A few days ago, I was chatting with my close friend, Amy, about men and relationships. She asked me my most memorable romantic moment. That was a good question. Romantic moments, best thing a guy has said to me, or done for me… I needed to sleep on that one. So this morning, I am writing them down.
6. I miss you, so I’m flying from New York City to Salt Lake City. See you in a few hours!
When I was in college, I got a job as a cocktail waitress at one of the nicest hotels in town. One night at work, I met a guy ten years my senior who was in town on business. Let’s call him “Stan.” Stan worked for a big investment firm on Wall Street in New York City. At the time, that was one of the most exciting jobs I could think of, on one of the most famous streets in the world, and he was living in one of the most exciting cities to boot. I had never been to New York City before. Actually, I had never been to the East coast. In total, I had only visited ten U.S. states and had stepped out of the country just a couple times when my parents drove us over the border to Canada. Stan got my phone number, took me out to dinner, we sipped Dom Perignon (at $125 a bottle) champagne together, and when he went back to New York, he called me every day. I was totally enamored.
Stan was handsome with chiseled features, an amazing physique, and fitted Brooks Brothers suits. He was smart (he had an MBA from Harvard), a world traveler, and had more money than I could fathom. Over the next several months, he came to Salt Lake City every few weeks for work and, when he did, we were together every day. I felt like I was living a Danielle Steele novel. One day, he called me early in the morning. I was still asleep and he woke me up. “I’m at the airport. What are you doing tonight? Because I miss you so I’ll be there in a few hours and we are going to dinner.”
I went shopping that afternoon for my first-ever cocktail dress, decent pair of shoes, and new perfume. I charged it all on my “almost to the limit” credit card. Stan arrived, he rented a car, and we spent a romantic evening together. The next day, he flew home and went back to work.
I never fell in love with Stan but when we stopped communicating, I was really bummed. Nonetheless, I cherish the memories. And his flying a few thousand miles almost across the country just to take me out to dinner is definitely on my list of “most romantic moments.”
5. Marry me after dive season
I never say positive things about my ex-husband, but today I will. One afternoon, Rob and I gathered up my daughter, Morgan, and we went to his sister’s mother-in-law’s house for dinner. I never met this woman before and she lived about 45 minutes up in the mountains from where we lived in San Diego. It was a frigid afternoon and the drive was beautiful. Her home was warm and cozy, with spectacular views of the mountains. Rob’s parents were there, as was his sister, her husband and two young sons, and some others. We had a late lunch and while Rob and I were sitting at a table and I had a mouth full of food, Rob leaned over and said, “Marry me after dive season.”
I literally spit my food out. My heart stopped and I started laughing. “You got me!” I had no doubt that this was a joke, as we had never talked about marriage before.
“I’m serious. Dive season ends in six months,” and he walked away.
It took me a few minutes to gain my composure. In the car on our way back to San Diego, and with Morgan in the backseat wearing headphones and watching a movie, we talked about that marriage proposal. Rob and I acted like a team, he was amazing to Morgan and she loved him like a dad. If I married Rob, I would finally have a husband, a partner, a father to my daughter, a home and, well, everything I should have at the age of 38. I didn’t love Rob, but he was so kind, honest, and good. (None of this turned out to be true, but you can read those sordid details elsewhere in my articles.) Yes, I thought, I will marry him. It was a very sweet afternoon.
4. I love you
When I was still in college, I had a boyfriend, “Ken.” Truth was, I had fallen in love with him. Like butterflies and passion, all of it– crazy, mad love. One day we were standing on Ken’s doorstep and I was getting ready to leave. We kissed goodnight and he said, “I love you.” It was the first time a guy had ever said that to me. My heart literally stopped. He loves me! It took me a second but I finally said what I had wanted to say for months, “I love you, too.” Just like that. I will never forget that moment.
3. A Belize make-out
Years ago when I lived in Washington, DC, I met a guy at a restaurant. In an attempt to be a safe and savvy city girl, when he asked for my phone number, I gave him my work number instead of my home phone number. It took him a week to call me. When I came back from lunch one day, there was a note on my desk that “Mitch” called. I almost screamed, I was so excited. We had our first date a few days later and, after dinner, we were sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Monument staring at the reflecting pond with the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol in front of us. Beautiful, peaceful, serene, and powerful.
“Let’s go to Belize,” he said out of the blue.
Belize? That was on my short list of places I wanted to visit. “Ok, let’s do it.” Heck, why not? I thought.
No kidding, three weeks later, I was on a plane to Ambergisse Caye, Belize, where Mitch and I spent a very fun five days snorkeling, visiting Mayan ruins and eating seafood. On our last night there, we stood in the ocean knee deep in warm water and we starting making out like crazy. It was one of the most heady experiences of my life.
2. I wasn’t done kissing you
Several years ago, I had just started dating “Tom,” who, turns out, is one of my greatest loves, “the one who got away.” On our second date, we met for dinner in San Elijo, just blocks from the ocean. I was already falling hard and fast for Tom. He was so drop-dead handsome, smart and funny. After eating chilly and drinking sharing a beer, we went out to the parking lot. We hadn’t kissed yet. My car was parked just outside the main entrance. “Get in, I’ll drive you to your car,” I said, which wasn’t necessary. The evening was beautiful and he was just a few rows away. Nonetheless, he got in and jokingly, I turned his seat on. When I pulled up next to his car, he leaned over and kissed me. Oh my, the fireworks! After a bit, he got out and I drove away. A few minutes later, he called me. “I was warm from the seat, or so I thought,” he said. “But really, it was that kiss. I wasn’t done kissing you. I want you to come back.” We chatted some more and one of my Big Regrets is that I didn’t turn around and go back. Instead, I went home, totally giddy and excited about Tom. I was falling hard and fast and it was a scary, amazing, and exhilarating feeling.
1. I don’t know what I would do without you
But the most amazingly romantic moment ever has nothing to do with marriage proposals, trips, or champagne. And it happened just a few weeks ago. My boyfriend just had surgery and I spent three nights at his house taking care of him and, well, hanging out. One evening just before we were falling asleep, he said (and this is a direct quote): “I love you, Lizzy. I don’t know what I would do without you.” There were no strings attached, no expectations, and it was heartfelt, sweet, and kind. I literally melted in all the right ways and I thought, wow– right now, I am a very happy and grateful girl. I have survived cancer, I have made it out of an abusive marriage and healed, I have rebuilt my life and have found incredible meaning and importance in living, and I have a guy who doesn’t know what he would do without me. Romantic? Yes, beyond belief romantic. What a perfect way to drift off into a slumber.
In conclusion…
I have to say that this is one of the funnest posts I’ve ever written. I am literally buzzing with warm and fuzzy feelings, basking in the memories. I think it’s time you spend a few minutes reflecting on your most romantic moments. It’s actually been quite fun.
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