The sun shone brightly into my eyes as I sat on the bench at the park. I wasn't really doing much, just whiling away time. That is until I saw her walk past me. The first thing that caught my eye was the fullness of her lips. I love a natural bow mouth, with full, plump lips. The next thing I noticed was that she was beautiful. I don't mean she had tons of makeup on. I mean she was naturally gorgeous. Her eyes sparkled, her nose was angelic and she had the slightest dusting of freckles across her cheeks.
My breath caught in my throat. I wanted to get up and give chase but, suddenly nothing existed below my waist but a blood-engorged organ and two lead balls. Movement was out of the question. Sadly, I watched her walk right out of my life. The only thing that was good about that was me being able to see those succulent cheeks twitching up and down as she stepped out of my vision.
Hours passed, the sun faded westward and pedestrians ceased to exist as I sat on that wooden slat. My food had long since grown cold. A squirrel had brazenly crept up and liberated my fries. Sitting on his haunches, warily watching his surroundings, he made short work of those fries. My pupils remained focused on him until he decided it was time to make his way to whatever represented home for him.
Exhausted. although I'd done nothing during the 8 hours of my park occupation, I wearily rose to my feet. Casting one last, forlorn, glance in the direction she'd walked out of my life, I dragged my feet for the longest three blocks of my life.
At dawn's first light, I was up. Instead of worrying about what I was going to do today, I had a plan. I made nine peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, three for the animals, filled my thermos with ice and grabbed a half gallon of Arizona Iced Tea. I made sure to grab my phone, some gum and a good set of earbuds.
The park witnessed my arrival just after 7 am. Since I was unaware of who she was, where she had come from, or where she was headed, I could not afford to take any chances. If I was going to meet the apparition that had plagued my restless night, then preparation was key. I sat in the park until well after 9 that night.
Unfortunately, there was never a single glimpse of this goddess. Over the next ninety days, every chance I got, I sat in the park. Nary a moment passed where I didn't think of this woman. My heart panged at the idea that she was my soul mate. Most would call it unrequited love, but that wasn't accurate. Unrequited love would mean she had rejected me. We had never met. But I was in love with her.
For the next nine months I walked by, jogged through, drove around, and otherwise stalked Stoepel Park #1. There was no way I missed her. I never laid eyes on her. The summer gave way to fall, and autumn moved out of Jack Frost's way. When spring arrived, I'd just about given up. Don't get me wrong, I still hoped, I just figured my hope was misplaced.
May came along and my birthday neared. Normally my birthday is cause for celebration, but not this year. All I really wanted was to meet this lovely vision. And no birthday cake wish was going to make that happen. My friends planned a gathering. They knew why I was in such a funk and couldn't care less. The main concern voiced was that I was stupid. How could I fall in love with a woman I'd never met? Crazy. Theoretically, I understood, but emotionally, I was undeterred. No matter what people said, I couldn't let go.
May 13 found me at a bar called DA OUTSIDA. It was owned by C. G. Brooks, Sr. a local hood legend, turned author and entrepreneur. My friends, and I, frequented this spot prolifically. All of the decor was from foreign countries, as were the waitresses, menu options and music. It was an urban spot with international flair.
I was sitting at the table, nursing a Wallaby. It reminded me of Cutty Sark and cola. Shane walked in followed by two women the first I assumed was his girlfriend. I didn't know her too well, but the second was the woman I had given my heart to a year ago. They'd only been dating about four months, all of which I'd been preoccupied with finding my better half. Every time he called, she'd yell out that she had a friend for me. I usually made quick excuses to get off the phone. I only had eyes for....