The Best Of PA

The doorbell rang and I quickly touched up my make up.  He was here .  My heart raced as I heard my mom answer the door.  There was muffled small talk before I climbed up the basement stairs to the first level.  My cheeks flushed just thinking of the last time I had seen him the week before.  He had driven two hours to take me out on a date.  Two hours worth of gas, two hours of time, and another two hour drive on the way back home.  Since then we had talked on the phone every night and the more we chatted, the more attracted I was.  "Danielle! Danny is here!"   My mom shouted as I neared the top of the steps. Yes I still lived at home.  I had just come home from serving an 18 month mission for my church two months prior.  I recently started a full time job at a local sewing factory (One of the last ones in Pennsylvania I suspected, since everything seems to be outsourced out of the US these days.) I round...

The next morning dread engulfed me. I knew what I had to do. I had the best evening in a long while, but there was something lingering. A very important matter was to be attended to and I wasn't sure I had the guts to do it. Josh. There was Josh. Just a sweet southern boy with a cute face and long drawl, and he had no idea what was coming. The sooner it was done the better and so with solemn thoughts, mingled with deserved guilt, I dialed the numbers on my phone. "Hey, how was the dance?" Gulp. He knew I was attending. I had complained to him about my mom badgering me to go. I never thought I would actually enjoy myself! "Umm, it was alright. Not that interesting. But Listen, we need to talk." There was silence on the other end. I could tell he was holding his breath. He knew, at that moment, we both knew. My thoughts were spinning, Danielle don't draw out the rejection and pain any longer. I simply needed to peel off the band a...

That was how the whole night remained. The two of us dancing side by side. Having fun, being goofballs. I loved how at ease he put me. All anxiety, fear and tightened muscles had released itself from me. I was free. Free to have fun and be me again. Free to act silly and do dance moves like, "the shopping cart.", "the sprinkler" and so on. And we never left each other's side. Each slow dance was mine with this delicious young man. I felt happy, lucky and completely smitten. I'm not quite sure why I seemed surprised when Danny asked for my phone number at the end of the night, but I was. He wanted to take me out sometime. "But we live so far away." I replied. It was only a two hours drive, but I was trying to figure out how "dating" someone long distance would work. Still, I was extremely attracted to him, and felt completely myself around him. And so I shared my phone number. He left leaving a kiss on my cheek...

The dance was in full swing. We were learning the art of luau by an instructor. The hall was decked out as a polynesian paradise. Shortly after a lesson of hip swaying and hand waving, a steady beat filled the air. People began to fill the floor and a circle had formed. I was suddenly releived, elated even, music does that to me. I happen to have-or should I say had-a knack for dancing. And I can be kind of a ham. So without further ado, I seized the opportunity and jumped in the circle. I did as many hip hop, jazzy moves as I could before I ran out of them and settled back into the circle. In the background I heard a guys voice say "No one is going to top her tonight." I turned to see whos voice it was. The blonde haired boy with the striped shirt had said it. And I smiled to myself. I steadily moved away from the crowd. "Hey!" It was him, I stopped to allow him to catch up. He smiled back at me. "No one is going to top you...

"Just go to the dance Danielle. You might have fun." My Mom was urging me to get out the house. I wasn't doing much these days, besides working, worrying and talking on the phone. "Ugh, no Mom. I am engaged. I don't need to go to Singles events. I'm not single." I was feeling a little more secure and relaxed that weekend with being engaged. And I didn't want to do anything to ruin it. April had arrived and the damp rainy season had settled the wind. My church was putting on a Luau, complete with polynesian foods, decor and dancing. The normal "Danielle" would look forward to such an event, but not this new one. I rolled my eyes to the many requests to attend. "Just go to have fun, not to meet anyone." My Mom's persistence paid off, even if just to get her off my back. I gave in and decided to attend this shindig. After all what was one night of misery? I'd gotten quite used to the feeling anyway...

He was gone. Josh had flown home and abandoned me with a gripping anxiety. My fears and thoughts were as fresh and frozen as that blustery month of March . But it didn't stop me from saying them, those three little words before our parting...I love you. They came from both of our lips. I had been giddy when it happened...but now all I could feel was a jumble of pins and needles swirling in my stomach. We barely knew each other. I mean, we did, but not romantically, not deeply enough. Was this right?? There are billions of people out there...was I picking the right person for me?? Prayer became a constant facet to my life. And I was desperately pleading for some deliberate sign....like a huge flashing metal contraption above my bed that said: "Marry Him!!" or "Don't Do It!!" We talked for hours every night on the phone. We could laugh and joke about things...it felt comfortable.. until we hung up. Then doubt and fear crept th...

In a fit of insecurity and second thoughts I decided I had been wrong. I loved him, I must have if suddenly MY: attraction to him was strengthened, our conversations flowed with ease, and the anxiety had completely melted. I had screwed up. I let some silly fear get in the way, that must have been it!! Why did he seem soo irresistible suddenly if I wasn't meant to be with him?? Once again just days after the break up, I called him up. "Hey Josh" "Hey, how was your day?" "Good. So..I've been thinking." I heard him swallow hard "yeah?" "Well, it's just that our conversations have been so good lately." "Yeah". His voice perked up. "And well my doubts and fears are completely gone." "Yeah?" "I just don't know what I was thinking because...I love you." There was a long pause before any answer and I held my breathe. I blew it, I just blew it. "A...

He was gone. Josh had flown home and abandoned me with a gripping anxiety. My fears and thoughts were as fresh and frozen as that blustery month of March . But it didn't stop me from saying them, those three little words before our parting...I love you. They came from both of our lips. I had been giddy when it happened...but now all I could feel was a jumble of pins and needles swirling in my stomach. We barely knew each other. I mean, we did, but not romantically, not deeply enough. Was this right?? There are billions of people out there...was I picking the right person for me?? Prayer became a constant facet to my life. And I was desperately pleading for some deliberate sign....like a huge flashing metal contraption above my bed that said: "Marry Him!!" or "Don't Do It!!" We talked for hours every night on the phone. We could laugh and joke about things...it felt comfortable.. until we hung up. Then doubt and fear crept th...

To tell my love story, I have to start from the beginning, which involves a mini love story before the love story-a chance for you to see the real confused and pushy jerk within me. We all have doubts and confusion about what is the right thing to do, what we really truly want in life, just most of you aren't crazy ridiculous like me. No matter,I will still share the story, because it is the story of me...and how I eventually met and married the love of my forever, Danny. Enjoy! It is a little bit all over the place and yeah I don't edit-no time for that. And feel free to judge.::::: "I'm not supposed to be here!" The words rattled into my head. Here I was standing in the hallway of a church building awaiting for the young single adult festivities to officially begin. Men and women bustled about, introducing themselves, laughing, playing games, while I stood there frozen in place, my heart beating with anxiety. After all, I didn't belong here, I ...