My First and Last Special Ops Mission as Agent of Love
I say last only because this distance must end sooner then later. That is my mantra. So here we go...
"Hi, you don't know me but my name's amandarin and I'm a friend of Teece's. If I can come up with a ticket, could you get on a plane next Friday night?"
I stare at the instant message, this wonder of technology that connects and binds millions together with its instantaneous manner of communicating text, smilies, and even share files. My friends, we have come a long way from the Pony Express! Which is an apt description of my heart at this moment, beating like the pounding of a galloping horse eager to find its way to the end of its journey. Fortunately this is the beginning of an exciting journey, there is one 2,000 miles away that loves me as much as I love her. This distance is killing me. I almost blink before replying to Amandarin.
"Really? Ummm...yeah, I have some work stuff that I'm supposed to do but fuck it. I can talk to some people and work something out." I am supposed to be in Minneapolis that weekend but at this point I don't care. Those that live for work are doomed to die for that cause that is not theirs. You can't buy this and you most certainly don't come across something like this very often. So very meaningful, clear and true. She is my everything. I must do my part to make this happen this weekend! Thus The Plot begins.
Amandarin tells me she has a favor she's gonna try to cash in on. I ask her the odds because I'm into odds, it helps me cope with the days. She says 60/40 in my favor but says don't make any plans with co-workers until she knows for sure. In this situation I like those odds, the karma is good so I don't listen to her and set the wheels in motion on my end anyway. I am going. I have made up my mind that I am somehow going to be in LA by next weekend. I call up my boy AC and give him the low down on my plight. He wishes me good luck but isn't able to confirm that he can take my place. Damn. AC is my best man for this kind of operation. I can't worry about it too much, I have a ride to catch down to Tennessee for the weekend. Doing things Country kids do so that I don't forget how to do them as a converted City boy.
I try to hide my anxiety playing cards and enjoying a rotating combination of homegrown moonshine and bourbon. Naturally I make a lousy actor and discussions of my Love come up sporadically throughout the weekend.
"Teece is the most amazing girlfriend a guy could ask for, you should see the way she looks at me!"
"Teece is a camping expert, I bet she could kick your ass in setting this tent up."
"Isn't this the hottest woman you've ever seen!" *holding phone out with her image emblazoned upon the face of it and I a smile on my face expecting her to step out of it at any moment and plant a big kiss on my lips.
I am perhaps the most annoying heterosexual male in that I talk a lot about random shit. This weekend it wasn't so random. Mostly just her. Thankfully as the morning rays of Sunday awaken me I get this feeling that something is all good in the Universe. I look at my phone, no signal. Damn. There is a spot about two miles down the road that I remember getting a signal at so I hike down there. Messages and they are sweeter then a vision from Jesus. These are genuine messages of truth and hope, AC has officially taken my spot on the Minneapolis trip! This followed up with a text and voice mail from Teece, god I love her. I send my own multimedia message to her, pray to the cell phone gods that it gets over there and hike back to camp for another testosterone driven day of chaos and madness.
Monday morning we break camp. I go on my early morning run in an attempt to sweat off the two fifths of Vodka consumed the night prior. Its not going to be easy getting everyone rolling today but we need to get toto Chicago as soon as possible. Teece's friend DreamSchool is gonna be in town playing with her band and I want to meet her. Unfortunately it is noon and we are just now getting on the road. I nap for a couple hours before B has had enough and hands the keys over to me. Which is good because god love him, he goes 10mph over the posted speed limit and that is it. We don't have time for that, I'm going 30mph over the posted 75mph. This is more like it! I still have not heard from Amandarin which isn't a good sign.
I've looked up airfare on the web though and it tells me for a very reasonable price I can get there and back quite easily. I just need to raise some funds which is what I do anyway so it shouldn't be that difficult right? Ha! My boys are brokeass losers so maybe not so easy. I will figure something out. 90 miles out of Chicago and the rain is pouring down like Niagra Falls when all of a sudden my windshield wiper decides to eject. Luckily I am only a half mile from an exit and a truckstop. While inside I take the opportunity to call Teece. My god does she sound good! I am reminded the importance of this mission. We need to be together soon. We are going to be together in July but that is much too far. I've been without her touch for a month now and I cannot bear it much more. I've missed DreamSchool's show which sucks. I guess now I must focus on the plot.
I text my Love one more time and then fade into unconsciousness, seeking her in my dreams. We like to meet at our playground and that is where I go now. Find myself in my familiar swing, she comes behind me and gently touches my shoulders. I turn around smile as we reach for one another to kiss each other's lips. My hands wrap gently around her cheeks as I press my cheeks against hers. These dreams keep me sane in this insanity, dreamwalking with my Love.
