It was the summer of 1997 when we became best friends. The thought of that summer still warms my heart and has me smiling as I remember all the freaking fun we had!
I was working as a waitress at a cocktail bar, that much is true… Oh wait hahaha. 🎶
I was working at a TGI Friday’s when I met you… that I know is true. 🎶
We worked together that summer having fun and wearing FLARE, lol! We hung out after work, outside of work and really really got along. As we laughed, drank and talked our way through the summer I remember thinking I was so happy to meet a really genuine guy especially after the break I had just gone through the year prior. I ADORED you…as a friend. I didn’t really see you in the romantic way and I didn’t think you saw me that way either. maybe I didn’t wanna cross the line between friendship and something else. Maybe I didn’t wanna acknowledge that something could be brewing.
Then one night, I forget where we were hanging out but I know it was with my high school best friend and her guy. Her guy may have been your friend you always hung out with at Friday’s and his name, I cannot remember for the life of me. Anyways we were all hanging out somewhere on the outskirts of town possibly in the country, who knows. But I remember my high school bestie telling me that you told her, you had feelings for me. I was like, no way, him and I are just friends! Then after that night when we would hang out it became clearer that you did, and I did too. She watered a seed that I didn’t know was there . From that point it was on. You and I would go for drives in your blue old truck and make out on abandoned roads (that now are developments lol).
We almost did it on one of those roads but we decided to wait and not make it so cheap and icky. I remembering driving to your university late a night just to sneak into bed with you. I loved being in your bunk trying to talk quietly as your roommate slept.
I remember rollerblading through the park down a hill that was insanely steep for me and thinking I’d crash into the trees. But you promised me you wouldn’t let that happen and I trusted you.
Trust.
I can honestly say without a doubt in my mind that don’t know if I trusted someone the same way since.
You dude were the real deal. Romantic…writing love letters from Florence. Oh the long distance phone bills I racked up calling Italy and talking for hours. My parents were ready to kill me. LOL You were TOTALLY into ska and dressed the part sometimes too. I loved that you weren’t afraid to be your own authentic person at the young age of twenty/twenty one. And the most romantic thing that anyone has ever done for me, when my Italian grandma passed you kindly gave me back the letters that she helped me write to you in Italian.
Had I known how special you were maybe I would have made different choices. However when one comes out of an emotionally abusive relationship one just can’t tell what is true and what is false.
You were meant to come into my life to set the example of what an HONEST, cool and kind guy could be.
Thank you. After all these years I remember your kind and generous heart.
~L
“The wound is the place where the light enters you.”
~Rumi
R-you were the light.
Wildflowers Lori 