It is really strange, but wonderful, how Life gives people second chances in many different ways.
This second chance in my life was one I could never have imagined would happen.
I spent several more years in Navy as a Civil Engineer traveling throughout the world doing construction work.
After I got out, I got a job with an Engineering firm that had construction contracts with the military. Many of them were overseas contracts.
It allowed me to travel all over the world negotiating contracts with those countries.
The company had two floors of engineers working on contracts. We all had our own glass cubicles.
I had been working for this company for several years now.
One day we had a big meeting and the company talked about a big contract that needed to be negotiated in Spain.
They asked for a volunteer to go to Rota, Spain. I quickly spoke up and said I would go.
A couple days later I was in Rota, Spain.
Rota had changed quite a bit since the last time I was there.
I spent a week there negotiating contracts. Then flew back to the company.
During the week I was gone, I did not know the company did some hiring.
On that Monday morning after I was back, while working on my computer in my cubicle, I decided to go get a coffee in the break room.
Just as I stood up to walk to the breakroom, I saw this beautiful Spanish lady walk by my cubicle I had not seen before.
I just stood there and watched her walk by.
She had long black hair half way down her back, walking in high heels, dressed to perfection, beautiful body shape from behind.
She was headed to the breakroom as well.
I kept my distance from her just to watch her walk.
I finally made it to the break room, walked in and there she was.
She was leaning against the counter sipping her coffee.
I saw her from the front. She was the most beautiful Spanish woman I have ever seen. She looked like a goddess. Her face was beautiful. She had beautiful clear blue eyes that I just could not take my eyes away from hers.
She saw me and smiled. Her smile matched her looks so beautifully.
She extended her hand to me and introduced herself as Jessica.
I extended my hand to shake hers.
I said my name is Daniel.
Her handshake was firm and confident but not hand crushing, also not wet rag soft either. Her skin was very soft.
I held her hand and kept staring into her eyes.
I was in a trance and speechless like I had seen her before.
I had a deja vue moment while holding her hand.
She asked, "Are you ok?"
I said, "Oh yes, I am sorry."
Then gently let go of her hand.
I said to her with a quizzical look on my face, "Have we met before?"
Jessica said, "No, I don't think so. But it is a pleasure meeting you now."
Then she flashed her beautiful smile at me.
She said, "Did you come in for coffee?"
That snapped me out of my trance.
I said, "Yes I did."
I started to get some coffee.
Jessica said, "Have a great day Daniel. See you around."
I said, "Yes, it was a pleasure meeting you." As she walked away.
I had to look back to see her walk away. All's I could think of was "Wow. She's beautiful."
I got my coffee and went back to my cubicle.
All day long I kept thinking I have seen her before. I was trying to figure out that deja vue moment.
Throughout the day, I kept quite busy on my computer working on contracts and such.
I had not seen Jessica at all the rest of the day.
5:00 came around and I was heading home.
I got home, took a shower, put on some sweats and a t-shirt. I grabbed a beer and sat down in my easy chair.
I turned on the TV to watch something.
Then all of a sudden, that deja vue moment struck me. That was the same moment and feeling I had when I met my Aunt Janet at age 15.
I'm thinking to myself, "No, can't be." I replayed today's moment over and over again in my head.
My thoughts of that day, at age 15, when I met Aunt Janet, practically matched today's moments.
The handshake, her beautiful blue eyes, her long hair and me being speechless all matched up.
I said to myself again, "No, can't be."
Over the next couple of weeks, I would see Jessica in different locations throughout the company. Walking the hallways, in conference meetings with us as well as in the breakroom.
When we did see or pass each other, we would acknowledge our presence with a smile or just say "Hi."
We had to be very careful.
The company had strict rules about getting to chummy or friendly with fellow employees. We had to remain in a business like persona to maintain our professionalism while on company time.