Love Is Where It Finds You: Story #19
Try as we may, love isn’t always planned. It’s one of those joyous, unexplainable things that some are lucky enough to experience while others are left to wonder. True love and love at first sight are the crème de le crème of attraction between two individuals regardless of gender. The possibilities for commitment are limitless. Sparks between couples might be explained as hormonal chemistry; but it’s more than that. That lovely woman of my dreams came into my life when least expected. On our first date, a spell was cast that was inescapable, like nothing I had ever felt before. Miracle of miracles, she said, “I feel the same way.”
Little did we know that I would propose one month later and that she would accept? At such a pace, it was not surprising that instances of cold feet occurred. Every time this happened, each one of us reassured the other. Clearly, we were meant to be together from the beginning. Seven months later we would be leaving the chapel among family, friends and well-wishers to enter an incredibly wondrous phase of our lives as husband and wife.
Dating as a single young man was a truly delightful time that kept me broke and hungry before payday. Popcorn became an expedient bridge. Fortunately, meal tickets were available on credit for morning breakfasts in our corporate dining room. All bets were off when my wife became that special person to whom I would commit. I was twenty-six; she was everything to me at twenty-three. Until then, I had felt no urgency to marry although there were other romantic interests that would have made amazing mates. Other lucky fellows proved me right as they celebrated long marriages like us.
Love isn’t always planned. It’s one of those joyous, unexplainable things that some are lucky enough to experience while others are left to wonder.
Our absolute comfort and compatibility together made it clear that we were a team from the start. Standing strong together on our fifty-fourth anniversary with her dementia progressing rapidly is proof of that. An abiding dedication to our union included some counseling along the way. In hindsight, it was a mere bump in the road as we unselfishly made each other a better person. She supported me in my professional career and I championed her too as she spread her wings after staying at home for three little boys. Indeed, supporting the other’s independent goals for fulfillment in all areas has been a huge factor in our success.
The original title for this story was, Love is Where You Find it. But, I turned it around to Love is Where it Finds You to fit our personal story. Thus, my advice to those who are looking for love in all the right places is to be your authentic self and trust that love will find you at just the perfect time. It can happen when least expected as it did for us!
Caregivers, life after loss is a new experience of discovering self and searching for happiness, meaning and purpose. The way forward is what you make of it. Trust a banquet feast waits for your place at the table.
© 2023 Gerald Lloyd Wood. This story and accompanying art are used with permission of the author, Gerald Lloyd Wood.
