Page 29 of Woodchuck Martinis


  Chapter 28

  I Solemnly Vow

  I’ve been reminiscing about my life and I have to say I’ve learned a lot.

  I’ve had some great adventures...and some equally great misadventures. I’ve met some wonderful people full of promise and have made promises to some wonderful people. I’ve taken the time to reflect on this enigma I call my life. I’ve analyzed it and dissected it. I’ve looked for the meaning of life and found that one road after another led to happiness; often in ways that took me completely by surprise.

  I’ve said many prayers that were answered exactly as I believed they would be. I’ve said many prayers that I believed were not answered at all, until I traveled further down a road and saw the magnificent result that occurred when I finally gave up the struggle and left my life to God’s better judgment.

  I’ve watched my children grow, turn into adults, leave home, and achieve successes that have made me proud to have been a part of their lives. I’ve leaned on them and they have leaned on me. Together we have experienced the richness of love, the heartbreak of loss, and the sweet thrill of accomplishment.

  I’ve been blessed with friends with whom I’ve shared all of the joys and challenges that come along with this paradox we call life. We’ve shared vacations and meals and Woodchuck Martinis. Together we’ve brainstormed business ideas and claimed victory over others in our lives who cared less for compassion and more for their own personal advancement. We’ve laughed until we cried, sometimes until martinis shot right out of our noses. We’ve loved each other unconditionally, cried for each other, prayed for each other, and tried to help each other see alternative paths on which to travel our life journeys. We offered each other helping hands, kind words, and compassionate advice.

  Together we’ve watched each other’s children take their first steps, conquer potty training, graduate from kindergarten, elementary school, junior high, and high school. We’ve watched them make mistakes, choose their own life pathways, and begin lives separate from our own. We cried for each other when we were left with empty nests and then laughed when we figured out how many advantages there were with the kids gone; like running through the house naked just because we feel like it.

  I’ve contemplated with particular interest my pursuit of Mr. Right and my knack for finding Mr. Wrong. With the advent of internet dating, man shopping has opened so many doors; some of which possibly should never have been opened and some of which have enriched my life because they were.

  I have had some crazy first dates and disappointing last dates, fallen in love at the drop of a hat, and found my own inner strength when leaving relationships that were no longer healthy.

  I have cried over love lost, celebrated new love, and found hope after every failed attempt at a relationship that the next one would be better. I have not become bitter in spite of the uphill climb in my search for love and remain ever sure that, although sometimes elusive, true love is still possible.

  The most important thing I’ve learned in my search for true love is that no matter how many men come and go in my life, my true friends will always be there for me; to comfort me after the loss of each relationship and cheer me on in my search for new love.

  To celebrate this new decade which begins today, I have therefore decided to take a one-year hiatus from dating. I will focus more on my family, career, volunteering, kayaking, and especially my friends. I will do the things I love with those for whom I care the most. I will no longer be distracted by the relentless pursuit of the proverbial perfect mate; a slave to man shopping on the internet. This I solemnly vow.

  ****

  Chapter 29

  On Second Thought...

  I know I solemnly vowed last week to take a break from dating for a full year, but I met the most fascinating man while kayaking on the river today...

  ****

  Together Lucy and her alter ego, Shallow Lucy, navigate life’s dating minefields. They battle for control of Lucy’s love life through dates with Toothless Stanley, the Son of Sasquatch, and Russel Crowe’s evil twin. Lucy learns more than she’s prepared to hear on first dates at times like the gentleman who came home to find his ex-wife with a sheep, a pot-bellied pig and a man wearing nothing but pink leather chaps and a fuchsia boa.

  Lucy leans on her best friends LeAnnie, Joye, and Kim. Together they dish up just desserts to a cheating husband, brainstorm and carry out a woodchuck rescue mission, and rid Lucy’s house of bats and a rat named Joe. When a crisis arises they bring with them an abundance of comfort food, wisdom, sage advice and martinis. A few of their favorite comfort food recipes are included for the reader to enjoy as well.

  About the author: Tammy was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has lived in California and Washington. She currently lives in Michigan which she has been proud to call home for more than a decade. To Tammy every day in Eaton Rapids is another day in Paradise.

  Visit Tammy at https://www.WoodchuckMartinis.com for more information.

  Contact Tammy at WoodchuckMartinis @yahoo.com to share your crazy dating stories and to order hard copies of Woodchuck Martinis.

 
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