Continued from Stepping Stones… The beginning of this story starts HERE.
When I met batchelor #1 I was unemployed. Though I went out looking for work, I struggled to hand out resumes. Some days I didn’t apply for a single job. Fear and doubt kept getting the better of me.
On reflection, if I hadn’t continued to see him after finding out that he was a Catholic, I wouldn’t have been in the right place at the right time. He was the push that I needed to secure employment.
When you’re struggling with social anxiety and low self-esteem facing the dreaded job interview is a huge challenge. You tend to overthink everything. Since I’d never had a decent work experience, I wasn’t expecting the best.
I was still living at home with my parents and had no social life. When a potential partner entered stage left there was definitely pressure to prove that I wasn’t as pathetic as I felt. With new determination (or maybe it was desperation) I handed out my resumes, finally landing a job at a t-shirt shop in the mall.
Bachelor #2
I’d been employed for three months when Andrew walked into my shop. A commotion at the front of the store begged me to look up from the task at hand.
What I saw was a young man in a trench coat, fighting to unsnag himself from a clothing rack. He proceeded to exclaim something like, “Stupid coat, stop trying to shop lift!” Of course, this made me laugh. 25 years married and he’s still making me laugh.
Once his coat released the merchandise it was intent on taking without payment, he promptly made his way to the back of the shop. There she was, the girl of his dreams. She beamed at him as she stood behind her counter folding t-shirts.
Can you imagine my long hair whipping in the breeze? Hey, there could have been a draft.
Her knight in shining armour approached the counter and spoke the most romantic words she’d ever heard, “So, I saw you standing there and thought heeeey a new girl.”
Typing that made me laugh. I don’t remember if I laughed, but I was definitely smiling. That’s when he commented on my smile. There’s the sweet talk.
At this point he must have told me his name, but our “chance” meeting was short lived. He wasn’t alone. One of his crew had accompanied him on his quest to seek out new casual wear. Nevertheless, he promised that he’d return when he received his paycheck the following Friday. I was then informed that he wanted to check out some concert t-shirts.
Yeah, right. We all know why he wanted to return.
The Return of the Jedi
A little over a week passed before I’d see this heavy metal highlander once again. The truth is that he’d been on my mind. When he did make his second appearance, he asked me out. I turned him down. I was in a relationship, remember? So I reluctantly explained this to him.
After telling me that he understood, he left my shop. How could I let that fish get away? I’m sure that he must have been dismayed as well. Nonetheless, he returned moments later, once again inviting me to go out with him. This time he added, “I mean as a friend, of course.”
Well, of course. Yeah, he’s good.
I want to say that I fell for it, but when I agreed to his terms, I knew exactly what I was doing. I couldn’t simply abandon ship. I’m a thinker. I had to test the waters, so we exchanged phone numbers and made plans to go see Startrek: Generations. Classy, right?
On the Hook
I’ll admit it, I had Andrew on the hook, but He wanted to be there. What I didn’t know was that behind the scenes it was Jesus who was truly reeling me in.
When I got home from work, however, my parents had intercepted Andrew’s phone call. Unfortunately, they didn’t assess the situation in quite the same light as I had. After voicing their disapproval of attempting to date two guys at the same time, I succumbed to the guilt, phoning and canceling my “not a date” date with Andrew.
Guilt always works on me. Why so much guilt!? This would have never happened to my three brothers. That’s such a double standard. It’s because I was the prize child, right? Those three won’t listen, but she will. Let’s parent her with all our might! Well… it payed off, I guess.
This is the part where I think, they’re going to know that I’m joking, right!? I don’t think I’m the prize child (much) I just find it funny when people do this in a jestfull, playful sort of way.
So, anyways, the poor guy was turned down twice in one day. Nonetheless, unbeknownst to me, he knew something that I didn’t know. I was the girl that he was going to marry. He wasn’t about to give up, and neither was God!
