Love At First Sight

Adam and God

When I first saw Adam—I would call it a chance meeting—I was surprised. He was the first man to catch my eye since I’d met my late husband, George, thirty-three years before. I met Adam at his workplace. My sister Nora came with me that day. She was there to listen because two heads are better than one, but I was the client. Although I was there for a professional reason, Adam and I began to strike up a conversation that had nothing to do with my reason for being there. As the conversation took on a more personal slant, we both began exchanging lots of information with each other. My sister sat in the corner as she listened and watched Adam and I interact. While Adam and I were conversing, he removed a fallen strand of hair from my shoulder and held it up for both of us to see. It was such a natural gesture that I normally wouldn’t have given it a second thought. But as we looked at that strand of hair, our eyes met. At that moment Adam smiled, and the look on his face mirrored that of George’s whenever he would look into my eyes. Adam’s face just lit up, and I was shocked. That’s when I heard this voice say, “Adam is 100 percent German”. For a brief second, I actually thought Adam was attracted to me. Then I concluded it was just his reaction to the joke I’d made about the hair. “I know it has to be mine,” I had teased because his head was shaved.

During this initial conversation, we learned we both had houses in Indiana and South Carolina. Adam told me of his plans to spend his winters in South Carolina after he retired. He went on to say, “Did you see the older married couple that just left my office? They have a house here and in South Carolina too.” It was as if he was lost in thought as I heard him say, “This is so strange … and now you’re here.” Initially, I thought he was referring to the coincidence that all three of us would have the same dual residency. Later, I wondered if he was thinking something more. As Adam continued to talk about the house he was having built, he said, almost as if he were thinking aloud, “I don’t know why I’m building such a big house for just myself.”

Inside my head, I heard a soft voice speak, “Maybe he isn’t going to be there by himself. You’ll be there with him.” That was quite a shocking idea considering I didn’t even know this man. I started to wonder about Adam’s marital status, and instantly he gave me an answer to my unspoken question.

Adam blurted out, “I’m single.” He went on to say, “I am going to be retiring in a few years.” That was when I made the mistaken assumption that we were the same age. Later in the conversation, he mentioned we were around the same age, so he falsely assumed that too.

I could hardly believe the turn in the conversation. Everything was happening so fast. My mind raced to absorb all that had transpired, but part of my brain felt like it was trying to clear out cobwebs. I pushed all thoughts of Adam being in my future away. I thought I had put the prospect out of my head altogether, but it merely snuck into the recesses of my mind. We continued to talk. We had so much in common. When he spoke about how he had been to every beach in Florida, it was as if I was speaking. I had said that very same thing many times. For that reason alone, I didn’t find Adam attractive; he seemed too much like me—and not in a good way. I thought he talked too much.

As Adam and I compared beaches that day, I found out that Siesta Key was Adam’s number two favorite. The beach he rated number one is found on Florida’s panhandle in Destin. (Is that short for destiny, I wonder?) He said he favored it not only because of the pure white sand but also because of the direction the wind blew across the sand. He mesmerized me with his description. Later, when I reflected back on the conversation, I could imagine being at that beach with the gentle ocean breeze blowing each grain of white sand softly across my toes as we walked hand in hand.

My first impression was Adam seemed nice enough, was quite a talker, but was self-absorbed and not a good listener. Later, he proved me wrong.

Adam was detailed in his conversations, which included information about his personal life. I would love to share all the particulars, but I cannot because his stories are not mine. Someday Adam and I might openly share these stories, but for now it would be premature. What I can say, however, is that from the moment we met I felt so safe and comfortable when I was with him, I didn’t want to leave his presence.

At first, I didn’t understand why I felt that way, but I sensed he felt the same. We had long since finished up the business at hand, and yet we continued to talk. Eventually he opened the door for me to leave. When he immediately shut it, I knew he didn’t want me to go. I perceived he felt comfortable and safe with me too. Adam’s words and actions matched what I sensed.

“No, don’t go,” he said when it was time for me to depart. “Stay and talk some more.”

I heard myself say, “I would date him.” That was what shocked me the most. I almost looked around to see where that voice came from, because I couldn’t believe my ears.