Today is Suzanne and my 8th Wedding Anniversary. Being the romantic I am, I insisted we get married on Valentine's Day. And being the romantic I am, I wrote a short story about the events leading up to our marriage.
This is a lot longer than my other blogs, but it's also long on love, so enjoy it:
"The Moment - A True Story
The moment – that moment! A life-changing moment. A totally consuming moment. A moment indelibly written in the pages of time. A moment that lasted just a moment – yet an eternity. And, ah, the feelings of that moment. The emotions. The total, overwhelming involvement in just that one moment. “But what could be so?” you ask. Could it be a historical moment? Could it be a moment of fame and fortune?
Oh no, it was none of those. It was a moment of love, reaching to the depths of two souls. It was a moment that sent energy of the highest frequency, vibrating into the Universe, exciting every being. And every being returned that energy from whence it came. Then that energy was multiplied a hundred-fold. And when it hit the two souls, it surrounded them, enveloped them and consumed them. It created a peace and a joy never before experienced by the two souls. What a moment!
“But what brought this about?” you wonder. “What could be so wonderful to create such a fantastic moment?” Well, let’s start at the beginning.
I came to this city, “The Big Smoke”, not really knowing why, except that I needed a change. I’d had so many failures in my life, including three divorces. I thought a change of scenery would bring about a change of “luck”. Well, don’t we all create our own luck? That’s what they say. And change is what I was determined to find, to accomplish, to substantiate and manifest in my life.
Have you ever gone for a walk, without really knowing where you’re walking? That’s how I felt when I landed here. Why was I here? Where was I going? What was I to do? Questions, questions, questions. What I needed was answers. And where were the answers? What were the answers?
The only way I knew of to find answers was to just be quiet and listen. Listen for guidance. Listen for wisdom. So listen I did. And answers came. They came one at a time, slowly but surely, each answer leading to another question. Each question leading to another answer. Progress. Little success after little success. And then bigger successes. Bigger questions. Bigger answers. Progress again. This was exciting! The exhilaration of getting somewhere. The joy that comes from satisfaction from a job well done. The peace that comes from faith in the future. The happiness that comes from that little voice inside that persists in saying, “Way to go!”, “Good job!”, “Now you’re getting somewhere!”
So all these little answers, all this guidance, led me to a job – a fairly good job. Hard work, but not bad money. I felt satisfied. Well, satisfied with my work, anyway. But throughout my days of sweat, throughout my hours of throwing myself totally into my work, I had this nagging notion that I wanted to find a wife. That’s right! It was as simple as that! I actually asked almost every girl in the office if she wanted to marry me. Of course they thought I was kidding. And I guess I was, really, although I didn’t really know it at the time. I mean, you can’t find a wife by just asking every girl in the office…or can you?
There was this one girl (or should I say woman) Suzanne, who showed absolutely no interest in me – or any other man, for that matter. She had this invisible – yet very clear! – sign across her forehead that read, in big capital letters, “GET LOST!!!” Her hair was pulled back hard, giving the impression of a stern librarian – and don’t you dare speak above a whisper! She was attractive – not a gorgeous beauty – but a classic beauty. Her class sneaked past her rigid exterior, exposed only to one who was special – me! But she wore a wedding ring, so I naturally assumed she was married. And that meant definitely “off limits”.
Wow! What a surprise! I talked to one of the girls in the office – Stella. I’d developed a subtle friendship with this girl. She was one of the girls I’d asked to marry me. She understood me. She understood my desires. She knew what I wanted. And so she suggested I talk to this classic woman, Suzanne.
“But she’s married,” I stated, resigning myself to the inevitable – the repetitive rejection I expected.
“No she’s not,” I was told.
“But she’s wearing a wedding ring.”
“She’s not married,” Stella assured me. The words rang in my ears, circling my mind, creating a vortex of emotion that culminated in a decision. Then I’ll ask her out!
