As mentioned before, my first marriage of 21 years ended in a mutual divorce agreement. We had known one another since age 12, married at 18, bought our first new car at 19,two kids, and a new model home by age 23. Good start? We found that our interests were quite different as we grew up. After four years we both married people who were better suited to our lifestyle. JD loved to fish, hunt, boat and gamble. I preferred travel, sailing, writing and meeting new people. We did however remain friends throughout our lives until he passed away in 1996.
So here's how my 'blind date' began after a few years of being single. It seems my very good friends Bob and Lynne were skiing behind their boat down in Mexico. Same place, same time, a young widower, Carl and his 5 kids were also 'slalom' skiing behind their boat. Wouldn't you know, Carl's boat quit working and lo and behold they were invited to continue skiing behind my friend's boat. This is how it all started: "Say, you wouldn't happen to have a sister would you?" (nice line...) "Well yes, but she's older than me. I do however have a very dear friend, divorced four years ago that everyone thinks is my sister, about your age."
As you may have guessed, the subject continued throughout their conversation for the rest of the skiing trip. All the time Carl was skiing he wore a blue terrycloth hat. Apparently, when he finally removed his hat he was obviously bald on top, which didn't incidentally take away from the fact that he was all the things I apparently had mentioned to Lynne recently. "Well, Lynne, I guess he'd need to be tall, well educated, have a good sense of humor, and have kids. Oh, by the way, good hair would be nice." Now, after Lynne had promised to make a 'blind date' for us to meet each other, she suddenly felt ill at ease. So this is how the next phase went.
The following Monday, after Lynne arrived back home she called me. "Jean, guess what?" "You tell me what." "Well, I met this really neat guy, he's single about four years, he's tall, good looking, well educated in fact works for LaVerne University in Oxnard, and has kids five I think." "So, what else?" "Well, I promised him I'd make a 'blind date' for you to meet. Is that OK with you?" "Sure, why not. If you and Bob like him I'm sure I will too." "But.." "But what?" "Well, I didn't know until it was too late. You see he's bald." After laughing I assured her I'd be looking forward to meeting this nice guy. So, she called Carl and set the luncheon date for the following Wednesday.
In order to be away from my bridal boutique most of the day, I had to make special arrangements. Early morning received a call from Carl: "Something has come up. A VIP is here for the morning so can't get away." "That's OK I'll just come there." "Do you know how to get to Oxnard?" "No, but I'll manage. Just give me the address. See you for lunch." Get this over with and be done with the whole thing.
Found his office at Pt. Magoo Base where he worked. Waited in the parking lot sending a message in with another person who worked there. Then Carl arrived at the doorstep. I thought he must be color-blind: beige pants, pink shirt, no tie and a maroon blazer. But with a smile that was fantastic. "Hi you must be Jean. I see you managed the two hour drive." "Well, that freeway from Claremont is known as the 'biggest parking lot in LA. Anyway, I enjoyed listening to my favorite 'Moody Blues' so it was actually relaxing." "Hey, my favorite too. Give me your keys, have to park you in the employee spot." I did. I noticed he was having a hard time starting the Mazda. "Damn, I used the door key in the ignition, car won't start and the key's stuck!" We decided to go for our lunch and consider this problem later.
We had grilled chicken salad. He salted his then passed the salt over. "No thanks." "Is there any reason you don't eat salt?" I could see that he was wondering if I had some terrible malady. "Nope. Just grew up with a mother that used lots of pepper and herbs." I could see he breathed a sigh of relief. The rest of the meal was a 'get to know each other over the next two fun hours."
"I'll run you over to my house and you can meet the kids. We live on the beach here in Oxnard. Actually later found that Sunny and Cher Bono lived a few houses down, and the writer of 'Bertha Butt Boogie" on one side and an un-known son of Howard Hughes on the other. Once there I met his five kids all in bathing suits along with another bunch of their friends. I wasn't sure which one's were his, but they were all adorable from age 9 through 16. Carl began his several phone calls: "Hi, someone used the wrong key in my friends car, it's stuck and car won't start. Can someone come out to help us?"This lament was repeated over the next several calls before he changed his approach. "Hi,I stupidly used the door key in the car ignition and the damn thing won't start. I need someone right now."
By the time we got back to his office in Pt. Magoo the key man was already starting the car. "Drive directly to your Mazda dealer. Don't stop." This whole episode was crazy and fun. I promised to call Carl as soon as I had the car fixed. The dealership wanted to charge me. "Now, everyone knows Mazda keys are made out of old beer cans." He grinned, "No charge lady." I called Carl who suggested: "How 'bout I drive your direction and take you to dinner Saturday night?" A wonderful evening. We were married three months later on the beach at Lagoona. Hawaii for our honeymoon. The beginning of 34 years of a fantastic marriage. Definately 'Soulmates!'
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