My mother met a man. Last week. Online. Half the year he lives in the house he built with his own hands, on a lake in Wisconsin. The other half of the year he lives with his son, here in Phoenix. That's how he found my mother.
Harry bikes. And travels. He's fit. We is a widower. And 73. His profile on Match.com says "Carpe Diem". Coincidentally, my mom's profile says "Carpe Diem". In the space of a week, they emailed a couple of times and spoke on the phone for an hour. That's all any of us (my mother included) knew about Harry.
On Wednesday, my mom left the house, without intending to return for five days. She took 2 airplanes, and a one-hour car trip. To get to Harry, and his house in the middle of nowhere. She did this after talking to this man for one hour. Without knowing his political leanings, education, or prior employment. We, her family and friends, were freaked! In the space of a day, two of us ran background checks on strange Harry.
I spoke with my mom today, 24 hours into her trip. She is happy, and I could hear Harry laughing in the background. As much as I wanted to remind her (again) about lessons she taught me in my youth about strangers and dangers, I refrained. This spontaneous trip was something she had to do. Maybe after 69 years, she knows something I do not.
Today, I talked to the mystery man myself.
"Your mother is a fantastic woman," Harry said. "I don't ever want her to leave." "She is wonderful." His voice sounded old and sweet, with a charming mid-western lilt.
Who knows where this frenetic, crazed relationship will lead. As long as it's not in a dozen trash bags at the bottom of the lake, I will consider it a success.
We got off the phone with my mom sounding relaxed and joyous in this strange man's house. I heard this strange man giggling in the background. He was making her a salad for dinner. They were drinking red wine. And planning a hike through the snow tomorrow.
Carpe diem, indeed.
1 comment:
This is your momma. Yes, that was me who did the unthinkable thing of going with a gut feeling.So glad I did. His name is David.
I just figured I had nothing going on. Didn't have to ask anyone for permission. No job, no one at home, to take care of. I felt such freedom. What a great thing to do in the middle of the week. I might do it again.
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