[Laura asked one thing of me on a surreal day when we talked about the possibility of my remarrying after she was gone. "Please make sure she is kind." And so she is...]
I’m having a little trouble deciding where to begin. I can start at “our” beginning…when Jenn and I met…but THAT beginning is a single point in time that is more significant to us than it is to Life as a whole.
I’m coming to understand that like all things in our lives our meeting was plotted out by an invisible something that knew we’d be together all along.
Call it the Hand of God…the Universe…Fate…Destiny. It doesn’t much matter how or what we call it…there is something out there that is bigger than you and I and I think it has a plan.
I also know why I’m having trouble picking a starting point to our story. It’s because those things…God…the Universe…Fate…are infinite. No beginning. No end. In my estimation WE define the starting and ending points…but mostly Life just “is.” I also know this:
There is a love story unfolding with a beginning of our choosing…but no starting point at all…because we’ve always been there, Jenn and I.
It may be hard to comprehend that in our linear world, but it’s a lesson I gradually learned when Laura got sick: Ain’t no time but NOW. (Sorry…I have an 80 year blue’s man alter ego that chimes in every now and again. Not really…but it sounds cooler to say, “ain’t.”)
I’d like to share our story because I believe there are lessons inside that will help make life a little more tolerable for all of us…and honestly…this turn of events is more than I could have asked for. I am starting to come back to where I was…the “old me”…only as a different person.
Our story is one of THOSE stories…complete with an unexpected meeting…awe struck main characters…dragons to be slayed…and an unquestioning commitment to see it through until the credits roll.
So let me pick a point as the beginning for now because the entire story is much too incredible to capture in a single entry. I hope you’ll stick through until the end because some of the things that happened BEFORE we met will blow you away.
In the Beginning…
It all started in a crowded room hundreds of miles from our home towns. Four simple words were uttered at the right time..in the right place…by the right person…to the right people. And none of it happened by accident. It goes something like this:
“Meet Andy…he’s awesome.”* With that my friend Janna walked away and left me standing a bit dumbfounded…looking into the eyes of Jenn…the woman I am going to marry.
Next: “You live where?”
*OK…she said that and I didn’t pay her either. That idea is completely open to debate…
Haven’t read much of 30 seconds in a long time and every so happy and thrilled you are starting this next adventure with someone Who is kind.
Thank you, Kathi! I am too. As I said…not without our dragons to slay…but she is definitely one that isn’t afraid to take them on. I hope to post more…and hope you continue reading. It really is cool of you to do so…
So happy for you!!!
Thanks, Jody! Ummm…I think that’s it. (It’s pretty cool though. Thanks for reading…)
Oh Andy! I’m so glad you’re posting again! I feel like you let us in for such a long time and then all this time has passed and I just wanted to know what happened next!!! Your next chapter!! Can’t wait to hear more! I love the way you write
AND am SOOOOO happy life is going in a positive direction! You so deserve happiness after such sadness…
Thanks, Angie…for telling me you like my writing…for wanting to know more…for reading…and for being happy for Jenn and I. It means very, very much. I’m not kidding. It really does.
Now this post just made me smile Andy! Look forward to reading more!
Kansas Bob´s last [type] ..Running to be Heard
Thanks, KB! Glad it made you smile…
Hey buddy!
I’m still here and these wonderful news bring a smile on my face!! You deserve all the happiness and love that comes your way! Can’t wait to hear the rest of the story…:)
Helen
Helen´s last [type] ..The dreams that you dare to dream
Helen!! So good to talk to you again! I haven’t been in the online world much lately…but how great of you to read and comment. (You’re the one that got me into this in the first place, remember? Well…maybe you don’t know it but you did.) Hope all is well with you. I trust you are still “adventuring.” (Not a real word…)
Still adventuring around for sure!
Life is swell. Read you soon! 
Helen´s last [type] ..James Vincent McMorrow
Andy, so happy this new happiness has walked into your life. Can’t think of a person who deserves it more.
I have been offline for quite a while and had visited your site regularly before I sort of disappeared…Firstly, I love your new site-very well done! Back when I was online, I was also in bad shape ready to give up but believe it or not…I found my miracle and have been doing terrific. During that bad time, I derived a lot of comfort in reading your posts because of your awesome attitude regarding what you were going through. Now I read that you have found someone new to share your life with. Tis’ a tough thing to go through this life without a partner, tough and very lonely…
When my first husband died in 1998, I was literally brought to my knees as I know you can surely understand. I have always believed there was a reason behind everything and our destiny will play out exactly as it should. During that time, the last thing I had on my mind was meeting someone new. Yet I did. I took my children on a trip to beautiful Jamaica and met the man of my dreams. I even had another child, a wonderful and sensitive soul that he is. During the time that we are stumbling through the dark days, it is hard to believe that you could ever be happy again. But, it happens, to you, to me, and to many others…thank God for that!
I am absolutely thrilled for you and wish you the very best. You deserve it after all of the heartbreak you went through.
Take care and God Bless,
Jeannette
Jeannette´s last [type] ..JUST A SIDE NOTE
Andy,
I’ve been coming back to you every now and then. I’m happy to read you again! And even more happy to hear that you are in a much better place! You deserve to be happy. I’ll be following you, as always. Read you soon.
ST
Andy,
I’ve been coming back to you every now and then. I’m happy to read you again! And even more happy to hear that you are in a much better place! You deserve to be happy. I’ll be following you, as always. Read you soon.