DECEMBER 14, 1980 * My 21st Birthday

Mama PC

On my 21st birthday, John came to my house with guitar case in hand. We sat in the kitchen and he began singing a song to me that he had written to me.

I wish I could find the words now. They've GOT to be somewhere in storage.

The title of the song was "Little Girl Woman" and was very interesting...

We sat on the kitchen counter and drank hot cinnamon tea and smiled at one another, as we always did.

Let me go back and tell you about our "dates". As we spent time together each evening after work, we found that we had very little in common. Very little to talk about. He was accustomed to analyzing people and spiritual matters. I was more into emotion and feelings and plans. He was more into looking backward and I was totally into looking at now and the future. So, we sat many hours looking into one another's eyes and smiling. We both lost lots of weight in those months of our smiling. We didn't eat much at night because when we'd go to Denny's, I didn't want to order much because I didn't think he had any money, so we just shared each night... nibbled and smiled... nibbled and smiled and drank our iced tea. We seriously had very little conversations. I know that sounds weird and not like what a relationship should be like, but that is how we were. We had very similar beliefs and foundations, but each came at life from totally different perspectives. I knew that I loved him. I knew that I wanted to marry him and live with him forever. He knew he felt strongly toward me, but knew that it wouldn't be easy to make a relationship like ours work. He was the realist. I was the optimist. We NEVER talked about marriage, or "us". We would just meet after work, and I'd get into his car and we'd go to Denny's. Then, he'd bring me back to my car, and we'd stand out in the summer breezes and smile for a while before I'd get in my car and go home.

One late summer night, when there was a full harvest moon and the cool dry late summer breezes were blowing across our faces, we stood between his huge '71 green Buick Centurion and my '79 Honda CVCC hatchback. I looked up at the glowing moon, and I said "I feel like our hearts are being knit together..." He looked at me blankly, then said, "I'd better be going now..." He quickly got into his car and left!!!