Instant Instances

A few months ago, in the throes of football season, Ricardo called me one night and said, "Ever make eye contact with a complete stranger and like, fall in love with them RIGHT then? In an instant? You knew you'd probably NEVER see this person again, but you loved them."

I never told him I thought he was certifiable, I just told him I'd never experienced it. But I did think he was nuts at the time. I listened to his story and rolled my eyes every time he said he fell in love, patiently waiting for him to finish. I mean, that's the stuff that happens in Britney Spears commercials, not real life. I think I can be quoted as saying I didn't believe in love at first sight and I didn't. Until yesterday. I met a guy that just GOT to me. I came home and told my brother I'd met his future brother in law. Days ago I was swearing off men and declaring my celibacy and yesterday I met the man I'm going to marry. Not "he's cute and we're gonna have babies" but "this is the man who I am going to build my life with." Wow. I mean, seriously. I saw him and in one handshake, there was instant familiarity and comfort. Flashes of a wedding, being pregnant and raising a family went through my brain as my boss introduced us. It was weird, it was surreal, it was intense. I've never experienced anything like that before.

So herein lies the rub: he's a fellow employee (team member, I'm HR and need to use the proper terms). Being corporate, that pretty much means he's untouchable. How so, you ask? Because that means that one of us has to cross the line and be willing to face the possibility of sexual harrassment. Which sucks, cuz I doubt it'll be him. There was crazy chemistry between us and I probably won't see him again for a while. I've played it out in my head and the only way anything will pop off is at a conference and we'll be saturated with one another, aided by alcohol. Or, we can start speaking and my momentary lapse in attraction ends up being just that, a lapse. He may say something or be SO opposite of me that it'd never work. I'm a city slicker and he's a country boy, I haven't seen many of those combinations work.

Whatever the case may be, I've experienced something new and enjoyed it. Speaking of, I guess I'm gonna pick up that DVD this weekend while I (continue to) unpack. I'm off to check the fraternization policy, hope you too get to one day experience an instant instance.