Guest Blogger Week: A love story
I’m from New Orleans. He’s from metro Detroit. It took a lot for us to meet. It took a lot for this relationship to happen.
I am so very blessed.
In April 2008 I went out of my comfort zone and bought a ticket to go to The Mars Volta concert at the House of Blues in New Orleans by myself. I knew people that would be there and people who probably be going so alone I went. Soon after arriving I ran into a relatively new co-worker, Katie. We were laughing and talking loudly over the opening band when I saw him. He was standing next to her boyfriend and I asked Katie if he was her friend but just my luck, a stranger. I made Katie’s boyfriend switch spots with me so I could stand next to the boy. As far as I could tell this guy was there alone. I am not very forward so I didn’t try to talk to him but I brushed my arm against his as often as I dared. I justified this in my mind that it was crowded and he wouldn’t think it was odd. I just wanted to touch him. How strange! I felt so compelled to hold his hand. I barely paid any attention to the amazing show taking place on stage. Then he talked to me! He asked if I wanted another beer to which I so eloquently replied “sure.” We chatted some but not much. I found out his name was Kirk and that he was from Detroit. I stood by him the entire night. It felt like we were there together, but we weren’t. When the show was over he followed me out. As soon as I walked out the door I saw an old friend whom I quickly hugged and said hello but when I turned around he was gone. I found myself thinking of him over the next 2 days and on a whim typed Kirk Detroit into the Facebook search box. The 3rd result kind of looked like him from the tiny picture but it was with a girl. I hesitated but messaged him anyway, “Random, but are you the guy from the mars volta show?” From there we facebook messaged, texted, emailed and talked to each other on the phone every day for 2 months (The girl in his photo was just his best friend.) In June he asked me to visit him in Michigan. I was so nervous. I just kept thinking how much of a disaster it could be. My co-workers thought I was insane and highly discouraged it, especially since I didn’t want to tell my family about it just yet. I went. I spent 10 amazing days with Kirk and we fell in love. I couldn’t help it. We cried in the airport when it came time to say goodbye.
He came to visit me in August and his 3rd day in Louisiana a hurricane hit Baton Rouge, where I was living at the time and we lost power for 2 days. Most of Baton Rouge had it worse though and was out of power several more days. It was awful. It was great. Everything was closed. We played a lot of board games and drank a lot of red wine. It was the beginning of my semester at LSU and we joked about me dropping out the semester and moving to Michigan. Then we started planning. I didn’t tell anyone until Mid- November when I sold most of my furniture. He flew down to have Thanksgiving with my family we packed a u-haul and my car with my 2 cats and we drove to Michigan to start our lives together. It was hard at first. Very hard. I’m from the south and I moved to Michigan In December and was stunned by all the snow. I didn’t know anyone. I couldn’t find a job. I didn’t want to leave the house because I was just.so.cold. Things got better. I made friends. I found a job. The snow finally stopped and I found things to like about Michigan, like spring. They have real seasons here! Not the kinda-cold winters and very hot summers of New Orleans.
He was in Louisiana last April for business. He decided to take some time off and visit New Orleans while he was down there. He happened to see that The Mars Volta was playing that night but it was sold out. He went down there anyway and managed to buy a ticket from someone in line. I love hearing him tell the story from his point of view. How all these things had to line up for us to meet. I am so happy with the risks I took, and believe me this could have been awful!
I’ve been in Michigan for almost 6 months. I miss home. There is nowhere like New Orleans but I love my vegetarian.
Written by Brittney
