All's Well That Ends Well

[lizzie]

This isn't a story that will be of much interest to most of you, I'd think, because it isn't exciting, it involves no bad guys, and no heroes, and isn't really a "guy" type of story, but it was sort of a poignant moment to me today.

This story starts about 8 1/2 years ago.....
When the hubs died, I had a pretty difficult time adjusting to the loss, because this was the first time in my entire life that I'd ever been alone and completely on my own. I had always lived WITH at least one other person....parents, best friend, ex-husband, two sons, 2nd hubs, and now, there was nobody at all waiting at home, wondering how I was, wondering if I was okay, or if I had had a good day.
Nobody to talk to over dinner, or to laugh with OR gripe with about the various crazy things in life.

In my living room, I had sage green  color sofa and two recliners, and since we had moved into this house, those things have never been moved....never re-arranged.  He had "his" recliner which was directly in my line of sight when I came into the house, and if he wasn't busy doing something in the shop, or gone hunting or fishing, he was typically sitting in that recliner, left leg crossed over the right, rocking, and talking on the phone to one of his several close friends from all around the country. That was such a familar site, that after he died, I noticed that it was REALLY bothering me to open the front door and not see him sitting there, talking on the phone.

I decided, after a few weeks, to get rid of that furniture, which was a constant reminder, and go buy something new to change the look a bit.
So.....a few days later, I pushed and pulled the furniture outside, loaded it into the back of my truck, and headed into town to donate it to the local Goodwill Store. I pulled into the parking lot and drove to the donation area, waiting to have the guys unload it. While I was standing outside my truck, waiting, a black Dodge Durango SUV pulled in behind me, and a man got out and walked toward me. He was around my age, a nice-looking guy, dressed well, seemed well-mannered, and was pleasant. He pointed to the back of my truck and told me he was interested in my furniture.

Well, I looked at the Goodwill guy, who said, "Well, it's still in your truck, so it's up to you".
I looked at the man in the Dodge, and told him I'd sell it to him for twenty dollars. He said he'd pay me another 20 to deliver it to his house. (THAT was a little odd) I asked him where he lived, and he told me, and it was on the outskirts of a small town about 15 miles west of my place, and it just so happened to be next door to where my son worked (still does work there).
I decided I'd go ahead and do it, so I followed him to his house, backed up to his open garage door, and helped him unload it.

After that, he looked at me with an odd look, and said, "So, what's your story?"

I asked him what he meant, and I guess he thought it was odd that a woman was taking a truckload of furniture to Goodwill, r maybe he could see stress on my face. I have no idea, still. We ended up visiting for a little while, and I told him my husband had recently died, and I was getting rid of the furniture to help get rid of a constant visual reminder.
He then proceeded to ask me if I'd go for coffee or lunch sometime, to which I replied that it was still FAR too soon for that.
He gave me his name and number, and told me that if I ever changed my mind, to let him know....

Fast forward about 9 months- I was in Walmart one evening, walking down one of the grocery aisles, and I saw him ahead of me. I could not remember his name, but he remembered me, and we chatted for a few minutes, He than asked me if I was ready to go out with him yet, and again, I told him that I wasn't. We went our separate ways, and I didn't give it much more thought.

It was a couple of years since I saw him again, and in the years since, it seems that I run into him, or see him from a distance, in various local stores, about once or twice yearly. He usually didn't notice me, and I certainly don't try to call attention to myself. Around a year ago, I ran into him AGAIN, but he had (obviously) forgotten that he'd ever met me by this time. He struck up a conversation, asked my name, asked about my occupation (I had on my scrubs and a lab coat at the time), and it just so happened that he'd had a mild stroke, and I'm thinking it probably caused a loss of certain memories. When we talked about a year ago, he asked my name, and asked me if I'd like to go out with him sometime, and gave me his humber (again-lol), then he told me to call him sometime.

I didn't call, and it had slipped my mind again, but then TODAY, I was running errands on my lunch break, was inside a small local store, and who is there? The couch dude- again!
LOL (by this time, I'm thinking this is pretty comical!)
I didn't say anything, but he walked up to me and said "Hello Liz!". I smiled and said hello, then continued with what I was doing.
When I was waiting in line to check out, I saw him walk BACK inside the store, walk up to me, and said, "Were you impressed that I remember your name?". I smiled and laughed a little, and told him that was pretty impressive! Then he said, "You know, I have a sweetheart now..."
I smiled, told him that was wonderful and I congratulated him.
Then he walked back out, got in his black Dodge Durango, and took off....


