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Originally posted on fourth generation farmgirl:
I’d like to start with the fact that I don’t normally get emotionally involved or gush over dessert. Yes. I enjoy decadent treats in moderation: a piece of Victoria sponge or chocolate cake on…
If you want to begin at the beginning, click here.
Alan was feeling a little unsettled after the last time he saw the mystery girl, like he had forgotten something and it was just at the edge of his consciousness. He was vaguely aware he had dreamed about the campfire night when he had first noticed her. He couldn’t remember any details of course but seeing her in the ski boat, and then singing in the car had reinforced his desire to actually talk to her.
Mary was surprised with herself. Not that long ago, she had broken up with her boyfriend, what had seemed heartbreaking two weeks ago had faded into meaninglessness when she noticed she was being noticed at the campfire.
She had even daydreamed about the stranger, which gave her a small smile.
Every city of any size has a “Classic Radio” channel in which the soul and rock and roll hits of the 60’s and 70’s dominate. No Wolf-man Jack (click to learn more) on the radio, but the songs and the lyrics were to Alan and Mary (albeit unknowingly to each other) a common interest they shared.
But that changed on Saturday, the unknowing part.
Saturday both Alan and Mary were enjoying the day off, separately of course. Along the lake was a walkway, benches and parking spots ideal for looking up the lake while singing along with classic songs and people watching.
Mary parked her gold Chevy along the lake and took no notice of the cars on either side of her. She was thinking about her decaf non-fat latte and rolling down her windows to enjoy the lake breeze. Of course, she turned on the classic radio station to enjoy.
Alan returned to his car, parked beside Mary’s gold Chevy, mainly concentrating on his ice cold water and the smell of buttery popcorn. He didn’t want butter stains on the seats. Windows down, he turned on the classic radio station to enjoy along with the lake view.
Music filled the air in Alan’s Honda, and Mary’s Chevy; the exact same music and song. Drift Away (Dobie Gray)
Day after day I’m more confused
Yet I look for the light in the pouring rain
You know that’s a game that I hate to lose
I’m feelin’ the strain, ain’t it a shame
Drift Away (Dobie Gray) – Alan and Mary’s ideal song for singing along with, especially on beautiful day, along the lake.
Ideal to sing along with. Ideal to meet someone also just standing there.
Singing along to the song, Alan gazed to his right at precisely the same moment that Mary (also singing along to the song) gazed to her left.
Oh, give me the beat boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll and drift awayBeginning to think that I’m wastin’ time
I don’t understand the things I do
The world outside looks so unkind
So I’m countin’ on you to carry me throughOh, give me the beat boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll and drift awayGive me the beat boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll and drift awayAnd when my mind is free
You know a melody can move me
Instantly they recognized that they were singing the same song, and both faces lit up with warm bright smiles.
The exact same thought springs to their minds – Now they have to meet!
This is part two, see part one by clicking here.
twice as nice
In the movies, couples destined to be together have no obstacles, but real life wasn’t that way, or at least not for Alan and Mary.
After that first glance, Alan stood there in the flickering campfire light, still looking at Mary; the campfire light flickered and her face was lit up, and he thought to himself “She has warm, eyes and a face used to laughing“. He didn’t want to stare in case she caught him and thought he was some creep, so he deliberately and reluctantly looked away.
Of course, Mary had noticed Alan, but didn’t know who he was. Not bold enough to approach him, she left the campfire to find one of her girlfriends, and possibly learn more and discreetly. Alan lost her in the darkness and then had to leave, because he had come with a ride. He was feeling a little frustrated and helpless.
Mary couldn’t find anyone who knew the stranger (Alan), and had just worked up the courage to find him and introduce herself and then learned he was gone. She felt a little frustrated just standing there.
Neither of them knew when their paths would cross again, or if they would. In the movies the viewer would anticipate their next meeting but for the real Alan and Mary, they had no idea, but neither was there regret. Mostly a sense of wondering, “I wonder if…”
But destiny would cause their paths to almost cross two more times in the next seven days.
The first time was on Tuesday. It was hot, so Alan went down to find a breeze on his noon break. Alan was standing along the river the very next day, and Mary zoomed by him sitting in a ski boat just 20 yards away. Alan noticed her big smile, and a white swimsuit.
Alan recognized her, and wanted to wave but realized he was a stranger. Mary recognized him and even partially raised her arm to wave, but stopped herself, consoling herself by beaming a big smile at him from under her sunglasses. Alan was stunned, stunned and pleased but she was gone before he could react. Mary looked back and wondered again who he was, and this time she wondered if he was taken.
