Have you ever fantasized about meeting your soul mate? How would you meet?
Where would you spend your first 72 hours together? What would you say and do?
I finally found my one true love. I guess I had to grow up first after
make the wrong relationship choices. I wasn't very patient waiting for Mr. Right but I did finally find the 'love
of my life' or should I say he found me and he was worth every tear I shed praying for someone to love me for who I am.
This is our story:
The Meeting
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
BRIAN and I met in July 1997, over the phone. It was one of
those unusual instances that was clearly meant to be. It was a business conversation at first but gradually
became personal. We continued a long distance relationship for about a year before I moved to Calgary in July of 1998.
Within that time we were able to meet in person four times within one year. I'm very glad it worked out that way because
most of our time was spent talking on the telephone. We learned how to communicate to one another from the very beginning,
which is vital to any healthy relationship!
Our Romantic Rendevous
Brian and I met on the phone through work. I was
filling in for someone on vacation in the department where I worked. Brian called to check on his order and one thing
led to another. We began talking on a regular basis and eventually I gave him my home phone number for more intimate
conversations outside of work. After several intriguing phone calls & conversations later, I agreed to meet
him in Canada where he lived but only if I could pay for half of the airfare. I had never flown before and I had never
met someone like this before. It was romantic and crazy at the same time but being the adventurous, curious woman
that I am, I decided to go for it. I knew where he worked and several people knew where I was going so they were
expecting me back. There was a very strong chemistry between us and I thought maybe this man could turn out to be Mr.
Right so I agreed to meet him for a romantic weekend together.
I got a letter from Brian telling me how excited he
was and how he had been planning our time together.
"Dear Charlotte,
It's Sunday afternoon and it's a cold, wet day.
I've been busy trying to find someplace nice in the mountains to stay when you come for a visit in a couple of weeks.
I think I might have found a cabin with a kitchenette and a fireplace.
It's in-between Banff and Lake Louise, which
works pretty good for location from my place. They even accept pets, which many others do not."
He had a yellow lab named Dakota at the time, which
he took everywhere with him. He began talking more about how excited he was to share the beauty of the Canadian Rockies
with me. He was sweet to give me some clues as to what kind of clothes to bring and weather to expect. He reminded
me to bring lots of film and even sent me a few photos to give me some insight.
"Enclosed are a few pictures of the mountains and
my dog, Dakota, as well,obviously me. The little girl in the photo is my niece who is three."
Then he proceded to tell me a story about his sister
and something his niece did that was really cute. Then he mentioned more details about the cabin he chose
for us; the enclosed plane tickets and itenerary and said a few more romantic things sending me hugs and kisses.
I was thrilled and to this day, it is cherished as it
is the only letter he has ever written me because he prefers to talk on the phone rather than write. I think
most men are like that.
ROMANTIC RENDEVOUS - PART TWO
It was the most wonderful, most exciting,
most romantic weekend of my entire life with no regrets.
Brian was everything I ever hoped for in
a man. I am so glad I took a risk (cautious to be safe) and leaped from my comfort zone into his arms. He is the
most romantic man I ever dreamed of meeting and very real at the same time.
When we met for the very first time, I
can still remember that nervous excitement in the pit of my stomache. I knew this was going to be an exciting weekend,
more than I ever imagined.
Brian met me at the airport. He greeted
me with a kiss on the cheek and a big hug. I knew what he looked like because we had sent each other photographs of
ourselves. He was 5'10" and slender, somewhat balding on top but with short, sandy brown hair. He had a mustache
and sparkling eyes as well as a fantastic smile. He was wearing cowboy boots, bluejeans, a light green t-shirt with
a black blazer and he looked so sexy to me.
The first romantic move he made was to
carry my luggage out to the parking garage and load it into his Mazda. He opened the car door for me and told me to
be careful not to sit on my surprise. I looked down before getting in and there, lying on the front seat, was a beautiful,
long-stemmed, red rose. What a way to welcome a lady.
We took off in his sporty, turquoise Mazda
with black interriorl. Brian drove fast but safely in control as we sped out of the airport terminal and off across
the city of Calgary. He showed me many sights but only after he drove me to the top of a secluded hill where he parked
and gave me our very first kiss. It was very unforgettable. What a beginning!
We drove to his home and had a quiet, romantic
evening together. His dog, Dakota, took a liking to me also. He was very well-trained and Brian's home was quite
comfortable. From there everything was only more breathtaking and I was truly speechless for several days as we drove
throughout the mountains where we stayed in a romantic, rustic cabin with a fireplace and kitchen.
We traveled together seeing the natural
beauty of the Canadian Rockies. He took me to the famous tourist town of Banff, nestled in the mountains. Then we drove to the
Columbia Icefield Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park We took
a gondola up to the top of Sulphur Mountain.
We visited the beautiful, turquoise Lake
Louise and Peyto Lake. We saw elk roaming freely about the yards of Banff residents and came across mountain sheep on
the highway to and from our cabin at Johnston Canyon.
Our last morning together, we took a 1.7
mile hike up Johnston Canyon where we photographed seven different waterfalls. The climb was well worth the challenging
hike for me. I still had a long way to go before I was in good enough shape to do this kind of exercise but I wasn't
about to let Brian see how bad I really felt.
Then came the time I dreaded most, saying
goodbye. Brian helped me get my luggage into the airport and we said our first goodbyes at the customs gate. As
I walked away I was crying so hard and I could feel his eyes watching me but I could not turn around. As the plane
took off I waved and looked below through my tears of joy and pain, hoping I would see him again someday.