Ever-Changing Reflection

Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding... It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility.
~ Kahlil Gibran

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Wordful Wednesday: Some people come into our lives...

"... 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:

Unknown said...

beautiful story!!!

Sierra said...

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.

Micaela said...

"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.

Claremont First Ward said...

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. :)

Thao said...

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.

Unknown said...

Oh the glory days... I believe u failed to mention Ihop at 3am after shows... :-)

Anonymous said...

beautiful story