Him And Me

Today, dear readers, I have decided to share with you the story of how my beloved and I met, because it was not strictly conventional.  Our meeting came about as the result of a dare, yes that's right - a dare!

Whilst I was away on holiday my parents had decided to move much farther out of London and had already set things in motion by the time I returned   So, I had to leave all my friends and start over in a new area.  From a thriving social life I moved to a place where there was no cinema, no dance-hall, no youth group - nowhere I could make new friends. Also, having become sick of commuting, I took a local job, so I was living and working in the same area. My social life hit rock bottom.

Then a middle-aged friend of my Mother, called Grace, told me I should put an advertisement in the newspaper under what is commonly known as "Lonely Hearts".  I just laughed. She had been widowed twice and had met her third husband that way.  Anyway, each time she visited she said the same thing adding, on the last occasion, I dare you.  That did it, I knew she did not believe I would do it so I want ahead.  As I dropped the letter in the mailbox it suddenly occured to me what I had done and I felt more than a little nervous and a bit stupid.

About ten days went past and then the postman came to our door bearing a sack of replies!!!!! Took me several days to work through them.  Some were instantly discarded.  After a long process I eventually got down to about twelve.  Of those twelve I put four into an "only if I am desperate" pile.

So, I replied to the remaining eight giving my telephone number but no full name or address.  They all contacted me and I have never been wined and dined so much in all my life. I had a marvellous time. This might make it sound other than what it was.  I kept all the relationships strictly platonic and just enjoyed the company.  I would see how it panned out.  Well, eventually I came to know that, nice though these men were, I had not found the one for me (not that I was seriously looking for anything more than friendship then).  So one by one they fell by the wayside and it was back to the old life.  Then I remembered the "desperate" listand had a look.  Oh well, I thought might as well try a couple.  Yes, my beloved was one of those.

He picked me up one evening from nightschool. I will be totally honest because Mike knows how I felt.  My heart sank, he was not my type at all. Not the sort of man I was usually attracted to but..........he had a beautiful car!!!!  I can imagine some of you being shocked and thinking how mercenary I sound but you must remember I was living in a little village and this was a long time ago.  I saw absolutely nothing wrong in having a drink with him and at least one drive in that gorgeous car.  So, off we went.  Out into the middle of nowhere, unlit country lanes.  I had the horrible feeling that I had come across a pervert and this was going to be the end of me, perhaps violated and murdered in some isolated spot.  However, he pulled over, stopped the car, and proceeded to tell me about his life , his unhappy marriage (he was divorced) and asked all about mine and then, like a perfect gentleman,  took me for a drink and then drove me home.  I thought he was rather sweet.  So, we started seeing each other a couple of times a week.  Three months later he asked me to marry him. I refused.  He asked again and again. I always refused.  He said he would never give up. I told him I  would not marry him if he was the last man on Earth. I liked him but nothing more. He started coming around nightly, I never had a minute to myself.  I started to feel suffocated and considered telling him to get lost.  Then Mike suggested going on holiday as he had been telling us for some time how lovely the Isle of Man was. He explained we would need a driver because none of us drove so it was agreed that Mum Dad, myself and Mike would go for two weeks, hire a car over there and he would chaffeur us around.

Well, we had a very long journey to Liverpool to get the Ferry.  On the way to Liverpool Mike and I had an enormous row.  Neither of us can remember what it was about but when we stopped on the Motorway for something to eat, I told my Mother that was that -  when we got back I was dropping him, he was getting on my nerves.  She remarked that this was going to be some holiday with us not talking and gloom settled over the whole party.

We made the mostof things and after a couple of days, the atmosphere became more relaxed  as it does when you are on holiday - that is until I had a row with my Mother whilst having lunch in the hotel.  I stormed off, fed up with the whole thing and sorry I had agreed to go in the first place.  Mum came to my room in a huff and said she and Dad were going off for the rest of the afternoon. I sat in my room feeling very miserable and then came a tap at the door.  It was Mike.  I let him in and we talked and talked.  Then he asked me once more to marry him and the strangest thing happened.  Suddenly, I could not imagine life without him, could not imagine never seeing him again.  I said yes. When my parents got back we announced to them in the bar of the hotel that we were getting married to which my Mother replied "But you don't even like him!" Mike bought the ring next day , we came back from holiday engaged and we married five months later. Mike told me later that he always knew I would say yes one day.

This December we celebrate 34 years as man and wife.  Placing that advert was the best thing I ever did. I could not have a more wonderful husband.  Strange how fate works........    P.S. I have posted a wedding picture above.

Well, dear readers, would any of you like to share how you met the love of your life? Go on, I dare you!