. Just for a moment.
Then it raced.
I could hear the blood pounding in my ears.
He smiled at me, recognition lighting his eyes. He remembered me from across the hall; we had met briefly as I was moving out and he was moving in. It was right before I dumped my last loser boyfriend.
That night changed my life. That night, 25 years ago, I was swept off of my feet and into a maelstrom.
It took only seven months for us to get married, but three years to divorce. The intervening years were filled with heartache, infidelity, and suicide attempts.
I should have run. But I didn't.
And I am a better person today for having taken the risk.
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Quite a momentous party post!
Thanks for participating in Manic Mondays.
Whoa! That was quite an insight into your past.
Wow, 25 years ago. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I had no idea. What a turn that night took. Amazing how one little decision can alter the course of our lives. I'm glad you have such a positive outlook on your decision all these years later.
Wow, Thank you for wearing your heart on your sleeve for us.
If only we could travel back in time. I know there are a lot things I would have done differently.
The strange little accidents in life are where we learn the most. Thank you for sharing one of yours.
Thanks for sharing...this was great
Funny how things happen like that. Pretty cool story!
Some lessons are tough ones. Seems you learned your lesson well and became a stronger person for the experience.
Have a terrific day. Big hug. :)
It is amazing how one little decision can impact our life in a huge way.
Songbird, how brave to share a piece of yourself with all of us! I hope you''re happy now with your great kids...Happy St. Patty's Day! :)
Excellent memories...because as you said you are a "better person for having taken the risk."
Risk taking is always a plus no matter what the outcome. Cheers!!
well, that was intense. Makes me want to know more.
If we don't chances and take risks, we will never know what we could have missed. It isn't always practical to play it safe. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
wow! each part of our life makes us who we are. Some of our experiences are painful- but I wouldn't change a thing.
LOVED this post.
Sometimes a little decision changes your whole life...
The "I should have run. But I didn't."-thought is well known to me. But, if it were possible to go back in time and inform my "former self" about what will happen when not running away... would I change my mind and run? Probably not, because each decision in my life led me right here.
wow...I just raced thru reading that!
(great post...but I have a few questions...I just want to know more...)
It's hard to know when in the moment what that moment is going to do to our lives. But as my stepdad is fond of saying, when my time comes I don't want to look back and have regrets of omission.
At least your one little moment was of your own making. Mine came about due to my parents being chaperones at the Valentines Day dance in High School.
I will NEVER EVER EVER tell my daughter who to dance with. Nuh uh.
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