Real Fairytales Don't Have Endings

Do you believe in love at first sight? Many people do, but what happens after you spend a few months or even years looking at the same person day in and day out. Is it possible that it could last? Some believe that it's just a fairytale and that things are different in the "real world". Sometimes things happen to people that make them give up on love all together. I believe that love at first sight exists, but like anything that's truly worthwhile, you have to be willing to work at it.

Our eyes met from across the store. From the moment I saw him I felt as though I couldn't catch my breath. I said to him, perhaps a little too quickly, "Welcome to Starbucks, what can I get for you today?" Although our first encounter didn't include the most romantic conversation the smiles on our faces told the story. We played back and forth obviously smitten with one another. As the conversation came to an end I knew I had to let him know how interested I was. "And your name," I asked poised to pen it on his cup. "Mike," he replied. "That's for me not the cup," I said coyly. I couldn't believe I had used such a lame pick up line! As he sat and read in the café, I impatiently went about my tasks, hoping he wouldn't get up and leave and finally right before I got off for the night I gave him my number. As I drove home that night I looked at my phone and realized that I had a missed call from a new number. I listened to my voicemail as my heart raced; it was Mike, calling to say he was happy we had met and that he couldn't wait to see me again.

About a week later I met him for our first date. We went to the New York New York to enjoy the rollercoaster and play on the arcade games but his original plans were halted by the windy weather. He recovered quite quickly and he ended up taking me to Maggiano's where we enjoyed some fantastic pasta and an even more impressive conversation. It was like everything just clicked into place. Any differences in opinion were met with curiosity and openness about the others interests. A week later he invited me to Tahoe on a business trip he was attending. It was a beautiful weekend and Lake Tahoe was charming as well. We went to the Lone Eagle Grille and had one of the most romantic evenings of my life. The best part was when Mike and I had the entire five-star restaurant singing Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline." Soon after our trip to Tahoe we went on our first road trip to Disneyland. It was there that we discovered that we had one more thing in common; the ability to act like 8 year olds in the presence of an oversized mouse and his girlfriend. When we got home we unconsciously began the ritual of "date night" and almost every weekend we found the time to go out together to a movie, dinner, or just for a walk in the park.

For Christmas Mike decided to take a trip with his brother and sister to Thailand. As soon as they had boarded the plane I missed him terribly. It felt like the longest two weeks of my life. While he was gone I realized all the little things that made me love him so much. I missed the daily rituals we had formed and just spending time together. Nevertheless I also found enjoyment in spending time alone. I found that I had the strength and the ability to be on my own and still manage to survive. Something I had previously thought would be close to impossible. When he finally got back into the country, I was so happy to see him; I drove to LAX to pick him up. I could barely contain my excitement and happiness. It was like when we had first met, but even better because we were so familiar with each other. We spent the weekend reacquainting ourselves and catching up. Although we had spoken almost everyday during his travels I found we had much to discuss. While he was gone he had had similar feelings about me and was happy to tell me how much he appreciated the little things I do that he had missed. More recently it has only gotten better with each passing day, when we have the occasional disagreement we work together to find a compromise. We both have very busy schedules but we always find time for each other. Most importantly we listen to what the other person says and we respect the differences we have. After all its those differences that make us so lovable in the first place.

Some people believe that love at first sight only happens in fairytales; that in real life those kinds of things couldn't possibly happen. Well I'm here to say that I'm living in one. Love can be instantaneous and if your willing to work at it you can make it last. With just a little bit of effort, a lot of chemistry, a willingness to communicate and a weekly date night it's possible to stay in that "newlywed" stage. I was very lucky to be working that night at Starbuck's, and even luckier that he came into my store, now I say it's because of fate and high priced, white blueberry tea that I met my first and last true love.