But how? My level of confidence didn’t allow me to just boldly approach her. And what about the picture she’d painted for all the guys she worked with? It was definitely a “HANDS OFF” picture. Didn’t that include me? And why wouldn’t it? Why would I be different? Questions. More questions. So I knew, from my recent experience, that answers were forthcoming. And come they did.
The answer: a letter. Wait a minute – a letter? But I’d learned not to question the answers. Accept them as guidance. Have faith in them. They’ve been truthful and helpful so far. Why would they change now? So on I wrote:
January 25, 2000
Dear Suzanne,
I’m writing you this short note because I can’t seem to find an opportunity to talk with you at work. I understand you’re busy and need to concentrate on your job.
At the risk of making a fool of myself, I’d like to ask you if you’d like to spend
some time with me, with the aim of getting to know each other better. I originally thought you were married, but Stella tells me you’re separated. If I’m out of line in any way, just ignore this letter and we’ll carry on as we were. If, however, you’d like to get together, may I be so bold as to ask you to phone me at home – 905-793-2634.
Well, there it is! I’ve taken a somewhat brash step forward; hopefully it will become a marathon.
Very sincerely,
Gareth
I gave the letter to Stella and asked her to give it to Suzanne. So when Suzanne arrived at work, Stella could hardly contain herself. She soon found the opportunity to approach Suzanne and whisper to her that Gareth had left her a letter and that she’d put it under her keyboard on her desk. Suzanne was a little shocked. This wasn’t what she’d expected in here routine job. Hadn’t she been giving signals? Hadn’t she made it clear that she wasn’t interested in relationships? But here was someone who’d totally ignored the message. To go that far, this must be important. So she picked up the letter, put it in her purse, and went to work. But work wasn’t foremost in her mind. Who was this guy who’d had the nerve to leave her a letter? What did he want? These questions couldn’t remain unanswered any longer.
So Suzanne took a break. She opened her purse and took out the letter – so carefully folded. She just as carefully unfolded it. Little did she know she was opening a whole new chapter in her life. She read with nervous anticipation, then with increasing excitement. Excitement borne of something different, something new. She’d never had a letter like this written to her before. She wasn’t sure how to take it, how to react. With work to return to, the letter was returned to her purse, there to remain until she got home that night.
Now what to do? Should she phone him? Was he serious? She’d recently left a long hard relationship. Could she start another? Was she ready? Questions, questions, questions. But no answers. So she decided to phone a good friend, Richard. She read the letter to Richard and asked him if he thought she should phone Gareth. His advice was sound. It came from not only a caring for Suzanne, but from an almost unknown message that loudly proclaimed, “This is a good thing!” So phone him she did.
In the meantime, I’d been sitting in my living room, beside the phone, waiting for it to ring. And, oh, what anguish I’d put myself through! What a twisted melee of thoughts I’d been experiencing. Will she phone? Did I really make a fool of myself writing that letter? Would she think I’m just another man trying to get into her pants? Had I made a mistake? Could I face her the next day at work? Oh God, what have I done?
It’s 9:30 now and she hasn’t phoned. Oh well, I guess it wasn’t meant to be. I’ll just carry on, working hard, being myself. Something is bound to happen sooner or later…sooner, I hoped!
But then…RRRIIINNNGG! It’s the phone! Oh my God, could it be her? It would have to be. Nobody else would phone me. So, with my heart in my throat, but still doing my best to sound calm and relaxed, I answer, “Hello?”
Suzanne introduced herself. The rest of the conversation is a bit of a blur. Only the result remains in my brain, in my heart, in my soul. We talked for about two hours. We chatted. We conversed. Whatever you want to call it, we communicated. Wow! This was something so relaxed – something so real – something so natural. And we made a date. We made a date! I had a date with a woman who, in all respects, judging by my past experience, was way out of my league. But we had a date! Saturday night, we would get together. I didn’t even know what we were going to do. She was the native Torontonian. She knew the places to go. But I was confident that we’d find the right place to be.
