Beyond our commitment to have dinner in Kalamazoo with Marla’s sisters Sharon and Connie, and their husbands Tim and Jon, we had no contact between August and November. We’d meet at Tim and Sharon’s for the formal introduction and a cocktail hour to ease into the evening.

She said:

Okay- I was a little nervous. I hadn’t really dated anyone for about a year. I was pleasantly surprised when he came to the door. He was exactly what I was hoping, and I was very comfortable around him. He then gave me a business card from one of my favorite cousins. Oh my gosh- He even knew my cousin! I’m getting these signs left and right!

I had made a previous arrangement with my sister that if things didn’t “click”, we would all ride together to the restaurant and back to their house and then I would drive myself back to my mother’s place. I had also made a previous arrangement with my other sister, that if we did “click”, I would invite him to their house to watch a football game the next day. Well—-we “clicked”!

The fact that I was leaving in a few days made this relationship progress rather quickly. I wanted to be with him as much as possible. It was a good thing I was staying with my Mother!

He Said:

I have to admit I anticipated a bit of hopefulness going into the evening. I hadn’t dated for about four months, so I also had a bit of apprehension. Knowing everyone else gave me some solace as I knew there wouldn’t be any undue pressure should Marla and I not “connect”.

As I walked up the driveway at Tim and Sharon’s, I got a glimpse of an attractive blond in a nice red sweater and black slacks. Wow, Marla is ALL RIGHT!!! I expected her to be attractive as both of her sister’s are “lookers”. My expectations were clearly exceeded! Both also have wonderful personalities, so I also expected to be able to spend at least one pleasant evening with Marla. Again there was no disappointment as our conversation effortlessly flowed through our backgrounds, family, interests, and travels.

I drove Marla to the restaurant, which I later learned, involved a bit of behind the scenes planning. After an evening full of laughter, good conversation, a wonderful dinner, it was time to drive Marla to her Mom’s, where she stayed when visiting. I was trying to figure out how I could see Marla more before she left Kalamazoo when, much to my pleasure, and relief, Marla suggested we could watch the University of Michigan football game at Jon and Connie’s the next day! YES!!! And, again, more behind the scenes planning!

We enjoyed an afternoon of football, and munchies. Again, the conversation flowed easily. So easily, in fact, that as Marla and Connie finalized plans for the excursions during their upcoming Caribbean cruise, a major shift occurred. We all viewed the various options, deciding that the sail away catamarans with snorkeling, pristine, isolated beaches and unlimited rum punch were the preferred choice. Also, Connie and Marla discussed the attributes of Marla staying in the suite that Jon and Connie had versus retaining separate quarters. Connie, in the impish manner all of you who know her would be quick to recognize, suggested, of course, there was always the option of Marla taking on a roommate – giving both Marla and I a redness that belied, at least for me, the desire for this to come to pass. Things were moving quickly!

Again, I didn’t want the time with Marla to end. I suggested we stop for a bite to eat at the Oakwood Bistro before calling it a day. Another pleasant meal, and an increasingly, albeit unspoken, acknowledgement that there was a real connection developing led to my suggestion to further continue the evening. “How about we go to my house for a glass of champagne?” was my query. “Sure” came the response. Marla, however, didn’t know I needed to go to the store to get the champagne. I didn’t ask what kind of champagne she preferred, offering , instead, to make the selection. What a surprise for us both when we found Nectar Imperial by Moet and Chandon is both our favorite. How much coincidence could there be? As we shared the champagne, we discussed what to do the next day, Marla’s last in Kalamazoo before heading to Connecticut to visit daughter Heidi and family. We decided on dinner with my daughter Allison, a junior at Western Michigan at the time.

We ate at Martini’s Pizza, a downtown, college type spot near the house Allie rents with seven other girls. While the food itself was not so memorable, the three of us were quite at ease and I know Allie could tell there was something special going on. We had clearly moved beyond polite acquaintances. I could hardly wait to see Marla again when she stopped in Kalamazoo on her way back to Denver. After dropping Marla at her Mom’s, my mind raced into the future, not sure what might be real and what was pure fantasy.

Golf pal Tim and sister Sharon

Jon and sister Connie

Any relationship can be attributed, in some way, to chance. Its just that sometimes its more, or less, obvious. Our meeting was more an arrangement than chance, and here’s our versions of how we came to know one another.

He Said:

A golf pal, Tim, had occasionally suggested for about a year that I should meet Marla, his sister-in-law from Denver. She was originally from Kalamazoo and visited regularly. However, at the time I was in a steady relationship, so I had repeatedly declined.

The idea had lain dormant for quite a while until the evening of Tim’s retirement celebration in August when Tim’s other sister-in-law, Connie, and husband, Jon, arrived at the party. Tim, Sharon, Jon, Connie and I were remarking how coincidental it was that I knew both sisters and their husbands through different avenues. Connie, Jon and I had worked at the same manufacturing plant for about six years and, as I said, Tim and Sharon had the golf connection. Tim then reiterated how he thought I’d be a good match for Marla. She was coming to Kalamazoo for Thanksgiving and this would be a perfect time for us to meet. The gals immediately ran to the phone, called Marla in Denver and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. And, I might add, a blissful history it is!

So, while our meeting was arranged, had I not met Tim and Sharon through golf, or worked with Jon and Connie, I might never have met my lovely Marla! So was it chance or destiny? To me, all that matters is, it happened – and we are now “having the time of lives!”

She said:

My sisters could not wait to call me from the retirement party and get this thing going. Connie and Jon had worked for Bill and said that he was the best boss they had ever  worked for at the GM plant in Kalamazoo (which he later had to close, and they still liked him).

I was at a point in my life when I had lost interest in dating and was just concentrating on traveling to visit friends and family. I was learning and playing the “modern bridge”, and taking classes at the local Junior College in Interior Design.

The retirement party was in August, and they(sisters) wondered when I could come to Kalamazoo to meet Bill. I had other obligations in the next few months and stuck to my plan of visiting at Thanksgiving. I also felt that if this was “meant to be” it would happen, and besides, I was in Denver and he was in Kalamazoo. I guess it was meant to be……