…It’s late September and I
was having a great year so far. I had put the trials and all the drama that
comes with them behind me and moved on. The year 2011 was moving in the right direction. I was getting new and repeat speaking
requests and getting busy with Make-A-Wish volunteering. I had a close supportive
family and amazing friends so my social life was full enough. The only thing
that was missing was someone to share it all with which had been painfully elusive to me so far but that was about to change.
One of my many
responsibilities as “Admin” for the company I worked for was to plan any
meeting or parties we may have. This was actually fun for me. I’m a planner by
nature and a social butterfly. I usually meet with my bosses each year
in the late Summer to begin discussing our company Christmas party. This is an
event we never skip regardless of budget or company revenue and the past 3 I
had planned were quite a success if I may say so myself but I don’t have to
because everyone did that for me says the modest girl. We would get together and toss around ideas as
to the formality of the party (it changed each year for variety sake) and they
would toss out their ideas for the type of entertainment I needed to research.
That particular year it would be a comedian. I immediately knew this wouldn’t
be too difficult to get started on as I went to college with someone who was now
a comic in LA, although he didn’t live in the area I could still contact him
for his price and any local references he may have. All I had to do was get his
number and email address which was easy because we had a connection. My best friend
married a guy who has been friends with him since their late teens. I texted Renee
who got the info from her husband and I sent off an email to Steve Cooper.
We started off with the
usual catching up on life's details as it had been 20 years since we last saw each other
at one of his shows and then got down to business. He sent me a link to one of
his performances and his price and also information for a local guy he’s known
for years. Within a week after submitting their quotes and one more for
another comedian my bosses made the decision we would hire Steve’s friend. I
let him know that we would be going with the other comic and he was happy to
have been able to help. He then said it had been nice talking to someone he
went to college with and talk football with as we are both huge Philadelphia
Eagles fans and asked if we could continue to chat. I said of course. (He later
admitted this was just a ruse because he was interested in me as more than just
friends). He had been divorced for many years with no children and I hadn't been in a long term relationship, I'm embarrassed to say since my early twenties. I can't explain how time gets away from you but I was a workaholic in my late 20's to early 30's then I wasn't in a position emotionally to date during the legal, counseling and trial process and then the next thing you know you're 45.
So we continued our correspondence which was the beginning of many emails then phone calls and text
messages. We talked about college and who we still keep in touch with and what
they are all doing. We texted pictures when out with friends and
during the Eagles games. We had many long conversations on the phone as he really likes to talk. It’s a good
thing I am a night owl because he was 3 hours behind in LA. Then one night on the phone in early December he said he wanted to fly me out for a visit knowing how much I
despise the upcoming east coast Winter. I of course accepted since we were
having a lot of fun so far and the day after Christmas we decided on a long
weekend in late January that would work for my trip and booked the flights. I was really excited to see there this would go. It turned out to be the
beginning of a long distance relationship that lasted almost 2 years and
thousands of frequent flyer miles for both of us and my ultimately moving out to
California in October 2013. More on the big move later. My life would never be the same again and all for the better. I would finally be completely happy...
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