Sicily 1922…. Sophia often started stories this way. Her tales were often far-fetched, but always had an underlying truth, often there was a bit of wisdom and the girls usually got answers to their problem at hand. Today I am going to try my hand at Sophia style storytelling.

Picture it, the United States 2012… A frightened, heartbroken, penniless woman loads her vehicle to return to her village (I know, my hometown is not a village, but it adds color to the story).  Upon arrival her daughter welcomes her and offers her a place to stay. While searching for employment the woman starts to date. She meets a few nice guys, dating one the first night and another the next. She isn’t looking for romance, just a few free meals so that she can save her money and move out of her daughter’s house. Praying for a grandchild while sleeping in the next room seemed a bit ridiculous!

Finally the day comes that she can move out and buy her own food! While working two jobs and doting over her youngest and a new puppy she decides to give up on the dating scene. Being 50 years old she decided that it really was just too much work and quite frankly was tired of first dates and restaurant food.

One evening, after an exhausting day of working both jobs she decides to cut ties with all the guys that she had met and remove herself from the dating site that she had been using. Because she was giving up on dating but hadn’t lost her eyesight, she decided to give the picture forum one more glance……And there He was!   Where did he come from? Why had she not seen him before? She opened up the page and read his story.

It wasn’t a particularly fascinating story,there were no catch phrases that most of the others use. There was no braggadocio grander of world travels, none of the “I have a boat”; “my kids are my world”; “look at my muscles”; “look how much beer I can drink”; “I’m the one you’re looking for” stuff. (Yes. that is what they say. If you haven’t dated in the cyber world, good for you, it’s exhausting!)  It was just a simple profile of a man wanting a friend because he was working in town for a few months. The pictures were nice, one fishing, one with a dog and one with his daughters. A few months? just friends? no commitment? no expectations? That all sounded perfect, plus he was very handsome. So she decided that instead of deleting the account to send him message…

…He replied. His messages were short and very kind.  The messages turned into phone calls. The calls were great, he seemed to be a perfect gentleman, none of the “what are you wearing” type of talk, just good conversation with a seemingly shy man.  They arranged to meet on his first day in town, not a date, just meet , shake hands and have lunch.  Even after several weeks of phone calls, she was still under the impression that he simply wanted a tour guide and a companion for his short stay.

The moment he stepped from his vehicle, she knew that he was special. It was as if he was returning to her, not meeting for the first time. She later found out that he felt the same way. During that first lunch, they deleted the dating apps together. I know, mushy hallmark channel stuff, but that is how it happened.

The days passed, the weeks passed, and after nearly two months he started thinking about his next job and the reality that he was leaving her “village”.  He suggested that she come with him… marry him. “What? Quit her job? Leave her friends, family and her new grandson?” (Yes, the prayers were answered, she moved out and her grandchild prayers were answered.)

She said yes and the rest of the story is for another day!

I suppose that there are several lessons here. There is such a thing as a free lunch, Keep praying for that grand baby, and go on one more first date… talk to the shy guy that just wants a friend…. He may be your last first date.

Until next time..Thank You for being a Friend

MLG