Tuesday greets me with a smile. Morning phone calls with Teece puts a bounce in my step and a sense of lightness in my mind. I need to figure out this airfare today, her taste is a pleasant memory but I grow sadly weary of the memory when I know exactly how easily I can renew that memory with the reality. I have my own two leads for support if I need it. I finally get ahold of Amandarin live and she relays that while the favor has fallen through, the ladies have come up with 2/3 of funds necessary to secure my ticket to LA. I let her know I will come up with the rest. After going back and forth with a couple of my boys here I am left empty.
Frustrated but not beaten. I explain to Amandarin that I'm having some issues but will work something out. She reads me and simply says I'll get your ticket, cover me when you get here. I am speechless. This would not be the first time she does that to me. Speechless. My heart won't stop racing until the email gets to me. Finally after a few hours I see Orbitz is nice enough to say "Hello, here is your confirmed flight information." Hell yeah! I'm going! Now comes the hardest part of this entire mission, radio silence. I have Amandarin online virtually every moment that I am talking to Teece because there is no way I can do this on my own. She is sad. She needs me. I am happy. I need her. It is a surprise though and I need to keep my cool. Yeah right! Amandarin help....
Friday morning finally arrives. Countless text messages, hours of phone calls and days of instant messaging and I am certifiably insane. Her voice is so sad. Her work is killing her. I want to be there NOW. I can't reveal the plot. It kills at me. My heart aches, my stomache pains and my eyes tear. She needs me, I am supposed to be there. "Its only a few more hours," I tell myself. I wander to Filene's Basement to see if I can find a new shirt she may like to see on me. Really its an excuse to get outside of the office and fantasize with her over lunch. She has no idea how close I am and that puts a grin on my face. One more meeting and its running late. I politely step out and board my train to Midway. I've got a plane to catch damnit! I get there with 40 minutes to take off. Man, I'm gonna be pissed if security makes me miss this flight. Luckily flying is what I do a lot. In line I'm taking my belt off, the shoes have been slipped off and every pocket of my cargo pants has been emptied. I slide effortlessly through security and arrive to my terminal minutes before they open for boarding. I decide to call Amandarin.
"Yeah, I am about to board my plane."
"In Denver?"
"No in Chicago. Don't tease me!"
"Okay, I thought so. Call me when you get to Denver."
"Will do! I just wanted to let ya know where I'm at thus far."
"This is gonna be so cool!"
"I know!"
"Talk to you soon!"
"Yup, bye!"
I just recieved pictures of her in the mail today and they are in my hands now. Damn is she gorgeous! The scent of her hair lingers in my mind. Memories of the seventeen hours that changed our lives forever. I close my eyes and recall seeing her on the camera monitor of my friends condo in San Diego. A place neither of us had ever been to before. My heart was jumping with joy at the sight of her then. I wanted to grab her right there and run away with her to my castle far away. Instead we headed out for a walk in the city, happily consumed some sushi and later a fine cigar and wine together. But my favorite moment, the moment of complete and utter clarity was back at the condo. I went to the bathroom and came back out. She wasn't in the hallway or living room or kitchen. Then she caught my eye. She was leaning out over the railing of the patio. Her sexy jeans with the heart patch on her ass. I was caught breathless as I walked towards her. A trance like state as the Universe called to me, or as Amandarin would later put it, hit my across the head with a neon sign. My arms slide easily around her and we are one.
*Ding*
Shit we are at Denver! I'm getting excited now. I don't have to change planes which is cool but there is an hour layover. Well fuck, I can't sit here so I tell the stewardess that I am gonna grab a drink. She smiles and says good idea. I say, "By the way, isn't this the hottest girl you've ever seen" and hand her one of the pictures I have of Teece. She smiles and says, "Very hot." See, nobody can deny it! I down a gin and tonic in short order. It was super sweet so I consider another but think "Naw, let's get back on that plane." I give Amandarin one more call. She and Baisleac were grabbing dinner and would be at the airport to pick me up.
I board the plane and then talk for an hour about Teece with my neighbor. He played along and smiled with me. Finally the plane is coming into LAX. I can see the lights of the City abruptly fall as the ocean runs into the land mass of the City. It is beautiful.
We land and I am immediately on the phone. Amandarine describes what they are wearing and says they are just outside the revolving doors by the baggage claim. I can't miss them as I walk down the steps to the door as they have a big ribbon which I am going to wear for Teece. It has a tag attached to it as well from the ladies to her. I try to speak to these two wonderful friends of Teece's but little intelligible sentences are coming out. We exchange hugs and rush off to the vehicle.
I ask Amandarine how long DreamSchool has been occupying Teece and she says about four hours. I roll my eyes, "poor girl!" We are all kind of giddy, Baisleac can't sit still in the seat and echoes my sentiment; "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" My god never have 17 miles felt so damned long!
