It is always great to be able and rekindle connections from the past and catch up on what is new and has happened since. Yesterday I was able to do exactly that, yet, this time it was much different compared to any other case.
About six years ago I was on my way from Germany to the US to see my boyfriend at the time. We were going through a bit of a rough time. So things were not too bloomy.
I happened to have a flight booked exactly one day after the terror attacks in London which resulted in the immediate decision to forbid any type of liquids on flights and several other new rules.
I was scheduled to leave from Duesseldorf International airport and was on my way through the security scan when I noticed this very handsome guy right behind me in a very stylish looking suit. It made him stand out from the crowd and certainly caught my attention.
It didn't take long and he initiated a conversation with me telling me that he had just come from London and was on his way to Vegas for a tourism expo. We exchanged a few words until I was ready to proceed after being scanned from top to bottom. I thanked him for the conversation and wished him a wonderful and safe trip to Vegas. Needless to say, the same moment I was saying my Goodbyes I as getting ready to bite myself in my behinds. I really would have, if I could have. What was wrong with me?! He was handsome, seemingly smart, very sweet and sooo handsome!
Interestingly, both of us being German, we were speaking English during the brief conversation.
Coming out of the restrooms I saw him and noticed him looking at me for a moment but it was too late and the plane was getting boarded.
I had been sitting in my seat for about an hour thinking non-stop about what an idiot I was and how I could possibly get back in touch with him. Then I decided to grab a piece of paper and write a note. I used something I had read in Malcom Gladwell's "Tipping Point" about 'connectors', 'sales men' and 'mavens' and turned it into something very original; at least I was proud of it and it had me hopeful that it made this rather childish piece of paper appear less such.
When the flight attendant was walking by I tabbed him carefully on his arm to ask him if he would be so kind and bring this note to the gentleman in business class whose name I didn't have but at least I had somewhat good of a description. How many men are there walking around in a velvet jacket and actually look outstanding in it...
The flight attendant told me that he would see what he could do.
About half an hour later he came back with a note which said "I have to work for a while but I will make sure we will get to talk once I am done".
It took a few hours until the flight attendant came back with him by his side and asked me, if I could follow him to the back of the plane where he had arranged for two seats for us.
From there we talked the whole flight and the entire time I could not help but think about how badly I wanted to kiss that stranger.
We separated and took our original seats when we were getting close to landing. The flight attendant came back to me one more time to bring the care package with tooth paste and other useful items that Kai, that was his name, was willing to pass on to me.
We met again at customs which gave us some additional time together while waiting time but then we definitely had to part ways. It was really weird. There I was with this complete stranger whom I didn't want to take my eyes off and do nothing more but kiss right then and there.
NOTHING though and of course we eventually turned around to each walk our own direction to never meet again.
We did exchange our numbers and email addresses and continued to stay in touch for a while.
After a few months it faded though and soon the emails and phone calls stopped until I would stop thinking about that day all together.
Strangely, once a year he all the sudden would cross my mind and I would go into my email account and pull up his address to send him a note or he would. Surprisingly we would think of one another around the same time each year in spring.
Last year again, I sent an email but this time with no response...
While sitting in front of my office PC yesterday, all the sudden after over a year had gone by without me thinking about him, all the sudden he crossed my mind. So I typed his name into Google and the first two links revealed that he had taken on a new position and lucky enough - the link even held his current business email address.
I didn't have to invest much time debating whether or not to send him a note and to my surprise within just a few minutes I had a positive response. I just couldn't believe it and it absolutely made my day, turning it from an ordinary day into something special.
We exchanged a few emails until I called him moments later to spend an hour on the phone and catch up on as much as time allowed.
He remembered even a few more details than I did about that day and told me that he was wanting to turn around so badly and kiss me when we were parting at the airport, and that up until today he would think about this when flying places.
We have decided to keep in touch until spring and then see, if he could make a pitstop in Atlanta when on one of his business trip to the US for us to catch up on a chance we both missed years ago. :-)
