41

Ironies come in 41's. 

Maureen and I arrived at the Tampa Fairgrounds sometime during the late afternoon hours on July 17.  Why?  The answer might surprise you given previous posts on this blog, but we arrived to tailgate prior to the Dave Matthews Band concert that night.  As we opened our first beverages, said cheers and enjoyed our first sip before enjoying many more sips, we heard a live DMB song playing on a fellow concertgoer's radio and Maureen asked which song it was.  The answer was a DMB classic that always sounds great live: #41.  The song was instantly added to Maureen's set list wish list.  And they played it that night!    

This is a live version of #41 from the band's show at Wrigley Field in 2010:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnS485DU-UE

The 41 irony doesn't end there.  That hardly qualifies as irony, anyway. 

As noted in my previous post, Maureen made the decision to move up and move in on September 3.  Life has been great since!  It was great before, and Maureen had many years prior made an indelible mark on my life - a very positive mark!  Terminating the long distance part of our long term, long distance relationship was a bold, healthy and exciting move.  It brought us closer in many ways.  Ending each day heart to heart is very special.  It's a great love.  And given our kinda whacky personalities in addition to the presence of her witty and energetic younger daughter, it's an insane household!  It's fun and special and always entertaining.

Maureen had submitted her resume for several teaching positions in the Long Island and NYC (that's New York City for those of you in super distant locations).  She interviewed at one NYC public school days after moving up.  No dice. 

Then came another call.  A call from PS 41.  Now that's irony!  Maureen ventured into the city for the interview.  She loved them.  They loved her.  A match!  Hired!  "I'm coming slow but speeding..."

This blog has been about love.  The love of friends, fatherhood, family, lesbian dates and the Dave Matthews Band.  But it's one love that stands out as a unique love story.  Finding Maureen following that magical summer of 1989 seemed to take an eternity.  And 21 years is certainly a long time.  It's a long enough time to forget faces from the past and it provides a long enough time to give up on searching for someone who made a difference in your life.      

Then came 2:34pm on April 26, 2010.  A quick Facebook search after entering her married name revealed what seemed to be Maureen as a young girl on her profile pic.  It was her daughter and I knew that after 21 years, I had found Maureen.  A short private Facebook message was sent to her in order to confirm what I happily knew was the truth. 

That message was written 41 months ago today.   

Our run continues and life has been great together.  But this blog wouldn't be complete without revealing a new piece of jewelry! (Scroll down...this is so exciting!!!!)

 

 

Those are my new bracelets and they were created by Maureen's daughter.  That is the jewelry you were expecting to see, right?