It seems like Labor Day weekend is the time that the universe usually shifts my life. 8 Labor Day weekends ago…I decided to stay with the Ex Factor even though he finally revealed he was not ready to be serious with me. During Labor Day weekend 2015, I met Elijah at work. Remember I was “crying and praying” on the train? I thought God had answered my prayers but instead…Elijah was another lesson to be learned. This Labor Day weekend I was determined to undue the mistake I made on Labor Day weekend 2010. So I headed to my second home, Las Vegas, grabbed Harmony, and embarked on an adventure. My spirit wanted to rid my heart of any reminders of the Ex Factor but something strange happened. I missed him for the first time in years of traveling by myself. Most of my vacations I’m running to escape him but on this particular one, my heart yearned for 2010 him. I yearned for the guy I had fallen in love with…not the empty and frozen man he had become. I yearned. So I reached out on Labor Day. Big mistake. Everything was fine on Monday. It was the Tuesday that things went to hell in a hand basket. The Ex Factor text to find out exactly when I would be home on Wednesday. When I told him Wednesday night…he seemed disappointed so I inquired as to why. Apparently the Ex Factor had wanted to stop by and see me. You see…we hadn’t seen each other in almost two months. Next week will actually make it two months since I’ve seen his face. I had to put a stop to us seeing each other. My body couldn’t take him only touching me in the physical sense while leaving my heart naked and bruised. I needed time to think. Breathe. Focus on me. So I took that time. We never lost contact though. Somewhere in our conversation the Ex Factor innocently said something that triggered me and all of a sudden I was cussing his ass out! Full blown Vietnam flashbacks from all the times I felt he neglected or abandoned me. I had turned into a vengeful nagger. I was turning into my mother! Ugh! ? Now there are times he had it coming. 2017 has been no picnic with some of the shit that’s come out of his mouth but this time I was on one by my damn self. Before I knew it, the Ex Factor was promising not to contact me anymore. And so my last day in Vegas was a bit sad but it’s Vegas so I pressed on to wrap my trip up in a positive manner. The next day I did text to apologize for my behavior but got no response. Now here is where things got interesting. My flight from Vegas to NJ got delayed because of bad weather! Because I can’t control nature nor the airlines, all I could do was roll with the punches. When we finally boarded, in the aisle seat of my row was an elderly man probably in his 70s. He immediately started chatting with me. The elderly man was slightly overweight and was hoping that whomever that sat in the middle of us had a slim build. A few minutes later…the mystery was solved. A man with a fit yet small build sat with us and off we went. The first two hours of the flight, I tried to take a nap but there was a toddler kicking the shit out of my seat! ? When Auntie Kingston could not take the kicks anymore, she sat up and started blogging instead of losing it on the parents who could not control their toddler. Turns out that during his tantrums, the toddler was also kicking the crap out of my fit yet slender build neighbor. When I opened my eyes, the first thing he did was offer me some of the snacks I missed when the flight attendants came by. My first impression of him was…he was kind. In all the years I’ve been traveling alone only one other time did someone save me snacks as I slept on the flight. It was a really sweet married couple. Typically though people feel like if you snooze you lose so I’m use to bringing my own snacks…just as I had on this flight. The handsome stranger and I chatted for the next two hours after I turned down his snacks. We talked about our careers, families, our time in Vegas, and even online dating! I’m one of those women who needs a man to spell out his interests or I just assume he’s just chatting to chat. Somewhere in the conversation, the handsome stranger asked me if I was married, had children, and if I had a pet. After I gave him the three no’s, I explained that I’ve been wanting a dog but work such long hours that I won’t be able to get one until I have a life partner who has a better work schedule. He asked me what type of dog did I want…almost as if he knew that I already knew the kind of pup that would make me happy. I replied…a King Charles Cavalier… and then the handsome stranger did something weird…he typed the breed of my dog in the notes section of his iPhone. This was the first time that I sensed some romantic interest because that’s typically something interviewers do when they are interviewing a good candidate. Still I did not let it rattle me. We continued talking…rather easily. With my messy (from the nap) dark brown and auburn ombré hair and bright red, black, white, and gold nails, I continued to be myself because I was not really sure what the universe was trying to do. The stranger complimented me on my hair (when he first sat down) and then my nails somewhere in our conversation. That’s when it came up. What was I looking for in a partner….and I said “Jesus, Commitment, Pork” again. This time though…I said it without knowing what the stranger’s intention was. When Elijah had approached me at work Labor Day weekend 2015, he made it clear that he wanted to get to know me. Stuck on a flight across the country after a delay…I had no idea where the conversation was going…nor was I concerned about it. As we continued to talk about our different cultures, I could tell that the older man sitting in the aisle seat was reading a book yet paying close attention to the conversation the handsome stranger and I were having. Shortly before my eyes darted to the stars in the sky (as we got closer to our airport), the stranger asked me for my phone number and to my surprise, I gave it to him. I’m always hesitant to exchange numbers with a guy because my guy radar isn’t that good. But once again, I was too tired to even focus on that. I let the universe guide me…along with the stars. As I stared out the window and prayed my Daddy didn’t get stuck at work and would be able to pick me up from the airport…the stranger and the older man ensued in a conversation. In the midst of my ears popping, I could have sworn that I heard the older man tell the stranger that I was beautiful, smart, and spiritual and that the stranger should get my phone number (which he had already). But once again, I focused on the stars. No time to pay attention to whatever the universe had planned. Wait a minute….let’s back it up. I just remembered that it was after I uttered the words “Jesus, Commitment, Pork” that the stranger asked me for my number. He said he liked my philosophy on life and asked if I was more religious than spiritual. My answer was I’m more spiritual though I am Catholic on paper. Jesus, Commitment, Pork….that’s the essence of who I am. I believe in a higher power, I now believe in commitment, and I definitely cannot date a man that cannot eat pork bacon! Lol. When we landed, the older man told me that he has three adopted black daughters from the continent of Africa and he worries about their happiness. The older man said that black women are so phenomenal yet black men can be so disappointing! ?? Then he whispered to me…”keep in touch with that guy. I have a good feeling about him.” And that was my time on United Airlines Flight 1906 from Vegas to NJ. ? My Daddy was there when I landed and life continued on. I’ve since spoken to the stranger from that flight and while he seems super sweet…I won’t make the mistake of thinking he was God sent (like I did with Elijah) because of his timing! I’m in no rush to get anywhere nor make anyone my anything. And you still just never know about the Ex Factor and I…for all things are possible through Christ. ~KJM on Serenity Saturday. ?
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