“No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune.”
~Plutarch
Each of us is the sum of an infinity of thinly sliced seconds, where each one matters, at least to some degree. How could we ever hope to pinpoint that decisive second when things forever changed; the instant the axis of our world shifted and began to orbit in a different direction?
It might be difficult, but can be done. Tally your life, take it apart, and turn a seemingly impossible task to tremendously simple.
I know the moment my life took its first step down an aisle it would never leave. I ponder it often.
I pay no mind to the property values of my neighbors or the car I drive. My family, living, and piece of mind, these are what give my rapture breath. None would exist without the assembly of moments from this most remembered day.
I was working in a flower shop with my family on the day my life moved from middling to merit mounting. Our shop lay at the lip of a city I’d scarcely left. A stranger, a petite lady with eyes like chocolate almonds, had moved to town the previous year. She had been shopping amongst our flowers for maybe a month.
Every time she passed our vibrant displays and rounded the corner to enter our doors, I’d abandon my knife, rush my phone call, or attend to some trifle that could have easily waited, had it not been in her vicinity.
Our store was in prep until ten, but she always showed up about a half hour early. “Do you mind if I buy a few things that are already put together?”
She also knew precisely what to ask.
“Of course not,” I’d say, the words always falling behind a smile.
It was my job to keep the early birds away, but she spent enough for me to slither through rules without consequence.
Her visits grew earlier and her totals kept climbing.
I was helping her to the car on a beautiful October day, a fraction less than a month after our eyes first locked. My arms saddled with blossoms, I saw her sashay to her space from behind a bundle of fully bloomed roses.
I blushed, squeezed by, then laid the blooms across the passenger seat of her red (orange) pickup, Texas plates in a California lot. I arranged the bunches then turned to face her. Her enormous coco pupils pulled my hazel ones toward them, like ore to magnet.
I cannot recall the length of this moment, only that a single bird sang and that the perfect note felt like an epiphany.
She slipped something between my fingers. “I’m going to go broke if I keep doing it this way,” she said. Words flew from her mouth as though escaping. “Call me sometime, and we could talk longer, over a cup of coffee.”
Still in the dusty aftermath of my previous liaison, I said, “I’m just at the end of a relationship. I’m flattered, really, but I don’t think I’m ready.”
She said something then that only clinical dementia could ever steal. “Life’s too short to be unhappy. Think about it, then call me.”
All fifteen syllables sounded like a smile.
I did call, though two weeks drifted from the calendar. I wasn’t playing games, only intimidated by the strength of our obvious and unexpected bond. I found my fortitude and made up for my missing days.
I picked up the phone around 9:30 on a Friday night, the first week of November. We talked until the sun was almost a promised fulfilled.
Monday, she left on business, but her absence did nothing to dim our exchange. Each day after work, we exchanged words across a land line until far past midnight, each minute driving an already expensive hotel phone bill closer toward outrageous.
It was worth every single copper faced Lincoln.
She tore into town that next Friday, not even stopping to change. We met at a Mexican restaurant in the same center as the flower shop.
That long week was prologue to my present day; a now that can be easily traced to a single moment.
The house we live in was agreed on in twilight as the two of us held hands. A boy and a girl wait for stories each night at bedtime, snug in the cradle of my lap. They were baked in her oven from our special recipe. Our living is made in tandem, because she is yin to my yang and we’ve found ourselves happiest with the fewest possible pauses in conversation.
Our most intimate moments together would have never happened without her strolling into the store, slipping me her card, or telling me life’s too short to spend it even a sliver less than happy.
I often ponder the sliding doors of my life, and all those trails never taken. Which crossroads would have dropped me somewhere else on the day my fate was delivered?
It is impossible to know.
What I do know is that I wouldn’t trade my fate for affluence beyond imagination. There is no other life, be it prince or king, that I’d exchange for mine. I already live a life of abundance and can draw a time line and place my pointer on the precise moment that brought it to me.
