This Happened to Me

I Had The Time of My Life

I could have danced all night

When I met the Love of my Life, there was no fanfare or rousing cascade of music. There were no fireworks. No marching band.

We met at a coffee shop on a blind date. It was an internet date. Please do not judge me. Yes, I had my safe call.

Lee and I hit it off immediately. We ordered coffee and began talking. We had many things in common. Time flew by and soon it was a couple of hours later. I was enjoying myself but I did not want to appear overly eager. I casually suggested it was time for me to go. I was hoping for a second date.

What happened next was unexpected. It was the inevitable good night kiss. The kiss was amazing. I have to tell you that Lee is a very good kisser. That part I expected. The unexpected is how we made out in the parking lot for a long time. A very long and steamy time. Something told me there would be a second date. Lee smiled when he said, “Goodnight.” We both did.

We continued dating for a couple of years before I would allow myself to entertain the notion of a serious commitment. I started thinking about it. Then I ended up in the hospital. More on that story.

It was a beautiful evening in Massachusetts. Snow was on its way. We decided to venture out for a night of music and dancing. The air was crisp and cold but my coat was warm over my mini skirt, my garters, and stockings.

Lee loved me wearing stockings and heels when we were out on a date. He had that glint in his eyes and that smile that I loved. I enjoyed watching the look in his eyes. He told me all I needed to know with that look. It was incredibly sexy and exciting. It would have been smarter to wear sensible shoes that night. Ah, but I was falling head over heels, both literally and physically.

We spent the night dancing and singing along with the band. It was so much fun to enjoy the music. My favorite part was slow dancing, resting my head on Lee’s shoulder, and listening to his breathing. I could feel my pulse quicken when his hand curved around my waist and pulled me closer. We had a wonderful date and headed home as the snow began.

Lee spent the night and I was thankful because of the approaching snowstorm. We woke up to a winter wonderland which quickly changed to torrential rain. It was a nasty day for man and beast.

It was Sunday, March 2, 2003, and I had to work. Lee drove home to his apartment because he had to work the following day. Lee lived thirty miles away. I was worried about him driving in the torrential rain but he agreed to call me when he arrived home safely.

I was a manager at a national restaurant chain. I began there as a waitress and they offered me a managerial position. An offer I could not refuse because of my financial situation. I was a single mom raising my two boys and there were a variety of perks working for this restaurant chain. For the first time, I was working one job instead of three jobs.

I loved the hospitality industry. I had been working in the industry since I was twelve years old. The hospitality industry is an example of where I enjoyed my passion so much that it never felt like work to me.

I began my shift and less than an hour later, I was laying on the kitchen floor writhing in painful agony.

The roof was leaking and the cement floor in the kitchen was wet. I had slipped and fallen. Later in the Emergency Room, I discovered I had shattered my patella on my left knee. At that moment, my life changed completely.

I was laying on the stretcher trying not to cry. The pain was unbearable. All I could think about was one person, Lee. I knew my boys were safe. I only wanted Lee to be with me because I had no idea what was in store for me.

Once I calmed down a bit, I had an epiphany. Lee was the first person I thought about when I was lying there broken. I was in a complete panic and all I wanted was him.

Since Lee was still driving home and did not answer, I called my best friend, Carol. She lived nearby and showed up immediately. She called Lee who had just arrived home. He barely had his coat off when Carol managed to get him on the phone.

Within an hour, Lee arrived at the hospital, dripping and wet. I felt so relieved. My epiphany continued.

I did not understand my injury. I had no idea if I would ever walk again. I was still in shock and I was so grateful that Lee was there.

At that moment, I began to understand the depth of my feelings for Lee. It was then and there that I decided he was a Keeper.

It has been said that you “know it” if you break a bone. That saying is absolutely correct! I felt and heard the break. It was more of a shatter I was told. It hurt more than anything I had ever felt before.

I discovered how protective Lee could be when Nurse Ratchett had taken me into the room to get my weight. They needed my weight to give me the proper dosage of pain medication.

I told her my weight and she told me she had to weigh me. I asked her, “Do you think I would lie right now?” Her response was, “They all do, dearie.”

The nurse hooked me up to this barbaric device like a sling. What made it hurt worse was that my leg was dangling over the edge of the sling. The weight from my leg stretched my shattered knee. When the nurse raised the sling, you could hear a high-pitched scream from me.

The pain was unbearable. I gasped and begged her to stop. I think the nurse liked hearing me scream. That is until she heard Lee on the other side of the door. He was pounding on the door yelling, “Let me in!” The door was locked. When I heard Lee banging, I thought he was going to break down the door.

I prayed that Lee and I would be dancing again soon. I was frightened that would not happen. I was uncertain if I would ever walk again. It was distressing to contemplate a future without my independence. It was a very long night but Lee stayed with me. He kept me calm. I believed him when he said, “Everything will be okay.”

It took about two years to completely heal my knee. I lost my house and my children were uprooted. I lost our dog because we could not bring her to an apartment. I lost my mind. Most of the time I was depressed.

It was a terrible, horrible time for me. I was so worried about my boys. It was amazing. They were so resilient. They bounced back.

Once I stopped feeling sorry for myself, I decided to turn my experience into something positive. I went back to school and completed my Master’s Degree in Social Work.

It took a lot of work and perseverance but I am proud of my accomplishment. I became a Therapist and fulfilled another one of my passions. My passion is and always will be to help others.

Lee and I continued growing in our relationship and twenty-two years later, we are still growing.

It was more than a couple of years before my knee healed enough that we could go dancing again. Phew! I was so excited!

It was one of our memorable moments. I had the time of my life!

I loved this story from Deb Groves Harman She demonstrated her courage and her resilience during her story. I hope you enjoy the read.

Thank you to the Memoirist Idol competition and to KiKi Walter and all of the Suite 1984 team. You are all amazing!