Hi,
This is Clay Stevenson and welcome to Of Mice and Moments,
A podcast that finds significance in the small moments.
I'd like to share three stories,
Each of a different relationship.
First,
I want to share a story about a girl I met in a small town in New York.
When I was around her,
I felt electricity.
I remember the desire to be around her constantly.
I wanted to be close to her,
But I couldn't tell if she felt the same way.
When I drew near,
She sometimes moved away and honestly,
That was part of what made me want to continue trying to get close.
And when her cousin counted to ten,
I intentionally sought her out.
If I could just hide next to her,
Maybe my arm would touch hers,
Maybe she would smile and laugh,
And we could crouch down together being quiet,
Waiting in anticipation for her cousin to walk by so we could sprint to the base.
We played hide and seek often.
We'd play outside or inside,
It was always fun.
I didn't always get to hide with her,
But when I did,
It was the best.
I was eleven,
She was ten,
And when I went home,
I still couldn't get her out of my mind.
I wanted to be near.
Those days are vivid in my mind.
Those days of pure and true attraction.
Friendship.
One of my best friends ever was someone I knew in high school.
We'd wait for each other outside of our classroom doors so that we could walk together after class was over.
When I was getting out of biology,
She was there,
And we'd catch up.
How was class,
She asked.
Boring,
I answered.
How about you?
I went to the bathroom and left early,
She said.
You think your teacher noticed?
I questioned.
I don't care,
She said plainly.
She was like that,
Honest,
Willing to take a risk,
And such an easy companion.
We would often talk all the way to the next class and then meet up for lunch.
If you ever find yourself in a relationship where you are absolutely comfortable,
That's a treasure.
I didn't have to front like I did with most of the guys.
I could just hang.
As we left school,
My friends would pile in the car,
And she was the first to drop off,
Living closest to the school.
But most days,
I went the opposite way to make sure that she was the last.
When she got out of the car,
We'd make plans.
Hey,
Let's meet up.
There's a concert tonight.
I'll drive.
She wasn't my girlfriend,
But she was a best friend.
Those days are vivid in my mind.
Those days of pure and true friendship.
Intimacy.
I knew a girl when I was in college.
She had gorgeous blonde hair.
Not thin,
Bleached hair,
But natural,
Long,
Flowing hair that catches your eye whether you want it to or not.
We had the most amazing times getting to know each other.
Picking her up to spend a morning at the beach,
Or making a trip to the amusement park,
We grew close.
I began to share things with her that I had never shared with anyone else.
It was give and take.
We both experienced a new and unique vulnerability that only comes through mutual openness and truthfulness.
The level of connection was deeper than any I had ever experienced before.
Those days are vivid in my mind.
Those days of pure and true intimacy.
Later,
When I reached the point in life when I believed my current relationship was the girl I wanted to marry,
I thought back on these three relationships.
Each one pure and true of attraction,
Friendship,
And intimacy.
When I reflected on those relationships and considered a potential lifelong commitment with my current girlfriend,
Were the ingredients there?
Did I feel electricity in her presence?
Could I talk with her for long hours?
Could we share intimate moments?
Yes.
The answer resounded loudly in my mind.
Though I was still scared,
I wanted to make sure that my decision was right and good,
But I couldn't deny what I knew to be true.
This story would have a fairy tale ending because those three girls were one and the same.
I married her.
The cute girl I had played hide and seek with,
Hoping to touch arms behind the oak tree in the backyard.
The best friend who would wait for me after biology,
Laughing at my jokes and impressing me with her subtle rebellious and cavalier ways.
And the girl I fell in love with,
Sharing true intimacy through openness and truth.
Love is by far a complex thing,
And I am by no means an expert.
But what I can say is that these three ingredients,
Attraction,
Friendship,
And intimacy,
Have been the building blocks of a connection for me that has stood through time and testing.
And I can only hope that you too will find the ingredients you need for a pure and true love and have the fairy tale ending you deserve.
Love is by far a complex thing,
And I am by no means an expert.
You you you you you you
