Rons Rants

A Blog Is A Self-Inflicted Invasion Of Privacy

Name:
Location: Newland, North Carolina, United States

I'm a fifty two year old happily married man who doesn't really like many people which is why I live on the top of a mountain.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

The Story Of My Wife...Part Two.

Well, I’ve gotta tell you. Michelle really IS trying to kill me with all this yard work crap. Quite frankly, I literally DESPISE yard work. I cannot for the life of me tell the difference between a plant and a friggin’ weed as evidenced by the fact that just today I mowed down two grape vines that Michelle planted last week.

In typical Michelle fashion, she just laughed and informed me that she would simply buy two more plants to replace them.

And she will.

In the past week, I have set up an infuriating greenhouse she bought online, purchased, lifted twice and spread forty bags of store bought dirt/Black Cow and a pick up truck full of genuine horse manure. Oh yeah, I’ve also assisted her in creating a strawberry patch and mowed three and half acres of grass!

Fact is….I’m friggin’ TIRED!

Okay…back to the tale.

The night I first met Michelle ended quickly because she couldn’t stay out late that night (or any OTHER night as I later found). She had a twelve year old daughter at home and almost never went out but, when she did go out, she was always home by twelve o’clock.

We hit it off immediately but, much to my shame, once I realized that she wasn’t a typical ‘party’ girl…I sort of shied away from getting to know her better. Honestly, I wasn’t ready to get into a ‘relationship’ at the time but, more importantly, I wasn’t ready for a ‘good woman’. At the time, I was into partying, having a good time and wanted nothing to do with a woman who would ‘take me away’ from my self absorbed lifestyle.

The fact is however that I KNEW beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was in love with her almost from the moment we met but…I wasn’t ready to give up my so-called ‘life’.

We saw each other a few times and I even met her daughter. We laugh about it now but I must admit that I absolutely DESPISED her daughter! Turns out….I was right! Her daughter was and IS a spoiled rotten, self absorbed, STRANGE young woman. NOTHING like her Mom but a LOT like her father.

To make a long story short, I was confused. In my heart, I KNEW that Michelle was the woman of my dreams and that I loved her but I kept pushing her away. I would make plans with her and then cancel them claiming business issues. I would draw her close and then distance myself. Don’t get me wrong….Michelle was very understanding the first couple of times that I pulled this crap but she quickly put a stop to it!

I’ll never forget the night that I told her that ‘something had come up’ and that I needed to back away from a commitment to her.

She obviously had put up with all she intended to.

As I walked her to her car, she turned and faced me. She had tears in her eyes as she looked at me.

“Ron….this is your last chance with me. I KNOW you love me and I’m certain that I love you but you’ve got to decide what you want.” She said quietly. “I love you but I don’t love the way you live or the things you do. You’re better than the way you’re living but…it’s your life. Live it the way you want to but don’t expect me to be a part of it. You obviously don't have time for me in your life so....have a nice life.”

I remember KNOWING what I SHOULD have said and done but….like a moron….I let the opportunity pass.

I can recall the moment with perfect clarity.

Damn it….this little woman was going to ruin my life! How could I possibly have a good time with a Christian woman who knew NOTHING about having fun? Besides…..her kid was a little asshole!

I told her that I just wasn’t ready to ‘settle down’ but that I didn’t want to lose her.

To her credit, being the class act that she is….she looked at me as she got into her car. After she shut the door, lowered her window and started the car, she smiled and looked up at me.

“Well…I hope you’ll be happy.” She said.

She drove off without another word.

To be honest, at the time I relieved that it was over before it really got started but I also felt incredibly sad.

Here’s the strange part.

Shortly after we stopped seeing each other, I showed up at a charity garage sale at the home of a local businessman who was an acquaintance of mine. Unbeknownst to me, Michelle was helping with the sale.

She didn’t see me at first because she was busy talking to someone who was looking to buy something.

I eventually got to speak to her for a moment and it was a tad bit uncomfortable for both of us but she was very pleasant.

It would be the last time I saw her for almost seven years!

Over time, I changed my wicked ways and was living a much more sedate life with my dog Barney. Occasionally, I would hear news of her from friends but, we never seemed to run into each other until August of 2000.

I had just gotten out of my car and was heading into the Banner Elk post office when I looked up and there she was. She was leaving the post office and looking through a stack of mail when she looked up and saw me.

I had heard that she had gotten married a few years back to a guy I knew in passing so, when our eyes met and she smiled, I groped for something to say.

“Hey girl…..I haven’t seen you in ages!” I grinned and we exchanged a polite, friendly hug. “I heard you got married. How are ya’ll doing?”

She laughed and made a face as though she had tasted something really bad.

“We’re not ‘doing’ at all.” She offered. “We’re divorced.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that but I couldn’t help but being happy that she was no longer married and of course....I couldn't help but notice how gorgeous she looked standing there in a flowery sun dress so…I just said what came to mind.

“Are you seeing anyone now?” I asked sheepishly.

“No.” she answered but she gave me no indication as to what I should say next so…..I dove in.

“Would you like to?” I flashed my best smile at her.

Without missing a beat she smiled and answered.

“Sure.”

I was so relieved that she didn’t shoot me down that can barely remember what happened next but I DO remember getting her phone number and promising to call her later that evening and we’d set up the date.

She gave me cute grin.

“Oh boy….that sounds like the old Ron.”

I felt like a total jerk.

“Ouch….that hit home but I promise that if I don’t call you tonight it will mean that I’m dead.” I swore.

We hugged again and parted and I can still remember walking on air for the remainder of the day.

Our conversation that evening lasted a couple of hours as we brought each other up to date on our lives and we set the date for the following night.

We’ve been together every day since that date.

To Be Continued….I can’t wait to tell ya’ll about how fantastic this woman and our marriage has been.

She’s quite a remarkable woman!


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