You have had a couple of months to get to know me now.
I feel like we are finally at the level that I can really share some things with you, just in case telling you about men attracted to my feet wasn’t “close” enough.
Pull up a chair.
Finding men online can be pretty intimidating, but real life can be even worse.
Years ago, I saw a guy at church that I thought was attractive.
Hot Dude sat in the section where I sat.
He attended a different service than I did, and he may or may not have influenced the service I started attending.
One day I made up my mind to write him a note and give it to him when the opportunity presented itself.
For those wondering, I did not add a spot to check yes or no.
I carried that note in my bible bag for a few years. If I was dating someone, the note went away, and, when things ended, I would re-write the note and start again.
A few months ago, I found the opportunity.
My kids were at their dad’s for the weekend, so I was alone and wouldn’t traumatize them with embarrassment.
On my way to church, I prayed that if it was a good idea to do this, God would help present the moment.
That morning, Hot Dude walked in at his normal time and sat down almost directly behind me.
I paid close attention during the service, because obviously I needed more Jesus in my life.
As the service ended, Hot Dude let me walk out in front of him.
I waited until we were out of the sanctuary, just in case he yelled “Stranger Danger” and ran.
As he left, I approached him and told him, “At the risk of sounding like a total stalker, I have a note for you.”
We visited for a few minutes, and he thanked me for talking to him.
I went on to tell him that life is short and finding good humans is tough. I let him know the information to reach me was in the card, that I hoped to hear from him, and “worst case scenario, what could be bad about someone telling you that they think you are hot?”
Luckily, he agreed.
Just after lunch that day, I received a text from the random stranger that I had been admiring for years but knew nothing about other than he attended church regularly.
Did I mention he is hot?
We talked for a couple of weeks before it worked out for us to go to lunch after church one weekend.
The lunch went very well, but he was not my person. It seemed mutual.
Neither one reached out to the other after that lunch.
I’ve been in some crazy relationships.
One ex was arrested for domestic abuse for trying to strangle me.
One boyfriend, I hid his gun and contacted the police before I broke up with him.
Shortly after, I found he was an identity thief, and I collaborated with the sheriff’s department.
That is a crazy story for another column, but I am lucky to be alive and fixing my credit was many years of work.
And just when I thought I had finally found my Great Love Story, the amazing man that I knew since grade school and was going to marry passed away unexpectedly.
Some would say I should have kept the crazy tucked in a bit more with Hot Dude.
I say that it didn’t hurt anything to try.
How sad would it have been if Hot Dude was sitting a few rows away from me each week in church and I missed out on my person?
Hope is free.
I have been through a lot and lost much, but I am always going to be the girl that carries around the card, just in case there’s a chance.