I was about 2 years out of college, still living at home, but at least an employed lowly designer just trying to get my start in the advertising world.
One evening the phone rang and my mom picked up the phone.
She said it was for me, but didn't say who it was. I took the phone from her...
"Hello," I said.
"Hi Mark, it's me," came the reply
"Hey... but honestly, you don't sound familiar."
"I'm your worst enemy."
I laughed a little,"Well, I don't have a ton of friends and haven't made any new enemies. You can't be all bad."
"It's Janelle," she said.
Janelle and I were seeing each other in college our Sophomore year. She was a beautiful mid-western girl with blue eyes, strawberry blonde hair and porcelain skin. She smiled with a smirk, was mischievous, and a fellow art major -- like me.
We were destined to romantically collide. And collide we did...
But this romance was short lived as we began our interests toward the end of that school year. And within 3 short weeks, we each returned to our home states hundreds of miles away. Janelle and I conversed a bit over the summer but not with the same intensity as one would have if in person. At breaks end, to my surprise, she returned our junior year with a new boyfriend and I spent most of it as just that guy passing her and her new beau around campus. This went on until the day we all graduated and went off to find our places in this world.
"You're not my worst enemy silly," I replied, "that was years ago and I got over it."
"Well, I'm not seeing him anymore and I've been thinking about you lately..."
We went on to speak for an hour or so more, catching up on friends from college, where they were now, who got married, who broke up. It was nice to talk to an old friend -- even if she broke my heart.
After that call, I didn't think much of it, until a few days later.
She called me again.
This time, we spoke about California -- what was it like? Do I like living there? What are good places to visit? I said, heck if she visits California, I'd be happy to be a tour guide.
She hesitated and said that would be fun but, she didn't want any weird romantic undertones or pressures. I said I was good with just hanging out and being friends. (Believe it or not, at 24, I had the ability to separate sexual interest from friendship. I had A LOT of girl "friends" that I just hung out with. Of course I later learned that I also missed A LOT of opportunities.)
"Well, if you promise nothing will happen, I want to go on vacation in California and it would be good to see you," she said. I assured her I would be good and days later we worked out some dates, got days off, and her flight info. The plan was San Francisco for a day and then LA for a few more. She'd fly in Sunday and would be back on a plane to her home in Chicago in time for work the following week.
The days passed by pretty quickly and I soon found myself at an SFO reception area waiting a United flight from Chicago. I hadn't seen Janelle for a couple years. I was sure I'd recognize her, it hadn't been that long. The plane landed, the gates opened, and a line of people streamed off the plane. Then, there she was. Janelle looked amazing in her khaki top, jeans and tan construction boots that were so in at the time. Her blonde hair bounced with each step she took and her blue eyes lit up to match her smile... that same smirky smile now aimed right at me. She sauntered right up to me with a big hug.
"Oh my God Mark, you look the same!" She said.
"Wow Janelle, you look great too!"
And we turned and chatted all the way to baggage claim and my car, like best friends reunited.
I got Janelle a room at a local hotel and told her I'd let her rest for dinner and we'd catch "Interview with a Vampire" that evening as I won some free passes.
