I posted that back in December, '09... that my high school girl friend found me on Facebook... and we started talking...
We talked about all of the things that has happened in our lives during the many years since we last saw each other...
How we each went different ways... how we each got married to others... how we each had two children... her daughter and my daughter got married in the same year... although her daughter did NOT have a Hallowe'en Wedding...
She got married... and they moved away... I would still see her parents around town... I would talk to them... they were family friends... very nice people...
At some point, her Mother died... and I went to the funeral... I do have to admit that one reason I went was to pay respects to her Mom... and the other reason was to see her... Our eyes locked when we saw each other... and there was that great feel of familiarity... the look possibly lasted too long... if you know what I mean...
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So... she finds my profile on Facebook... and contacts me... She wants to know how I am... how I've been... what has happened over the many years since we last really talked... since we last really saw each other...
It almost reminded me of this song...
This is a live performance... Harry Chapin was remarkable...
Can you believe that falsetto being sung by the bassist
while he plays that bass line???
And those harmonics being played by the guitarist...
We traded a few phone calls... conversations eventually drifted from kids, careers, Life successes and failures... to some light flirting... and eventually she asked me...
'Shoes... why did we break up?'
"Gulp..."
I didn't want to answer... I didn't want to tell her that I was left for what was to be a history of a 'nice guy' being dumped for the 'bad boy'... We would talk from time to time... and she would cycle back around to that question...
'Shoes... why did we break up??'
_____________
~ There were too many smiles... and too many miles...
... but I still remember you... ~
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Did I mention that she lived in Austin?
I had been wanting to go to 'Dealey Plaza' and to 'The Alamo' for a long time... and Spring Break was coming up... And 'South By SouthWest' (SXSW) was being held in Austin that week... so I thought... 'why not?'
She had told me early on that she was divorced... she was living in one place... he was living in another place... and she was starting over... I'm not sure what my thoughts were... but I wanted to know her status...
And then as I posted not long ago... she told me she had something to tell me... that they were separated... but still living together...
I had planned my trip... I was going... I honestly wasn't sure if seeing her would factor into my plans... I left for Dallas... and as I was pulling into the city, she called... asked me where I was... I told her... and that I would be in Austin the next day...
'Shoes... I would love to see you...'
We talked the next day... and agreed to meet for coffee at a Starbucks...
I saw her when she drove up... she was still as beautiful as I thought she ever was... and all of the years between us melted away... and everything that had happened was compressed into a moment...
We talked... and talked... and eventually headed down town to listen to some of the music at SXSW... and we would take breaks... and talk... and our conversations would go back so many years ago... when things were easier... when things were simpler... and eventually she asked...
'Shoes... why did we break up???'
I would smile... shake my head 'no'... and conversation would drift...
... and at some point, she started talking about other people she had made contact with... she had talked with 'Mike'... and she had talked with 'Ricky'... and she had talked with 'David'... and 'Charles' was wanting to see her again...
'Shoes... why did we break up????'
o o o 'Charles... I thought to myself... o o o
...and she spent way too long talking about these other guys... and it dawned on me... that she's into some kind of trip where she's reliving her past... I wondered if when she talks to Charles... did she ever mention 'Shoes?'
Her phone kept ringing... she would get it out... look at the number... and not answer... 'I have to go, Shoes...'
I figure it was her husband... I figure she is married... I figure she is VERY married... So I walked her to her car... gave her a hug... kissed her... and told her...
'Good bye...'
I think she understood the message...
~shoes~
WOW. Some women never grow up. She was totally reliving the past. Glad you got that over with and good riddance. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about reliving the past but I do think it is a game to go out with one person and talk about other men constantly.
ReplyDeleteA red flag goes up for me there. She sounds like a person who goes from relationship to relationship with time alone to self in between relationships.
I'm evil. I would have kicked her to the curb before we even said hello. LOL.
Well, I'm glad you're back and left her in the dust with Charles and all the others.
ReplyDeleteDon't you ever feel like saying, "because you weren't happy with what you had then just like you aren't happy with what you have now, fact is until you figure out yourself you will probably never be happy."
ReplyDelete:)
SHA-stinkin'-ZAM You can never go back to the past--only to the future (baha--I made a funny)
ReplyDeleteBut seriously. She sounds like a Fatal Attraction chick. Or one desperate to feel young again. (hugs)
Awe that is so beautiful...the early years of our life so innocent...I am glad you reconnected
ReplyDelete@ Senorita... Hi there... Yeah... I was initially hopeful, but when she sprung the separated/still living together thing on me, I became suspicious... and so it goes...
ReplyDelete@ Southern... I believe it, sweetie...
@ Shelly... I know.. I should have... that explains part of why I carry on from time to time about wanting to be 'Tyler Durden'... I think I need more of an attitude... grrrrrr...
@ Spring Flower... yeah, she's where she belongs I suppose...
@ Bathwater... that is EXACTLY it!!!
@ Hi, Martie... I've said this several times... but the comment you made on Secretia's blog the other day was one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time!!!
I agree.. she's troubled....
@ Hi there, Darn Girl... how are YOU?!?
~shoes~
Wow.....just...wow....
ReplyDeleteI knew the story would be good.
I love the way you told it.
And like everyone else said and you already know: you're better off without her.
i'm surprised you met up with her. and, just like everyone else has said, you're much better off without her...
ReplyDelete@ Pissy and Jaime...
ReplyDeleteYeah... I am better off... When I tend to post 'life stories'... they are a part of me... and they really tell themselves... I would love to say that I write, and then edit and re-edit... but they tend to be one-time-through writings... of course, after I post, I realize mis-spellings and grammatical errors that I have to go back and fix...
~shoes~
Wow! I'm so proud of you, not only for figuring this out, but for doing the right thing! Cheers to YOU!! (And, sorry about the disappointment!!)
ReplyDeleteThe nice guy left for the bad boy. I'm familiar with that one. One of the advantages of moving away to Memphis is that I am much less likely to encounter the past.
ReplyDelete@ Good morning, Anything fits... Yes, I am glad that I figured it out myself... AND that I did the right thing for me... as I was telling someone last night, I seem to be making some progress on some things in my Life... :o)
ReplyDelete@ Nude Memphis... yep, you are right... get away from some of the nagging things from the past is sometimes a great way to work on one's future... I didn't expect to see this woman and run into the exact same things from so many years ago...
~shoes~
Whenever I encountered an old lover we always wanted to immediately have sex. It's normal to want that, but time has moved on, we have to admit it. Then was then, now is now.
ReplyDelete