The second time was Friday and Mary was driving, and as usual had just enough time to get to work, maybe. Alan saw her and he was on the sidewalk, she was waiting for the light to change in the center lane. Mary was listening to the radio, loudly and singing along with a huge smile.
Alan could see her singing and his face lit up in a grin. He found himself wondering about her voice but already knew he had something in common with her – he sang along with the radio precisely like she did.
Then she was gone and he was stuck just standing there.
But now he was smiling, and he was even more a believer.
Idly, he wondered why he was smiling when he hadn’t even spoken to her yet.
I thought love was only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me
Love was out to get me
That’s the way it seemed. _ I’m a Believer (The Monkees)
If you want to jump to part 3 of this story, click here
Thanks to reader encouragement, I’ve added another installment of this story. I hope you like it. 🙂
Photos are from the internet but I don’t know whom to credit for the Lifesavers, or Kermit ones
Originally posted on Life and Random Thinking:
When I was a young tyke, my family lived in a small town, Quesnel, BC. It seems a kind of Mayberry and that would make me Opie I suppose. (are you whistling the…
I am happy to reblog one of my posts from six years ago, I hope you enjoy it and comment. 🤗🌻😁
Sand dollar in Parksville
I really enjoy this video which hits the nail, pardon me, is right on target on explaining what happens sometimes when guys try to listen.
Okay, I don’t have any authority to speak for 2.5 billion guys, I got it. Speaking only for myself, I like to fix problems, especially if I consider it my job.
My job is to fix, lift, tote, fetch, carry, open, close, pull, replace, cover, empty, fill, wash, replace, cook, wash, and other related duties.
Ladies, do you want us to listen or fix? Since you must know we like to fix, maybe you should talk to someone who just wants to listen when you don’t want us to act? Or, I say this only in fun, just talk to us when we are watching sports, because then we can say “uh huh, and uh huh” and everyone is happy.
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Allan wasn’t old enough to really complain of a broken heart. He wasn’t feeling hopeless, and he had happy memories with the girlfriends he had had. The funk he was feeling possibly was because he was a romantic and expected to find his “always and forever” effortlessly.
Allan wasn’t even really that sad after the first 24 hours of his breakups. First of all he knew he was young and second he was a natural optimist. The tears were out of his system, he mentally shook like a wet dog and promised not to look back….. at least until tomorrow.
Allan just decided to stop looking for the right girl, instead he would just relax, enjoy life and the summer that remained.
Sadness couldn’t linger either with Mary, she was a healthy young woman and being outdoors in fresh air wearing her jeans naturally made her reject blue thoughts with every breath she drank in.
Mary lived minutes from pine trees and camp fires just north of her city. Her car was old, but dependable and when she filled it up with campfire essentials like marshmallows and firewood, she needn’t worry about scratches. Tonight was going to a night to relax with friends, some fun.
Old jeans, snacks, matches and cold water – she looked forward to building a fire with her group of friends and watching the sparks float up as the night settled.
But she wasn’t looking for anyone special, certainly not someone just standing there.
Part of Allan’s plan to enjoy life included making new friends, and it had been awhile since he had done just that.
Today he said yes to joining a new friend for a loose gathering around a campfire, music and gazing into embers.
No expectations except introducing himself to a new group.
skaha lake again
Little did he know that he would meet that night, not only a young woman who looked great in jeans, but also the woman he would grow to love, and he would grow old with.
But there she was, just standing there.
I thought love was only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me
Love was out to get me
That’s the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all of my dreamsThen I saw her face, now I’m a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I’m in love
I’m a believer, I couldn’t leave her if I triedI thought love was more or less a giving thing
Seems the more I gave the less I got
What’s the use in tryin’
All you get is pain?
When I needed sunshine, I got rainThen I saw her face, now I’m a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I’m in love
I’m a believer, I couldn’t leave her if I tried – musical link here I’m a believer (The Monkees)
But you aren’t a fan of the 1966 hit of The Monkees – you might like this link instead for the Beatles.
Thanks for reading and I appreciate your comments especially. I started off this post originally thinking of the song, I saw her standing there by the FAB FOUR. I decided not because of the lyrics about dancing. When I met the gal I married, it was at a campsite and I saw her standing there.
Once I met her, I was smitten. Six months after that first date on August 6th we were married, and it’ll be 40 years this August 6th.
YOU can jump to the next chapter by clicking here.
Life and Random Thinking 