Tuesday, April 26, 2005

The Kiss

Truth of the matter is that I am marrying Justin because he kissed me. I know that sounds trite - but I am inherently a romantic and that is the truth.

When we first met, Jacob was holding his hand and walking into an Albq Isotopes game. I knew he was Steph's friend, but had my stories confused with another of her friends who was a cad. I ended up sitting next to Justin after several seat changes, and we spent the rest of the game entrenched in conversation. There were some sparks, but I ignored them because I had my stories confused.

The next day was wedding prep, and we ended up at the same table cutting what seemed like hundreds of pineapples with a woman and her husband. The woman just kept talking on and on about how much she liked her husband's body - odd conversation. That same night we went to the local casino for a bit of gambling and some drinks. I was driving, so the drinks were few. During the course of the evening, Justin put his arm around my waist - no idea where that came from, but he did it and I didn't push him away.

Afterwards I dropped Erin off and then took Justin back to his hotel.

Little aside here - I have this old van, one window is duct taped, it is missing a light, the electic windows don't work, the tires are balding - but this is where the kiss happened - where this whole dream started, so I am keeping the van until it spontaneously combusts.

He was sitting in the back seat, having let Erin take the passenger seat up front. As he started to leave he said that I was funny and that he really didn't know what to make of me. Yea, I have heard that before. He started out the door and I said good night. Suddenly he was back in the van, leaning over the back of my chair and he kissed me.

I am 38 years old, I have been kissed before - but not like this. I lost track of time, my toes went all tingley, I think I forgot to breathe and my head was swimming. He tasted like licorice and tequilla and the salt of working all day long outside. His moustache tickled my lips. It was comfortable and disconcerting all at the same time. He caught me by surprise.

I have no idea how long we were there, in a parking lot - sliding door open and interior light on - like teenagers kissing for the first time - as though he were about to ship off to war. At some point he stopped and I was still dazed. He said something clever like: Honey do you have a map because I am lost in your eyes - something charming and clever like that. And I was hooked.
I asked my friend Lora if she had ever had someone kiss her like that - she said, "Yes, David kissed me like that - that is why I had to marry him"

My conclusion months later is that when you find your match, it is magical and wonderful and you know that suddenly your whole life will be different. I knew in that moment that I had found my other half and that there was no point in resisting.

This weekend I am taking my friend Lora's advice - and I marry the man who kissed me like THAT.

8 comments:

hedlund said...

Great post. Good luck and God bless!

Dale said...

Justin seems like a great guy. I wish you both happiness.

Dora said...

I love post like this....that make me feel mushy inside and remember times like you describe when I had them with the man that I married. Thanks for helping me take that little trip down memory lane.
I wish you both much happiness.

magz said...

hi there! i followed you here from dale's place cause i loved yer blog name, and this is a wonderful piece of writing! I'll be back, and please come visit the farm when you can, i'll bet we'd enjoy being friends! this was SO well put, i know what you mean and wish you lots of great times. i'm off to read some of yer earlier stuff now, regards, magz

Badpatty said...

See, Honey? I'm not the only one who likes you a lot. I still solemnly swear that I didn't give you a line THAT corny! Maybe one day, when we're old and both bald, you'll fess up to what I actually said.

Loner said...

Not until I am old and bald and no one will believe me will I fess up to the line you used to reel me in. Actually it is one of those precious inside jokes that only we know. To private to share - and it was just as corny as the line I picked for this post!!

Anonymous said...

Mark and I were dating a few weeks when I kissed him hello on one of my weekend visits. I felt I hand slap me upside the back of my head and heard a voice in my head
" his one's your husband, don't screw it up." I knew it was my grandmother and I listened.

Lora said...

11 years and 2 months later and his kisses still do the same thing to me! There are times when I want to run over him with the truck but haven't even gotten behind the wheel yet! (You know us Texas women will run over our husbands!)

It's never easy but anything good isn't. It's sticking it out through the hard times and remembering that kiss that will help you make it last!

Love you both,

Lora