Writer Dad
Writer Dad can write as beautifully for you. Click here to hire the best ghostwriter on the net.
About Sean Platt
A beautiful story. It covered me in goosebumps as I remember how I’d go out of my way to be near to the object of my heart’s desire, on the flimsiest pretence of having a legitimate reason to be there. She always knew.
A wonderful gift to us on a Sunday WD. Thank you.
Dave Fowlers last blog post..The Crack Of Dawn
A beautiful story. It covered me in goosebumps as I remember how I’d go out of my way to be near to the object of my heart’s desire, on the flimsiest pretence of having a legitimate reason to be there. She always knew.
A wonderful gift to us on a Sunday WD. Thank you.
Dave Fowlers last blog post..The Crack Of Dawn
I’m speechless.
Quoting Plutarch, I prepared myself for a philosphical read. I then saw your verbiage shift to metaphors of scents and shapes and sizes. It wasn’t until the reference to clinical dementia did I realize you’re talking about your wife and the moment when excitement turned into ecstasy.
Will we see Writer Mom add her side of the story?
I’m speechless.
Quoting Plutarch, I prepared myself for a philosphical read. I then saw your verbiage shift to metaphors of scents and shapes and sizes. It wasn’t until the reference to clinical dementia did I realize you’re talking about your wife and the moment when excitement turned into ecstasy.
Will we see Writer Mom add her side of the story?
What a beautiful and wonderful story, Sean. The “moments” of our life…that brings to where we are today… What a great story of hope and belief – in the amazing lives we all live!
Lances last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
What a beautiful and wonderful story, Sean. The “moments” of our life…that brings to where we are today… What a great story of hope and belief – in the amazing lives we all live!
Lances last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
I want to tell everyone to come read your story! To come read your words…how you use them to tell a story compels anyone to want to keep reading to see what journey you’re taking us on. Please, keep writng! I want to hear more! Thank you for sharing this story.
And thanks Ari Herzog for posting a tweet about it on Twitter so I could find the link here.
At first, I was just excited to find such a nicely laid out blog with such a cool graphic as a headline. I’m so glad I came back to discover you’re much more than a blog I need to get design ideas from. I feel lame for not noticing the content 1st. But that is YOUR fault. : ) You do everything well.
I introduce people all the time. It’s what happens when it works out that makes life go ’round. I recently wrote someone and asked if we were having coffee in 2009, since we’d not gone yet! Your wife is right. I like her already. You do only live once.
Happy holidays to you and all the readers lucky enough to read your story.
Roseann from Phoenix (reading this at 2:52 am in San Diego) That was the perfect bedtime story.
I want to tell everyone to come read your story! To come read your words…how you use them to tell a story compels anyone to want to keep reading to see what journey you’re taking us on. Please, keep writng! I want to hear more! Thank you for sharing this story.
And thanks Ari Herzog for posting a tweet about it on Twitter so I could find the link here.
At first, I was just excited to find such a nicely laid out blog with such a cool graphic as a headline. I’m so glad I came back to discover you’re much more than a blog I need to get design ideas from. I feel lame for not noticing the content 1st. But that is YOUR fault. : ) You do everything well.
I introduce people all the time. It’s what happens when it works out that makes life go ’round. I recently wrote someone and asked if we were having coffee in 2009, since we’d not gone yet! Your wife is right. I like her already. You do only live once.
Happy holidays to you and all the readers lucky enough to read your story.
Roseann from Phoenix (reading this at 2:52 am in San Diego) That was the perfect bedtime story.
One of your best, Sean. Just lovely!
Julies last blog post..The Smile
One of your best, Sean. Just lovely!
Julies last blog post..The Smile
Absolutely your best Sean. Beautiful, I read it with chills.
And what a treat to find this Sunday gem in my reader.
Emily@remodelingthislifes last blog post..A Mug of Hot Chocolate Cake
Absolutely your best Sean. Beautiful, I read it with chills.
And what a treat to find this Sunday gem in my reader.
