Today's Experiences Are Tomorrow's Memories: Ten Day Challenge

One picture.

At the moment this picture was taken, I had no way of knowing that my life as I knew it would never be the same. I was a month and a half separated. I was a month and ten days from being divorced. I was hardly paying attention when a group of guys swarmed our table and sat down on either side of myself and the other 5 girls at the table. {I say swarmed because it all happened so fast.} And then he spoke. He had an alluring southern accent. So, I looked up. Well, wouldn't you know, southern boy was also quite attractive. I half-heartedly paid attention to the conversation at the table, all the while, turning down his friend's incessant requests to buy me a drink. In my head, I was contemplating how much longer we would have to sit here. I had just had a rather unpleasant run in with mutual friends and the last thing I wanted was more drama in my life. But, he made for good eye candy and I caught wind that he had a motorcycle {Bonus!}. Then, I made a snide remark about marriage. (Forgive me, please. I was more than a little bitter) He responded by raising his eyes a little and asking if I was divorced?** I said, "not yet" and he turned back and resumed conversation with his friend. I took a deep breath and whispered, "there goes that" to my friend. The feeling that I never wanted to date flooded over me. Not only do I have a helluva family story, I would now have to reveal that I had been married before. No, Thank You. I was sure I'd rather stay single for the rest of my life than to ever have to explain any of that. I took another deep breath and put it out of my head, besides I was getting the impression he was interested in the beautiful blonde sitting across from me. She was lucky and I told her so.

I spent a good portion of my night joking with my girlfriends that before the night was over, I was going to kiss this boy. {The cosmo that I ordered despite not liking, like was setting in} It was an action completely out of my character but I didn't care. After all, it isn't like I would ever see him again, right?

The rest of the night was pretty uneventful up until the point we run into the group again. {Insert details here that my roommate had gotten his name and number before leaving Gritty's} He buys another round of drinks (yes, I said another). We're all talking, laughing, dancing. I casually suggest he ask my roommate out because she's single. I think to myself, she's pretty, she's educated, she's not going through a divorce.... And he says {don't quote me because I don't remember the exact words but something to the effect of...} 'I've been trying to talk to you all night.'I think to myself, you have?!'

We dance. We laugh. I kiss him. I swear in that moment, the entire world stops.{ And no, it wasn't the alcohol.} Before I know it, the night is over. His friends are yelling to him that he needs to go and I'm ready to go home because I'm too old for staying out until 1am. He asks for my number. I tell him he doesn't want it. He asks again. I tell him he won't call. He asks again. Eventually, I give in. If someone's going to be that persistent, fine, take the number, add it to your collection. I say something along the lines of: nice to meet you, thank you for the drinks, oh by the way, I'm not sure if you quite heard me earlier but I'm going through a divorce, and I don't expect you to call.

He called. I answered. He asked me to dinner. I froze. I didn't know if that's something I could even do. I discussed with Sara. We agree, it's just dinner. There's no harm in dinner. I spend 4 hours prepping. {I mean, I didn't spend that entire time getting ready, but damn, I was nervous.} I go to dinner. We eat. We talk. I mean really talk. Six hours worth of conversation.{I'm not exaggerating, either} I know as the date concludes, I am forever changed.

Sorry, I couldn't pick just one.