“I’m not a teacher: only a fellow traveler of whom you asked the way. I pointed ahead – ahead of myself as well as you.” – George Benard Shaw
For a year after the divorce, I continued doing my personal work, spending time with my children and close friends, and handling my busy law and mediation practice. One day Joe, the man who schedules my mediations at the court program, sent me an email .
“Do you think you are ready to meet a guy?”
Yikes! Was I ready to meet a man? Although I was not searching for romance, I knew it was probably a good idea to start meeting people outside my cocoon. I said “yes” to Joe’s inquiry and he set up a dinner on the patio of a local restaurant to introduce me to Cal. Joe and his wife agreed to accompany us because I was a nervous wreck.
When I walked up to the table, Cal stood, introducing himself and extending his hand. I immediately felt at ease and sensed a gentle energy. He pulled my chair out so I could be seated. “Would you like something to eat?” he asked as Joe ordered up a round of beers for all of us. Cal and I began that awkward chitchat when you first meet someone, only with Cal it was easy and fun. We continued to chat after Joe and his wife left and agreed to meet the following week.
Cal was a professor at the local medical school, and had been single for years after having been once divorced. He was very dedicated to his work as an anatomist. “You have such a lovely clavicle” he’d commented when I wore a strapless dress to a party we attended after we began to spend time together. Spoken like a true anatomist. Continue reading