MAJOR MISJUDGEMENT

Obnoxious and cynical. This was my thought about the man who stood before me. I do not feel this way often, but, this man was rubbing me the wrong way. I wanted so to escape his nearness.

I was at a party, one of those you go to out of obligation; you know, you work with this client, who has a friend in the 'burbs, who is having a get together. You always go because, you never know.

Anyway, I happened to be standing near the exit to a beautiful back yard, which seemed to span for acres. I was admiring the landscaping when this man, the obnoxious one, walks up to me and says, "You would be more attractive if you were smiling." I could not help but wrinkle my nose a bit, before I said, "I was just admiring the landscaping, and, trying to figure out where the property might end." He looked at me as if I had said something stupid, then looked out into the yard also. "Who would want a yard this big?" "Hell, I wouldn't want the upkeep or the overhead." I said, "Well, it is beautiful, and, so properly taken care of." He let out a big sigh, and asked me who I knew at this shindig. I told him and he said, "What's your name?" I told him my name is Allie, and, he said, "Like an alley cat?" I said, "Yeah, and, I am as feisty as one too." This, for some unknown reason intrigued him, so, on and on he went. Every time I tried to excuse myself, he would come up with something more bazaar and twisted. I was getting irritable, and, wanted to tell him to go elsewhere.

Finally, someone came and began a conversation with him, and, I slowly made my distance...

I stopped along the way, and, grabbed a martini. I normally do not drink, but, the man had riled me. This also, was perplexing. I am normally more tolerant of people, I have to be, I am in Public Relations for the Media, and, have to deal with all sorts.

I found my host and made some chit-chat. We were discussing the lovely yard, when, Lordy, here he comes... He makes his presence stop right beside me, close as can be, and then asks the host, "Do you know Alley Cat?" The host found this amusing, and, I suppose I could see the humor a bit, so, I smiled as well. The host, whose name was Bill, and the obnoxious one, whose name was Walt, started talking, so, again, I got lost in the crowd.

I could feel the martini, and, was much more relaxed. I mingled for a while, and, danged if I didn't start wondering where the obnoxious one was. I caught myself several times looking through the large room for him. I was beginning to think I had lost my senses, and, there he was, right beside me, with a grin from ear to ear... "Did you miss me"?", he asked. I laughed, partly because I think I did, and, partly because he was so sure of himself. He then asked me to dance. There was a song playing that was of a nice tempo, and, I love to dance, so off we went.

We danced for hours. We had fun, and, we were enjoying ourselves immensely. We didn't even notice that over half of the people were gone, or that it was very late into the night; we just danced and danced and danced.

I recall this story often in my mind. Walt and I were married 6 months after this party. We had a long and lovely life together, and, I miss him so. I lost him last year to cancer. I will never forget the day we met, nor, will I forget that I shouldn't have judged him so readily when I first met him. Of course, he knew, but, he fell for me the instant that he saw me, and, he was man enough to make me fall for him shortly thereafter. Yes, we had a great life together, and, I will always love that obnoxious man, who, was really, the sweetest, kindest soul on the Earth....