| Finding a long-lost boy friend |
For those of you who are friends on Facebook you got to experience my shock when I found one of my long lost friends…and my big case of nerves when we discovered we were in the same city and could meet up!
Ten years ago I went to stay with his parents in Salamanca, Spain for my big 3-ohh. I wanted to be on a different continent for my birthday, he told me that I couldn’t go to Paris (my first choice) unless I was going there with my lover and I knew if I waited around for friends to go on a trip with me it would never happen. So I took off to Spain by myself.
Granted he called and checked up on me every day, translated conversations between his parents and me and set up the most incredible events - horseback riding at his Grandmother’s farm, a mock bullfight for my birthday, tours with friends, day trips to towns in the countryside - the royal princess treatment. Two weeks of total and complete bliss.
Then I came home to Manhattan and reality. We lost touch.
That was ten years ago. For the past five years he has been in the back of my mind. Driving me crazy actually. How do you track down someone who lives in a different country, has a pretty common name (hey - there are 4 famous Amanda Browns - so much for having a unique name!) and you have no clue if he is here or on the other side of the world? (He has a tendency to spend half the year here and the other half there.)
We were both in shock when the message that I sent to 3 guys with his name made it to the right one!
Last night we saw each other for the first time in a decade. My Spaniard and his Julia Roberts (our description of each other for friends).
My group of friends got to witness it all. I had already planned on being at Eclipse de Luna - funny, but we used to hang out there and dance way back when - so I figured it would be a great place to start tripping through the memories. Described him in detail to a friend before actually seeing him - and was told later that my description was right on point. Neither one of us had aged in the horrific way that a lot of people do - no 50 pounds of pudge, bald spots or gray hair (of course I have no intention of that happening to me anyway).
I had the biggest smile on my face all night long. I talked a lot. Listened to his wonderfully, sexy accent like it was music coming across the radio waves. Then floated home on cloud 9.
Right before I went to sleep I got the text that our conversation gave him chills - guess he never knew how much of an effect he had on my life.
It’s funny how much we have changed, but at the same time haven’t. And how much we don’t know about each other but get to learn all over again.
Moral of the story - get on Facebook and rekindle your old friendships! Mark Zuckerberg - thank you!
October 29th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Wow, great story!
Ive rekindled alot of old friendships, started one old boyfriend intro and afraid of the reply…your story is great, are you back in love w/ this guy?
Jessica
October 29th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I’ve always wondered if I should try to track down the one that I let get away. Reading this has actually inspired me to try. With everything that I have experienced since she walked away I now know that she was the one - I was just too stupid to tell her.
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
What could I say after her delightful and wonderful words? What you feel in her words are some of my feelings as well. I am the other side of the story, the Spaniard.
Very few people have stayed with my parents for holiday, but Amanda wanted something special for her special day. We have some similar hobbies: horses, the country side, skydiving. I thought she should experience the deep traditional Spanish life of the bullfighting ambiance. A unique underground world that very few people have had the pleasure and opportunity to know, but once they experience it, they fall in love. To understand the art of raising bulls, going to the museums and traveling around traditional villages was the package for her birthday present. A one-of-a-kind experience to present a southern belle with not one word of Spanish in her vocabulary.
Amanda was planning her big trip for a long time but had doubts of where to go and Spain was not in her mind. After a vegetarian dinner mixed with a few good bottles of Albariño she changed her mine and decided to fly to Spain. After 10 years I have learned that she was pleased and thankful for the trip.
When I saw her email the first time…I said yessss! Julia Roberts is back. An adrenaline-filled story is going to happen! Suddenly a huge smile appeared on my face.
Out of the blue she appeared in my life with so many stories. I had no clue that she was so thankful for all the help I gave her once in a nice conversation. It is lovely to find someone 10 years later and hear them say the magic words…thank you…and to know that a good person is walking close to us.
A few days ago she took me to a very special place for her to paddle over a beautiful lake. The peaceful rays of sun mixed with the beauty of nature made for a great Sunday afternoon. Unique in all senses. I was thankful that she introduced me to her lovely aunt, full of energy and pure elegance, like one of my best friends she had the pleasure to meet in Spain.
There is a bit more behind the story but I can not tell you. Why? You will need to read one of her many future books or movies.
The experience has given me all kinds of butterflies since I meet her. The beauty of starting to learn about someone’s life again is an experience. Good souls always must always meet and have one more glass of wine.
Should you look for someone in your life? You should ask yourself a question. Am I ready to respect and accept whatever may happen? How many times do you live and how many opportunities are you willing to loose? Good luck if you find it.Go to Spain… your life may change.