Simply Solo Spotlight: The Sky’s The Limit

Today, I am honored to have Mark Petruska from Mark My Words join Simply Solo for his THIRD guest post! I love Mark’s writing, his story, his personality, damn near everything about him. But I have to be careful with my adoration – it seems he has a lady friend with whom I’ll need to contend!

Mark is a published writer, and I would love nothing more than for you all to check out his book No Time For Kings. What’s the book about, you ask? Here’s Mark’s summary: While on assignment in Alaska, newspaper reporter Rachel Sullivan stumbles across the aftermath of a brazen attack by a radical eco-terrorist group called Earth Fights Back. Driven by a thirst for notoriety and a desire to protect the planet, the organization is leaving a trail of destruction and dead bodies in its wake while eluding the FBI. When things turn personal, Rachel vows to bring them down herself … or die trying. Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it? Buy it here right after you read and comment on today’s guest post.

Quick shameless plug: Do you have a story to tell? Advice to offer? Did you just have literally the worst date of your life and you must write about it? I’d love to have you as the next Simply Solo Spotlight! Contact me at: simplysoloblog@gmail.com.

The Sky’s The Limit

This is my 3^rd guest post on Catherine’s blog. I only ever planned to write about a date from hell, but then my ex got remarried and that seemed like something worth sharing, too. And then, a couple of months ago, my life changed in a way that was unfathomable, and I realized I had one more story to tell. It’s the perfect ending to what I am calling my own personal Picking Up The Pieces Trilogy.

I fell in love, you see.

To say this was unexpected is an understatement. Not the act of falling in love so much, but rather, who I fell in love with.

It’s a girl I have known for a long time. Almost nine years, to be exact. We met through the blogosphere; reading each other’s words, we became friends, exchanging comments and advice as each of us went through upheavals in our personal lives. We both wrote honestly and openly, from the heart, and our mutual friendship, respect and admiration for one another blossomed over the years. We grew to know each other intimately; when you read somebody’s innermost thoughts for such a long period of time, you develop a true understanding of that individual. I knew her secrets, her dreams and her desires, and she knew mine. I truly cared about her. She was an amazing person – and yet, just a friend. How could it be otherwise? She lived in Nevada, I’m in Washington. I never even gave a relationship with her a second thought.

And then one night, I had a dream. It was passionate and erotic – but also sweetly tender. She was the one I dreamed about, and that blew me away. For two days I said nothing, but the dream had been so vivid and powerful, I finally broke down and told her about it. She was just as surprised as I was, and we grew closer than ever. Still, as wonderfully romantic as the dream had been, neither of us gave it much weight, and never expected it to lead anywhere.

This past March – almost a year and a half after the dream – we finally met in person. She flew up here to visit family, and we went out to lunch. Had a wonderful visit that lasted several hours, and then hugged goodbye. I didn’t think I’d ever see her again. We were both dating other people, and besides, 840 miles separated us. I thought she was a wonderful person and a great friend, but nothing more.

So, when she planned another trip up here in August and wanted to get together again, I was pleasantly surprised. Our frequent texts had taken a bit of a flirty tone lately, but then again, we’d never really shied away from that. It seemed fun and playful, but innocent. Right up until the moment she dropped a bombshell and admitted that she had feelings for me. I honestly could not have been more surprised. I was technically still dating somebody else, though we hadn’t seen each other in ten months. Long story, not worth rehashing, and it certainly wasn’t a relationship in any tangible form. But I told her as intrigued as I was by her admission, we couldn’t pursue anything. She agreed, but still wanted to get together for dinner, so we did. Afterwards, we returned to my place.

And then she kissed me, and my whole life changed.

That moment our lips met was electrifying. Years of pent-up desire and longing were unleashed. This led to an intimate, amazing night together, one in which we both experienced feelings that caught us completely off guard. Within days, I had broken things off with this other girl. My heart was singing a happy song and, obstacles be damned, I knew I wanted to be with her more than anything in the world. Two weeks later I drove to Nevada to spend a few days with her. We both wondered if our night together, as passionately beautiful as it had been, was merely a fluke.

Turns out it was not.

Despite the distance, we decided to try a relationship together. Between the daily texts and nightly two-hour telephone conversations, our bond strengthened. She came up for another visit last week, and in the midst of those four incredible days together – when I least expected it – said, “I love you.” And for the second time this year, my life was forever changed.

I love her, too. More than words can do justice. People say that long-distance relationships don’t work, but I’m here to tell you they can…and they do. As long as they’re not permanent. She’s got family up here and has been planning to move to Washington for years. And now she is more motivated than ever. Sometime soon – in six months, maybe a little longer – she should be here for good. And when that happens, the sky’s the limit. I see a future with her – and that gives me a warm glow inside.

There’s a lot more I could talk about here. Fate and destiny. The meaning of my dream. The fact that friendships can lead to so much more. But really, there’s only one thing left to say.

I am in love. It happened when I least expected it, and with somebody whom I never imagined.

And if it happened to me…it can happen to you.

Copyright 2011. Simply Solo blog by Catherine Gryp. All Rights Reserved.