In 2009, nearly fifty years since first meeting as young children, Robert and I met again at a multi-class high school reunion. After learning we were both single, we started dating. We loved our blooming relationship and the giddy feelings that come with discovering, “This could be the one”.
Robert lived in Ohio and every other week, he drove four hours each way so we could spend a weekend together at my apartment in Pennsylvania. I say “weekend”, but allowing for the drive time each way, we actually only had one full day and night together —twice a month.
After six months, I realized one morning, that it just wasn’t working —at least for me. I felt it was time for him to (excuse me) either shit or get off the pot. Either we were a couple, or we weren’t.
I was starting to feel single again like before the reunion. I told him how I felt. Was he happy with the arrangement? Or did he also feel it was time to get back to his single life and stop driving back and forth for a few hours together?
He made the move.
On the day he moved in, I remember sitting on the bed watching him unpack, my tummy full of butterflies. I was happy and I hoped he was, too. He looked over, saw me smiling, and his own giddy happiness kicked in. He stood and, as he threw himself on the bed reaching for a hug …
((( CRASH )))
The wooden lip holding the mattress and box spring on the high bed frame gave way! Suddenly, we were sitting inside the busted bed frame, on the mattress, on the floor, legs splayed out awkwardly, on the bed frame up above us.
Wide-eyed, we stared at each other and at the mess all around us. Robert apologized profusely and it suddenly just seemed so insane that I started to laugh and I couldn’t stop. I laughed until my sides ached and until I couldn’t breathe.
Robert caught the humor in it and the laughter became contagious! Even after we stopped laughing, the mere thought of what had happened brought stifled snorts and even more laughing.
“That did NOT just happen!” became “I can’t BELIEVE that happened!” and when we called a carpenter to repair it, he turned it into “WHAT the HELL happened?” and more laughing.
To this day, I still don't know what the carpenter really thought. He gave us one of those dirty-minded all-knowing smiles with raised eyebrows anytime we tried to explain …
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Fun (literally) in bed with C.J. and Robert!