Emily@remodelingthislifes last blog post..A Mug of Hot Chocolate Cake
Sean,
What a wonderful and intimate story, so full of romance and love. But…the message is most important and I love it.
Life is too short to be unhappy.
I totally agree!
Sean,
What a wonderful and intimate story, so full of romance and love. But…the message is most important and I love it.
Life is too short to be unhappy.
I totally agree!
Oh. My. God. This is the most romantic thing EVER. I can’t tell from the story if this is your wife or not, but I am just going to pretend that it is. This is absolutely beautiful.
Hayden Tompkinss last blog post..How to Stop Living in Fear
Oh. My. God. This is the most romantic thing EVER. I can’t tell from the story if this is your wife or not, but I am just going to pretend that it is. This is absolutely beautiful.
Hayden Tompkinss last blog post..How to Stop Living in Fear
Resplendent. Romantic. Resonant.
Indeed, life is too short to waste one second unhappy.
This story swept me back to the time where miles melted away with each phone call and longing to be together intensified. I just went and planted a big kiss on him! Thank you for reminding us of our true wealth.
Resplendent. Romantic. Resonant.
Indeed, life is too short to waste one second unhappy.
This story swept me back to the time where miles melted away with each phone call and longing to be together intensified. I just went and planted a big kiss on him! Thank you for reminding us of our true wealth.
Your words poetically and powerfully frame a wonderful relationship! Ain’t love grand? … to feel your heart dance and sing to the music of another’s touch, words, or smile?
We are both blessed to find our soul mate, kindred spirit, and best friend — you in your wife, and me in my husband of 15 years. It’s nice to know another couple is tripping the light fantastic to the music of love.
SpaceAgeSage — Loris last blog post..Rising
Your words poetically and powerfully frame a wonderful relationship! Ain’t love grand? … to feel your heart dance and sing to the music of another’s touch, words, or smile?
We are both blessed to find our soul mate, kindred spirit, and best friend — you in your wife, and me in my husband of 15 years. It’s nice to know another couple is tripping the light fantastic to the music of love.
SpaceAgeSage — Loris last blog post..Rising
Wow, Sean! What a wonderful and delightful story to read on a Sunday afternoon. Thanks for sharing the moment your life went from good to great! Your heart was certainly pouring over these words. Eric.
Eric Hamms last blog post..Let Us Give Your Blog A Boost!
Wow, Sean! What a wonderful and delightful story to read on a Sunday afternoon. Thanks for sharing the moment your life went from good to great! Your heart was certainly pouring over these words. Eric.
Eric Hamms last blog post..Let Us Give Your Blog A Boost!
This is SO sweet and wonderful. It’s by FAR the best thing you’ve ever written.
Well, except for this: “They were baked in her oven from our special recipe.” That made me throw up in my mouth a little and then renew my vow to never have children (which naturally makes you lose perspective on the pukeyness of parental fawning).
Also, what are you doing here on a Sunday? Is today the anniversary of your el torito tryst? Did you know it’s mine and matthew’s anniversary today? 8 years since our first date! We’re going adventuring in Ventura to celebrate.
kittytowns last blog post..Megan vs. Red and White part 2: The battle of dorkiness grows epic
This is SO sweet and wonderful. It’s by FAR the best thing you’ve ever written.
Well, except for this: “They were baked in her oven from our special recipe.” That made me throw up in my mouth a little and then renew my vow to never have children (which naturally makes you lose perspective on the pukeyness of parental fawning).
Also, what are you doing here on a Sunday? Is today the anniversary of your el torito tryst? Did you know it’s mine and matthew’s anniversary today? 8 years since our first date! We’re going adventuring in Ventura to celebrate.
kittytowns last blog post..Megan vs. Red and White part 2: The battle of dorkiness grows epic
What a beautiful story. You are a perfect match for each other and your writing illustrates your beginning so romantically.
What a beautiful story. You are a perfect match for each other and your writing illustrates your beginning so romantically.
