Love at First Sight Does Happen
Posted: Thursday, October 15, 2009
by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com
Love can find you in your back yard. The fact is, you can get the love bug just about anywhere. It was mid-summer and her mother and father were visiting. She was so pleased they could make the long 550 mile drive and stay for a week. She relished the companionship they offered.
She had been through a rough time since the divorce. It wasn't particularly easy to make ends meet with two young children, a mortgage, car payment, bills and two horses. She knew her decision to divorce was the right one but it was her zero balance in the bank account that had her in a tailspin.
Her father noticed the pickup truck as it pulled into the driveway. They watched a young man emerge, scoop up a ladder and toolbelt and head straight for the barn. She had forgotten that her horse friend a somewhat older woman with a passion for horses that rivaled hers had arranged for her son to make necessary repairs to the barn roof. They never had set a specific day but here he was. He even brought his own tools and materials.
The timing was inconvenient but she was so very grateful. She observed the young man, already on the roof and working. Her thoughts drifted to her personal situation. She was a young mother of two; it was 1973 and she was divorced. Lucky enough to have a good job, she nevertheless was destitute and feared the unknown future. How could she muddle through. She was dealing well with the loneliness but the financial worries possibly having to sell her horses, babysitter concerns, her doom and gloom thoughts - were constantly on her mind. What if she couldn't make it on her own. She snapped back to the situation at hand and to get a grip. Little did she expect what happened next.
"This is a surprise act of kindness from a friend," she told her parents. Her good friend was saving her hundreds of dollars and eliminating one of her immediate problems. She could not leave while someone was putting all this effort out for her.
They mutually decided to scrap their outing for that day. Much relieved, she went outside to say hello to her friend's son. She had never met him. Nearing the barn, she saw a handsome blond man with tousled hair. He was so engrossed in his work that he did not notice her approach. She spoke to him and, as he looked down at her from his high perch on the barn roof, she saw an indescribable expression cross his face. It was a dynamic moment and that expression was amazing. It was hard to explain at first but, later, she knew exactly what it was it was love at first sight!
At the moment that they met and spoke for the first time, he was smitten. It had hit him hard. He looked and fell head over heels in love. Their exchange was brief he insisted she go ahead with her plans, enjoy the visit with her parents, and let him take care of the job he came to do. "Go ahead," he encouraged. "It's not a problem and the situation is under control." He asked if he could come back to be certain the tarpaper and shingles were serving their purpose and the leaky roof was fixed. They arranged to meet at the barn in a couple of days, and by that time her parents would have returned home.
It was the start of a whirlwind romance between them. She had resisted and battled the involvement since she was nine years older. In her mind this age difference was insurmountable and, yet, they became inseparable for the summer. They had fallen passionately in love. She let herself get swept up in summer activities with her friend and the kids but the guilt of becoming romantically involved with her friend's young college age son and the age difference was constantly on her mind to the dismay of her remarkable young friend.
He was engrossed, committed and, as the end of summer approached and college classes loomed large, he wanted a marriage commitment. He cajoled, threatened, cried and begged that if they would not marry, that at least she come with him. He planned on dropping out of college. His mother had accepted the relationship but she did not want her son to drop out of college. "Work it out anyway you can just don't be fools he needs to stay in school. Don't jeopardize your futures!" she pleaded. That was Good Advice!
It was agony for him when he left for school. He promised he would visit often, every opportunity he could get, to be with his love. Hardly three weeks had passed and he came home. It was next to impossible for him to concentrate and his academic efforts were already at risk.
It was agony for her, too she chastised herself often for permitting the relationship to start in the first place. It was obvious that both of them wanted to be together and forge a future with the kids. Did she want to listen to her heart or think the situation through with her head. She was distraught because she saw his pain. Her heart had enjoyed the love and togetherness, tenderness and fun; her reason brought a sharp reality she always focused on their age difference. He was wonderful with the kids; he was an amazing man, mature and wise in ways she never would have guessed. Yet, there was this age difference.
Finally, and with great distress, she formulated a plan to slowly cut the bond. Her weapon was the age difference; her club was the distance between them. She resolved to end the relationship. Years later she still chastised herself for her methods, her cruelty and decision. She reasoned that it had to be done!
In matters of the heart, breakups are never easy. Yet life gives defining moments of choice. Can we ever really know whether our choices were the correct ones?
Today she can smile at the memories. There really is love at first sight and it can change everything!
This story is written by The Old Gray Mare. Other articles about life, helpful hints and horse subjects can be found at www.DressYourHorse.com.
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