I have always been one of those women who rolled her eyes
when friends used the lines “it will happen when you least expect it” or “if it’s
meant to be, it will find a way.” These are just the semi-condescending things smug
married types tell single friends after another breakup before sitting back and
admiring their own china patterns … or at least I thought.
As it turns out, they just may be right (as much as it pains
me to admit).
Just over six weeks ago I stood beside one of my very best
friends as she pledged to love and honor for the rest of her life in a
beautiful beachside wedding ceremony on an island off the North Carolina coast.
For much of the weeks beforehand, I was more concerned with fitting into the
disproportioned pastel polyester frock I was asked to wear, but in the moment
they both said “I do,” there was little else to focus on besides their pure
happiness … and to be honest, the good-looking groomsman standing across the way.
He and I had met a handful of times in the eight years my
BFF and I have known each other as the two of them went to college together and
are each other’s closest guy/girl friend. I had always enjoyed talking to him
the times we had hung out, but there was something different this time. After a
couple days surrounded by drinking, dancing and wedded bliss, the weekend ended
with a post-reception hookup.
Which is actually just the moment it all began.
Since returning home, we have engaged in phone calls and
text exchanges worthy of two high schoolers with crushes. I have made the trek
to see him and now eagerly await his return visit, checking the flight
confirmation daily with hope the date magically moved up.
This situation is far from ideal, but yet I am ridiculously happy.
It’s natural to compare what we have going on to some of the characters in the
last couple years and I have to say it is refreshing to associate with someone
who wasted no time in deciding how he feels, acting on it and being willing to
do just about anything to make it work. And then actually have it work … without
needing to analyze, discuss or obsess (even though that makes for much less
entertaining blog material).
Life is good.
There is another layer to this
story, however. A job opportunity presented itself a few weeks ago at a place which
is pretty darn close to the perfect combination of what I was looking for. I
polled my Life Advisory Board (The LAB – a topic for another time) and everyone
agreed this was an opening I needed to pursue and put themselves into campaign
mode to present me as the best possible candidate.
There is a reason all these folks
are on The LAB and each performed their role to a T. There are still several
factors in play and the process is far from over, but I am in about as good of
a position as I possibly could be.
So how are these two topics – new job
and new chance at L-word – related? My interest in both is mutually exclusive and
before I moved forward with either, I had to conclude my commitment to each was
not dependent on the other. In a crazy, serendipitous turn of events, however, they
are a straight-shot, 60-mile drive apart, which is practically next door
compared to the current situation.
It is somewhat of an unnatural feeling to have things work out better than I imagined at a time where I wasn't even looking for it, but I am embracing it.
At the very moment I had accepted
my current path and found a newfound level of contentment with it, the universe
conjured up a new plan and decided to send me down a new trail. Without a map, I
am using in my directionally-challenged heart as a compass and trusting in it –
and the greater plan – to keep me headed in the right direction. Destination:
groove.
“When you want something all the universe conspires in helping
you to achieve it.”
“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your
treasure.”
- Paulo Coelho, The
Alchemist -