Sean,
You must be careful, lest your words have an entirely unexpected and negitive result. Almost everything you’ve written has encouraged me, as an amateur wordsmith at best, to write more and improve my craft, but today’s post caused me to recoil as if hit squarely across the brow with an old, nail-studded 2×4 and in a moment of intellectual profunditiy I uttered a heartfelt emotional exclamation that sounded something like this…
Damn…I quit.
I’ll never be anywhere close to that good. :-)
Sean,
You must be careful, lest your words have an entirely unexpected and negitive result. Almost everything you’ve written has encouraged me, as an amateur wordsmith at best, to write more and improve my craft, but today’s post caused me to recoil as if hit squarely across the brow with an old, nail-studded 2×4 and in a moment of intellectual profunditiy I uttered a heartfelt emotional exclamation that sounded something like this…
Damn…I quit.
I’ll never be anywhere close to that good. :-)
Someone needs to take your story to the ‘big people with power.’ Are you ready for that kind of success? Because that’s where this kind of writing will take you. 2 messages between all of the lovely words stand out. 1. Ask for what you want! (like your wife did) 2. Stop comparing your life to others and appreciate what you have! Write on…Tess
Tesss last blog post..10 Ways To Embrace Change For 2009
Someone needs to take your story to the ‘big people with power.’ Are you ready for that kind of success? Because that’s where this kind of writing will take you. 2 messages between all of the lovely words stand out. 1. Ask for what you want! (like your wife did) 2. Stop comparing your life to others and appreciate what you have! Write on…Tess
Tesss last blog post..10 Ways To Embrace Change For 2009
Hi Sean,
Ok, I am guilty of being that guy who reads but never comments. This story got me though. It kept drawing me deeper and deeper in. And even being a guy, it still tugged on my heartstrings. It so beautifully illustrates that raw attraction between two people that is totally unexplainable. Ill be sure to send this around!
Cheers,
Jeremy
Jeremy Days last blog post..The Eclectic Mix
Hi Sean,
Ok, I am guilty of being that guy who reads but never comments. This story got me though. It kept drawing me deeper and deeper in. And even being a guy, it still tugged on my heartstrings. It so beautifully illustrates that raw attraction between two people that is totally unexplainable. Ill be sure to send this around!
Cheers,
Jeremy
Jeremy Days last blog post..The Eclectic Mix
Simply lovely, Sean. First the guest post on the Art of Manliness and now this. Your heartstrings are playing the sweetest songs, lately. They are paeans to your full cup of happiness.
Betsy Wuebker – Passing Thrus last blog post..ENDANGERED SPECIES: THE FULFILLED CAMPAIGN PROMISE
Simply lovely, Sean. First the guest post on the Art of Manliness and now this. Your heartstrings are playing the sweetest songs, lately. They are paeans to your full cup of happiness.
Betsy Wuebker – Passing Thrus last blog post..ENDANGERED SPECIES: THE FULFILLED CAMPAIGN PROMISE
You’re such a girl. :)
Seriously, though, one of your best. Very romantic. You should print this out and hand it to your wife whenever you do something to tick her off.
Blogger Dads last blog post..The story garden part 2: Building a mystery
You’re such a girl. :)
Seriously, though, one of your best. Very romantic. You should print this out and hand it to your wife whenever you do something to tick her off.
Blogger Dads last blog post..The story garden part 2: Building a mystery
Don’t listen to Blogger Dad calling you a girl, he’s a big Jessy too!
Such a sweet story and so lovely to hear a man wax lyrial about the day he met his true love (who I am assuming is your wife!).
Tara@Sticky Fingerss last blog post..Urgent note to Mr Claus
Don’t listen to Blogger Dad calling you a girl, he’s a big Jessy too!
Such a sweet story and so lovely to hear a man wax lyrial about the day he met his true love (who I am assuming is your wife!).
Tara@Sticky Fingerss last blog post..Urgent note to Mr Claus
This is so heartfelt, beautiful, and sincere – not to mention romantic! You deserve an award for this one!
