"... and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."
{source unknown)
"D" and me, circa 2006
This picture brings back so many memories. This picture represents a Moment of Win for me. This picture was the start of a different me.
This picture was taken in Newport, RI, during my best friend's bachelorette party. That man with me is "D." He was a vocalist and saxophone player in the band performing that night -- a band that my friends and I discovered that night and fell in love with.
During the first set break, I went up to D, and I told him what I thought of his music. I told him I loved his band, that they were talented, and that I should know because I've seen a lot of bands. I was never a girl to go up to random guys and just start a conversation, but I did that night (and I wasn't drunk). I introduced myself, and he asked what I did. I told him I was a writer -- not what my actual job was. I think this was the first time I described myself that way. He told me that he and the guys in this cover band also had an original band, and he wrote a lot of the music. We bonded over writing. He thought it was really cool that I wrote. And he bought me a drink, which is when I found out that he didn't drink, which struck me as odd. A rock musician who doesn't drink... hmmm...
My friends and I spent the rest of that night having such a good time with this band, and before we left, D gave me his business card and told me to call him.
It took me six months to call him. Because I wasn't sure what that meant when he told me that.
When I finally did call him, he wondered what took me so long, and we hung out. I started hanging out with him a lot, in an undefined relationship. I also hung out with his band (both cover and original) a lot. This man inspired me. He wasn't just a part-time writer/musician with a day job; he THREW himself into his passion, regardless of the fact that meant he struggled to pay rent some months. I longed for his courage, and I allowed him to encourage me to write.
He was also a great listener and friend. He knew when something was bothering me, and he'd listen while I vented. He was always encouraging, and he introduced me to such a different world than I had ever known. He even tried to teach me how to play guitar! I loved when he would play just for me. That was always such a girly dream of mine.
Things ended pretty abruptly with us, but he was never less that kind to me. And, I look fondly back on the person I was back that, the person he brought out of me. I was confident, I was bold, I was creative, I was fun, I was real (in a way), I lived a dream, I learned. And I came out the other side better for it.
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile, like D, and leave footprints on our hearts. And I was never, ever the same.
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7 comments:
beautiful story!!!
Love this story and even though your relationship ended abruptly, you have some amazing memories and how great that he made you a better person. Sounds like a great guy.
"a Moment of Win for me"-- i'm going to remember that AWESOME line.
and what a pretty picture- he has a beautiful smile.
creative souls sharing the best parts of themselves...
thank you for sharing this post.
I am SO, SO, SO glad that you:
1. Stopped by today
and
2. Played along.
I absolutely LOVED reading about D and how he changed your life.
BEAUTIFUL.
Please, please come back. ANd, Polyvore.........looks comfortable and cute. What exactly is polyvore? I think I'll google it. :)
I loved this story, Jennifer. Thanks for taking the time to write it for us! I'm glad you've been able to keep D as a friend.
Oh the glory days... I believe u failed to mention Ihop at 3am after shows... :-)
beautiful story
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