A Magical Day

There are background details that will help in explaining this magical day in my life. Not being one to repeat myself, I wanted to let you know that you can find them by reading my previous article.

Last Monday, I had a life-changing event. It nearly caused me to tear-up by just typing this recap.

Two years ago, I went to the Ulta Store in Chesterfield MO. This is where my corporate office is located. I was there to teach a Software Training Class for finance executives who use our budgeting product.

While there, I made an appointment on a Monday night to get a makeover at Ulta. (No I don’t own stock in Ulta, but the people there are so accepting of me that it feels like my own private Disneyland, and I go there every week in male and female mode.)

When I stopped at the reception desk, I was told they had booked a facial appointment first. I hadn't asked for one; they were obviously trying to boost revenue, and I didn’t mind. Patty, the woman giving me the facial was two years older than me, and I wasn't sure what to expect from her as older people tend to be less accepting of CDs, but she was amazing.

I felt so relaxed in that private room with Patty that I took off my wig and laid on her spa table in my LBD as she went about her business. After a long conversation, it turned out that she was originally from my area and had relocated to Chesterfield a few years back.

What was coincidental and amazing was that her best friend, Michelle happened to be the mother of Jeremy. He lives across the street from me on our tiny cull de sac.

Michelle lives in the sub division, too, but about four-blocks away. When I heard this news, I immediately wanted to fly home and show Michelle my feminine side. I'd known her for four or five years, always thinking that she was adorable and sweet, with her 60's hippie charm that I love, but of course, the exchange never happened until this past Monday.

I returned from Stein Mart, wearing my casual denim mini skirt and knee-high boots, when I saw her BMW parked halfway in her son Jeremy’s garage. On an overcast day in the Chicago burbs, at 1:00 in the afternoon, I summoned up all of my courage and went across the street to Jeremy’s house. I prepared to ring the doorbell, as I figured she was alone in the house, fixing it up and getting it ready to sell.

As I approached the garage, she steps out of the door and says hello to me. I was twenty feet away and surprised that she didn’t recognize me. I don’t contour and only wear modest makeup. The fact she didn’t recognize was a gladsome reward as it bolstered my confidence.

When I got within ten feet, she became ecstatic and excited to see me. She told me I was gorgeous. We hugged, and I told her I loved her for accepting me as I was. She replied that she loved me as well.

My heart melted. Here was a woman that I had loved from a distance, and she was accepting of me. We talked in the garage for 20 minutes, but my mouth became so dry from all the nerves and talking that I needed to return home.

We exchanged contact information. I should have known her email address, it would have been easy to figure out as her husband is a lawyer and her son is their law clerk. I had previously conversed with Jeremy, via Email, about a living will for my mother three or four years ago. I should have been able to figure out Michelle's email because of the relationship, but it never dawned on me over the course of the last two years after my encounter with her friend, Patty. Michelle helps her husband out at the law office on a regular basis.

Once I got back into my house, I immediately emailed her. I forgot that the email address for the law firm had her husband's first initial in front of their last name, so four hours later, I got the undeliverable message from Yahoo.

Being paranoid, I thought she was ignoring my email

I resent it after looking-up Jeremy’s email address, and she responded in five minutes. She told me that she had rushed home and checked email all afternoon, believing that I had chickened out of when she hadn't see an email from me.

She agreed to go out to lunch and shopping with me. I'm waiting to hear back on the plans. Hopefully, it will be next week.

I always wanted a nearby friend to go out shopping with, as I love being out and about. Having no one to talk to is very isolating and can generally put a damper on the whole experience.

I hope that there is more to follow and to share. The picture is of me in the Stein Mart dressing room wearing the outfit I had on when I met Michelle.