Friends, here’s a tidbit from our own romance. I met The Man when I was a writing instructor. He turned up in my classroom and I had the strangest feeling that I knew him, that I’d known him, that we were not strangers. Had we met? Not in this life.
The truth is, I’d separated from my former partner a few months before. It was a very challenging time. So, I decided I didn’t need romance in my life—and what I needed instead was a ton of self-romance. I bought myself my favorite books, I made my bedroom—in a shared house—my favorite place to be. I took myself out for meals where I’d sit at the bar of a local bookstore and read my own book while sipping red wine and gnawing on delicious omelettes. At the same time, I was publishing romance and erotica, and I’d started teaching romance and erotica writing classes alongside my literary writing classes. And because these other genres were what I loved, this felt like self-love too.
Then, one day, there The Man was in one of my writing classes. It was as if the love of my life had simply decided to knock at my door. He almost canceled, as a matter of fact, because his treadmill had broken and he needed the money to buy another one. But then, miraculously, just as he was about to call for a refund, his treadmill sprang to life!
Now, looking back, here’s what I think happened: I’d created romance in myself. I wasn’t chasing it. I simply was it. Then, like magic, romance swaggered through the door.
Also, strange side note: The Man’s birthday is on EXACTLY the same day as my ex. That’s right. One was born in England, one was born in the U.S, but they landed on this planet within hours of one another. At first, that news was troubling. Now, it just seems like destiny.
Thanks for being here, friends. And here’s to romance in all forms!
Romancey Pants 