“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”
Isaiah 42:16
Stay tuned for “You’re A What?” The saga continues… Friday.
(Photo credit goes to Pixabay.com user silviarita.)
Pippi's Poetry 
I am so hooked into the story. Waiting for the next part.
The part where Andrew walks towards you and you say that there could have been a draft making your hair blow out gorgeously in the breeze. Well I was imagining some slow motion shots of the scene 😁.
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Hehe. 😁 Yeah, that’s exactly what I was going for. Glad you’re enjoying it. It’s definitely fun to look back and re-tell how this great adventure got started.
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Life sometimes gives thrilling experience for which we don’t have any capacity to know it earlier.
And we don’t know our strength and weakness till someone comes and make us know.
Great post.
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Thank you. ☺
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This is a lovely personal journey. So pleased he is still making you laugh after all these years. And what a fine movie to go to on a first date. I take it that it was a small t-shirt shop then. Hope you are smiling today.
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Thank you. ☺ Yes, it was just a small shop. Unfortunately, that date never happened because I had to call and cancel. But Startrek has always gone over big with us. I hope you’re smiling today too. ☺
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On my goodness! You keep leaving these cliffhangers! LOL. I am so loving this story. Can’t wait for Friday! ❤️
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Hehe. 😆 Yes, well you have to end a blog post somewhere, right? Why not with a bit of mystery? My next post ties up all of those loose ends. Then I’ll start a new week by shifting gears a bit. Glad you’re enjoying the read. It was a fun way to celebrate both the journey with Andrew and Jesus. ❤
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Ah-ha, I knew it so you are going to keep us hooked waiting until Friday! 🐟🐟🐡🎣
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Yes indeed! 😃
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Am not looking for path even am lost
I’ll make my own, just need to make sure whatever step I take, took it confidently
because at last starting is important, destination changes often!!
Good share Ma’am
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Yes, we all are lost, so is so great when we are found. Just remember that you don’t have to make your own path. I believe God has a route for all of us. We just have to decide to take Him up on the offer to lead the way. Without Him I’m not confident at all, but with Him I can do things that freak me out! For me the destination never changes. The views might change, but I’m always aiming for that one destination.
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Indeed, God can show us path but not the route, it’s up to us what we chose so that we couldn’t blame them any more but still we find them at last for blam if we failure to follow the right route, which leads to ultimate destination!!🤗🤗
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Blame who? 😃 Who do you want your blame? Don’t blame me… 😁
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Oh, I am loving this! What a cliffhanger!! And you have such a well-developed sense if humor about yourself. Oh, and as a wife and mom to hard-core Trekkies, I must smile at the movie you were going to see. Can’t wait to read the next installment. ❤
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Thanks Marisa! ❤ Yes, I so need that sense of humor. It helps so much to get past life's hurdles and tame those doubts and fears. Glad you're enjoying the read. ☺
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Oh my word, this just keeps getting better!!! Loving it!!! And I love that it’s slowly playing out and that you haven’t just quickly dished it out all in one post….can’t wait for more!!!
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Thanks, Ali! Yeah, it would lose too much of the detail and fun if I tried to condense it, so I decided the story was worth a week long event. 😀 Glad you’re enjoying it.
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Yes definitely!!!!❤️
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Loving it Tina. You write well and hold my interest right through. Keep up the good work. I’m looking forward to the next part. I have been sporadic on the computer this past week or two, so hope I don’t miss it.
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Thank you so much, Diane. Glad that it held your intrest! Thanks for the feedback. The last thing I want is for my writing to bore anyone to tears.
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Thank you so much, Diane. Glad that it held your intrest! Thanks for the feedback. The last thing I want is for my writing to bore anyone to tears.
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You have no need to worry about that happening! Unless of course the “reader” doesn’t enjoy reading, or at least reading the sort of things you write abouot. 🙂 And you have no control over that.
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Yes, that’s very true. ☺
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Yes yes yes 😂😍
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😀
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