OHIO

Once upon a time there was a girl that was super independent, even as a child (per her mother….and all moms over exaggerate, at some point).  She got married at a somewhat early age, to her first real boyfriend.  Yes, never dated or had a steady boyfriend in high school.  She was 21 when she became involved with him and by 26 she married him…for all the wrong reasons.  He wasn’t the nicest guy, lots of people didn’t care for him.  That marriage was short lived (literally just a few months).  She woke up one day and said, “Oh my god. I’m miserable.  This is stupid. I’m done.”   And that very morning, she got out of bed, packed what she thought was important, and left.  Moved back with her parents.   Her parents were more relieved than she was!  However, there had been some damage that occurred during that wasted time…(body image, trust, the acts of “fixing” things to make another happy…for a start).  That was when she decided to spread her wings and leave her home town, and see what else was out there…she was 27 when she left.

He was a jerk, and now she looks back at how immature he was.  What a bad influence. He was a waste of time, but a great lesson….although, she still made “not the greatest” choices for relationship mates following this first major ordeal.

 

FLORIDA

Her second boyfriend, was also a jerk.  He just generally thought he was better than EVVVVERRRRYYYYBODDDDDY. Yep. EVERYBODY.  Looking back, he had such a big fat chip on his shoulder.  Condescending shit.  So unhappy, probably from some other struggle from within.  Yeah, pretty sure she felt bad for him…that’s why she stuck with him on and off, for like 2 years…Once away from him, she was much happier and on her way to finding herself again.  No more having someone talk down to you because they were unhappy about themselves….so his actions were a reflection of his internal struggles. Yet, she knew his struggle.  She wonders today if he ever came to terms with it…choosing the lifestyle that he longed for, without judgment. Making himself happy, not caring what others thought.

 

WILD WEST

So this is a cool part.  She took a work traveling assignment to the Great and Wonderful West!!!!  She ended up in the beautiful wild west, Wyoming.  Breath taking. The open spaces and the rolling hills and fields. The mountains, oh the amazing Rocky Mountains.  The first time she had ever been that far west in her entire life.

As she settled into her assignment, she met so many kind people.  But no one prepared her for that moment she saw him…as they crossed paths in the department, their eyes met. She melted. She felt that thing. It struck warmth in her heart and flushed her cheeks. It made her fingers go numb, and hard to walk (because she wasn’t watching where she was going and ran into a pillar in the middle of the department…she couldn’t look away).  However,  kinda knowing they connected,  it wasn’t but a month later before he finally asked her out.  They were together from that point on. They were destined to spend the rest of their lives together…so she thought.

Getting to know him, she knew he was a little on the wild side. Well, being a cowboy and all…growing up that way was so amazing and it made him even more attractive to her.  He truly was the definition of a cowboy!  He could rope and ride.  Hunting  and fishing was embedded in him, like no other.  He was super athletic and everything he did , every sport he played, he mastered. Without effort.  He was so handsome and so charismatic. Oh, he was all mine.

Oh yeah, the wild part was his party habits.  Lots of drinking. Bar fights. Occasionally, he experimented with other recreational drugs….but not an addiction.  I chalked it up as 20’s party stage…like, who didn’t?  Just young and free.  Yes, I was 8 years his elder.  But it didn’t matter to either of us.  I was just turning 31, and he was turning 23.  Mind you, I drank but by this time in my life, it wasn’t as heavy or often.  I wasn’t going to hold him back from being his age. He still had a lot of life to experience.  Live away form what he knew in  23 years.  Spread his wings and fly.

When my assignment was up, he opted to move back to Florida with me.  That was my home at the time.  So, we packed up my Jeep and we packed up his car and he followed me back to FLA…..

 

~Cari  9/10/2019