On this very day two years ago, I became a believer.
I agreed to host a Make A Wish actual wish party, which I had never done before. I was feeling a little anxious about what the hell I supposed to do, but had such a connection with this particular Wish kid that I really wanted to be there as his wish came true. He was a teenager and asked for an electronics room make over. The miracle workers at MAW hooked this kid up! They re designed his entire basement complete with gigantic tv, surround sound, gaming chairs, the works. He was so grateful and throughout the entire process seemed as if he just couldn't understand why he had gotten to lucky. The grand finale of the wish took place as a party at Game Stop in the mall, where he would be given every gaming system they make and $500 to spend, spend, spend. I arrived early with balloons, cake, etc and found that both the local paper and television reports were there to cover the event. The newspaper reporter was nice enough, kinda dopey, and full of questions. Behind her I couldn't help but notice a handsome young photographer that seemed to be unable to take his eyes off of me (in a weird sort of taking-notes-in-his-mind sort of way). Unable to take the reporter seriously, I began to take notice of the photographer. He was about my age, cleaned up, good looking, wearing dress socks, and a pink shirt. I am from Cheyenne, so I figured that if he actually did live here he had to be either married or...gay. I shrugged him off and figured, probably gay. As the event came to end we all said our good byes and began to go our separate ways. Just as I was leaving the photog decided to speak, he babbled something about how he wasn't even planning on being at the event and how he was covering for a c-worker, he gave me his business card and said that if I knew of any other story ideas to give him a call. I really cannot remember exactly how it went because as his mouth was moving something happened. It was like nothing else I had ever remembered experiencing. Sounds almost made up, but it was as if immediately I knew he was special, different. No clue to this day if it was my heart, or my gut or just my intuition, but I knew that moment was big (for no good reason at the time). I noticed he had written his cell phone number on the back of the card...interesting. Was the handsome gay man hitting on moi?!
I'd be lying if I didn't say he had caught my attention. And just weeks prior after spending new years over a pot of cheese fondue with my pregnant best friend and Dash Michael (which, don't mistake me, was by far one of my fav new years eves EVER) I promised myself that I would start being more open to moving forward with the once-thought-dead aspect of my romantic life. I told my head to try to open my heart just a little and be brave. Having made this semi resolution earlier in the month, the following day I decided to text the looker with the camera, maybe he was interested...maybe just maybe an educated, clean, well dressed, single twenty something did exist in Cheyenne. I know, I thought it was a long shot myself, but I had that weird feeling when we spoke and maybe my heart was trying to tell me he was different. So I listened, I text. Turned out he was not gay and the urban legend of a decent guy in Cheyenne was true. He was friendly in return, but overall it seemed to just stop at that, friendly and flat. Oh well I told myself (and my office mate at work) and went on feeling proud of myself for even trying.
Two weeks later, that heaven sent man sent me a text out of the clear blue sky. He asked me to coffee, I went... and the rest is history :-).
From this very day two years I ago, I learned to believe:
1. in second chances
2. that straight, handsome men sometimes actually choose to wear pink
i love you aaron.