Micheles last blog post..Help Naomi Dunford Fight Domestic Violence
This is so heartfelt, beautiful, and sincere – not to mention romantic! You deserve an award for this one!
Micheles last blog post..Help Naomi Dunford Fight Domestic Violence
I think it’s time to pull the “stud” card again. I never had a girl (woman) give me her phone number. Smoooth. :)
Turf Dads last blog post..Wednesday Weigh In, The Plan
I think it’s time to pull the “stud” card again. I never had a girl (woman) give me her phone number. Smoooth. :)
Turf Dads last blog post..Wednesday Weigh In, The Plan
So lovely, both the tale and the telling.
One might spend ages looking back, wondering what might have been, but then one would miss what is happening now, here, in this moment. To be present in your moments is one of the finest of human feats.
Life IS too short to be unhappy – a smart woman with a sound philosophy, your Daisy. Even sorrow is an opportunity for joy; live with the weight of depression bearing down on you long enough, you find it – the iris blooming in the muck.
Again, lovely. Thanks!
Shade and Sweetwater,
K
Kyddryns last blog post..What Say You?
So lovely, both the tale and the telling.
One might spend ages looking back, wondering what might have been, but then one would miss what is happening now, here, in this moment. To be present in your moments is one of the finest of human feats.
Life IS too short to be unhappy – a smart woman with a sound philosophy, your Daisy. Even sorrow is an opportunity for joy; live with the weight of depression bearing down on you long enough, you find it – the iris blooming in the muck.
Again, lovely. Thanks!
Shade and Sweetwater,
K
Kyddryns last blog post..What Say You?
Bravo!
LOL @ KittyTown, I had similar thoughts. :D
Jamie Simmermans last blog post..Crystal Clear Comunication
Bravo!
LOL @ KittyTown, I had similar thoughts. :D
Jamie Simmermans last blog post..Crystal Clear Comunication
What a beautiful and romantic story — your writing is simply superb!
As SpaceAgeSage Lori said so well — isn’t it great to know you’ve found your soul mate? Jeff and I are now married 24 years . . . and I gave him my business card, too, to encourage him to call on the day I thought he might be a special someone in my life! He told me (much later on) that no girl had ever given him her business card before — and that it so impressed him! (giggles) I still get all dreamy-eyed when I think of those times when we’d spend hours on the phone at night too and wake up thrashed in the morning for work.
OK, gotta get ready for a Sunday night date with my honey! Thanks for the uplifting story, and reminding me of some of my fondest memories in my life, Sean!
Linda Abbits last blog post..Funny Fridays: Because It’s Better to Laugh than to Cry!
What a beautiful and romantic story — your writing is simply superb!
As SpaceAgeSage Lori said so well — isn’t it great to know you’ve found your soul mate? Jeff and I are now married 24 years . . . and I gave him my business card, too, to encourage him to call on the day I thought he might be a special someone in my life! He told me (much later on) that no girl had ever given him her business card before — and that it so impressed him! (giggles) I still get all dreamy-eyed when I think of those times when we’d spend hours on the phone at night too and wake up thrashed in the morning for work.
OK, gotta get ready for a Sunday night date with my honey! Thanks for the uplifting story, and reminding me of some of my fondest memories in my life, Sean!
Linda Abbits last blog post..Funny Fridays: Because It’s Better to Laugh than to Cry!
Your gift is beautifully unwrapped in this story Sean. Your words ……ahhhh…..they touch my heart and make me want to go back to that moment in my life, the precise moment on my timeline where my life changed. Protect what you have. It is a beautiful thing. Here is wishing that your life continues with such a sweet harmony of music between you and your lovely bride.
Your gift is beautifully unwrapped in this story Sean. Your words ……ahhhh…..they touch my heart and make me want to go back to that moment in my life, the precise moment on my timeline where my life changed. Protect what you have. It is a beautiful thing. Here is wishing that your life continues with such a sweet harmony of music between you and your lovely bride.