Back to the original day that he bought my furniture....that was on a Tuesday, and the regular day that I was to go see my mom, and have gone to see her for 10 years now. Back then, she was in good health, and we'd usually go shopping for a couple of hours, then go for a late lunch, I'd take her to her house, and we'd visit a little more before I drove back home. That day, when I got to her house, I told her the story about a strange man trying to pick me up in the GoodWill, and we got great laughs and giggles out of that for months to come!
It became sort of a running joke between us that if I ever wanted a date, I just need to go to the Goodwill Store and find a man.

Ooooohhhhh, the FUN times of LIFE!

[mobilehomer]

He'll be cheap. And possibly not worn out. I have bought some fairly new stuff there.

[Firewalker]

I have been reminded many, many times that God works is STRANGE ways.... What a great thing to have been able to meet this guy time time after time and get such a chuckle about the whole thing.

[lizzie]

He'll be cheap. And possibly not worn out. I have bought some fairly new stuff there.

HAHAHAHAHAH! That's GOOD!

[lizzie]

I have been reminded many, many times that God works is STRANGE ways.... What a great thing to have been able to meet this guy time time after time and get such a chuckle about the whole thing.

You may (or may not) know just how RIGHT you are! lol

[Gone Fishing]

Good post +1

[lizzie]

Thanks LT!

[Firewalker]

I have been reminded many, many times that God works is STRANGE ways.... What a great thing to have been able to meet this guy time time after time and get such a chuckle about the whole thing.

You may (or may not) know just how RIGHT you are! lol

I do...

[JuryRigger]

A cool story, brought a smile to me reading it. 
The stroke may have changed his memories; but it sure didn't change his opinion of you, LOL
Thanks for sharing,
Jesse

[Gone Fishing]

You know it is a solid story when all you can do is +1 it and say nothing...

Well now I am saying something but you know what I mean.

[lizzie]

A cool story, brought a smile to me reading it. 
The stroke may have changed his memories; but it sure didn't change his opinion of you, LOL
Thanks for sharing,
Jesse

Yes! And that was one of the things that was so funny- the stroke. He didn't remember that he'd ever met me, but he knew that he wanted to go out with me. LOL
Thanks!

[lizzie]

You know it is a solid story when all you can do is +1 it and say nothing...

Well now I am saying something but you know what I mean.

Yes, I do, and I appreciate those very kind words.

[mrbulk]

A cool story, brought a smile to me reading it. 
The stroke may have changed his memories; but it sure didn't change his opinion of you, LOL
Thanks for sharing,
Jesse

Yes! And that was one of the things that was so funny- the stroke. He didn't remember that he'd ever met me, but he knew that he wanted to go out with me. LOL
Thanks!

A mild stroke might take some of the guy’s memories away but you know what Liz? A hottie is always a hottie!😅

[lizzie]

Lol 😆
Thanks Charlie!

[ShawninIL]

Who could forget such a lovely lady 

[Sfttailrdr46]

Liz I can understand why he kept trying to get you to go for coffee. I'm also glad that he was able to bring a smile to your face. Our little visit was one of the high points on my social calendar during my road trip.

[lizzie]

Who could forget such a lovely lady 

Awwww...thank you Shawn!

[lizzie]

Liz I can understand why he kept trying to get you to go for coffee. I'm also glad that he was able to bring a smile to your face. Our little visit was one of the high points on my social calendar during my road trip.

I had a GREAT time! Hopefully, you'll make another trip one day.

[35 shooter]

Great story... better watch though, walking back in to tell you he had a “sweetheart” now could be just a stab at making you jealous lol.
Maybe thinking you’ll give in and go out with him next time you see him... gotta think outside the box sometimes lol.

[lizzie]

Great story... better watch though, walking back in to tell you he had a “sweetheart” now could be just a stab at making you jealous lol.
Maybe thinking you’ll give in and go out with him next time you see him... gotta think outside the box sometimes lol.

LOL- I hadn't thought of it from that angle!
That is FUNNY!
If I run into him again, I'll be sure to update this thread.