And we did! She knew of a place called Grossman’s. It’s a little tavern on Spadina Avenue. They have a jazz band there on Saturday afternoons. Good home-town jazz. Great jazz! And we arrived there just in time to get a little table in the back, by the window.
We ordered a pitcher of beer, two glasses. Romantic? Not really…not at this point. We had no idea of what was really to come. I had no idea of anything except how nervous I was. I was like a teenager on his first date – confident, yet unsure. Yes, unsure – that was the word. Unsure of where this was going. Unsure of what the date would be like. Unsure if I’d be liked. Questions, questions, questions. Ah, here we were again – questions. But hadn’t I found the answers before? Hadn’t I been led when I listened? So I listened. But it was hard to hear over the noise of my confusion.
So we sat at our table. I pulled out her chair for her – I was determined to be a gentleman, to show her that I knew how to treat a lady. I sat down beside her and settled in for some good music and perhaps some good conversation. The conversation had already been abundant. We’d talked after out initial phone call for two to three hours each night, really getting to know each other and finding out about each other’s background. So by the time we went on our date, we’d already become quite familiar with each other, although you’d be surprised by the way I was acting. Was this the thing real? Where was it going? Would she like me? Would we further bond through time together? Again – questions, questions, questions.
But then the answer came. An answer that was stronger than any answer I’d ever had. An answer so convincing that I had no doubt that I was in the right place, with the right person, at the right time. This was really the answer. Here’s what happened: Suzanne sat beside me and we settled in our chairs – close, but not too close. Suzanne was on my left. I sat back in my chair, comfortable with the woman I was with. I was looking forward to a fun night of jazz. I love jazz, especially live. Being a musician all my life, I appreciated the quality of music filling the tavern. I was getting ready to let the music envelop me when something else caught my attention…caught my attention?! – it totally consumed me!! Suzanne gently and subtly leaned against me, settling her shoulder into my chest.
That was the moment! That was the moment I became totally distracted from the goings-on in the room. I was totally involved in the feel of Suzanne’s warm shoulder on my chest. I was totally consumed by the fact that she’d actually done that! When she leaned against me, the doors were opened. The floodgates were let go. The rainbows shone. The birds sang. The angels rejoiced. Everything was wonderful. Everything was good. Everything was perfect! What a culmination of events. What a crossing of the finish line. What a winning goal. What a joyous success. What a moment!
This was the moment I’d waited for all my life. To meet the person who’d love me for me. To join souls with the one who’d accept me, support me, encourage me – do whatever was necessary to fill my life with her. This was the moment I’d always envisioned. I felt so relaxed, so comfortable, so wanted, so loved, so…so…so…just right!
And so this was the beginning – the beginning of the joining of two souls. Two souls who’d brought themselves through trials and tribulations. Two souls who’d experienced the wrongs, so they’d know what was right. They knew what was good for each other. They knew how to love each other. They knew they were eternally inseparable. They knew they were true kindred souls.
And from the time that Suzanne leaned into me, I knew I’d found my true partner – forever. I knew that everything I’d done throughout my life had led up to that moment. I knew all the lessons I’d learned as I grew up had needed to be learned in order for us to be ready for each other. I knew that, from that moment on, I’d never be the same. I’d never be unsure. I’d never be unloved. I’d never be alone. I knew the importance of that single second of rapture, that single moment when all the world disappeared, leaving only the beauty and wonder of a relationship made in heaven.
And all these things – all this wonder, all this joy, is now ours. All because of that one moment when Suzanne leaned against me and let me know that she was the one – that that was the moment!"
Well, that's all folks! Ok, now go and give your Valentine a hug and a kiss and tell them that you're grateful for every moment they give you.
Cheers,
Gareth Marples
Do you want to attract that special someone? Then check out The Law of Attraction In Action DVD Series by Esther and Jerry Hicks