Finally we arrive. Everything about this place is beautiful, I cannot wait until this is the doorstep I walk home to every night. I review the plan with Amandarin. We are going to park in the back and walk around the front so that she cannot hear us coming. Amandarin has a camera and is hiding next to a bush. I am in the middle of the court yard and I call her.
I follow up my text message that suggested a delayed flight to Minneapolis by saying that I am sorry I didn't call sooner, stuck at the airport and so forth. Damn, thank god I am here in LA because I am a lousy liar and this is quickly going to fall apart.
I convince her to come outside and look at the stars with me though we are miles apart. She comes outside and I say "Hi" as I wave at her. She doesn't register it right away as she softly waves back with those sexy fingers of hers. *Squeeals* She comes running down the steps as I set my bag down and catch her as she jumps up into my arms. O my god does this feel so damn good! I bury my face into her neck. Flashes are going off as Amandarin captures the moment. I can't stop kissing her. We look at each other in the eyes and smile, more kissing. This is what its like when kindred souls separated by miles finally find each other again. I hold her tight and don't let go. Kissing her neck. She is paradise. She is my home. I was so very homesick!
Finally we let each other go and I am introduced to DreamSchool. We thank the ladies for being the greatest friends on the planet and they leave. I hold Teece again. My body blends in with hers. We fit so very well and this moment is forever. We are forever.
I love her.
"Hi, you don't know me but my name's amandarin and I'm a friend of Teece's. If I can come up with a ticket, could you get on a plane next Friday night?"
I stare at the instant message, this wonder of technology that connects and binds millions together with its instantaneous manner of communicating text, smilies, and even share files. My friends, we have come a long way from the Pony Express! Which is an apt description of my heart at this moment, beating like the pounding of a galloping horse eager to find its way to the end of its journey. Fortunately this is the beginning of an exciting journey, there is one 2,000 miles away that loves me as much as I love her. This distance is killing me. I almost blink before replying to Amandarin.
"Really? Ummm...yeah, I have some work stuff that I'm supposed to do but fuck it. I can talk to some people and work something out." I am supposed to be in Minneapolis that weekend but at this point I don't care. Those that live for work are doomed to die for that cause that is not theirs. You can't buy this and you most certainly don't come across something like this very often. So very meaningful, clear and true. She is my everything. I must do my part to make this happen this weekend! Thus The Plot begins.
Amandarin tells me she has a favor she's gonna try to cash in on. I ask her the odds because I'm into odds, it helps me cope with the days. She says 60/40 in my favor but says don't make any plans with co-workers until she knows for sure. In this situation I like those odds, the karma is good so I don't listen to her and set the wheels in motion on my end anyway. I am going. I have made up my mind that I am somehow going to be in LA by next weekend. I call up my boy AC and give him the low down on my plight. He wishes me good luck but isn't able to confirm that he can take my place. Damn. AC is my best man for this kind of operation. I can't worry about it too much, I have a ride to catch down to Tennessee for the weekend. Doing things Country kids do so that I don't forget how to do them as a converted City boy.
I try to hide my anxiety playing cards and enjoying a rotating combination of homegrown moonshine and bourbon. Naturally I make a lousy actor and discussions of my Love come up sporadically throughout the weekend.
"Teece is the most amazing girlfriend a guy could ask for, you should see the way she looks at me!"
"Teece is a camping expert, I bet she could kick your ass in setting this tent up."
"Isn't this the hottest woman you've ever seen!" *holding phone out with her image emblazoned upon the face of it and I a smile on my face expecting her to step out of it at any moment and plant a big kiss on my lips.
I am perhaps the most annoying heterosexual male in that I talk a lot about random shit. This weekend it wasn't so random. Mostly just her. Thankfully as the morning rays of Sunday awaken me I get this feeling that something is all good in the Universe. I look at my phone, no signal. Damn. There is a spot about two miles down the road that I remember getting a signal at so I hike down there. Messages and they are sweeter then a vision from Jesus. These are genuine messages of truth and hope, AC has officially taken my spot on the Minneapolis trip! This followed up with a text and voice mail from Teece, god I love her. I send my own multimedia message to her, pray to the cell phone gods that it gets over there and hike back to camp for another testosterone driven day of chaos and madness.
Monday morning we break camp. I go on my early morning run in an attempt to sweat off the two fifths of Vodka consumed the night prior. Its not going to be easy getting everyone rolling today but we need to get toto Chicago as soon as possible. Teece's friend DreamSchool is gonna be in town playing with her band and I want to meet her. Unfortunately it is noon and we are just now getting on the road. I nap for a couple hours before B has had enough and hands the keys over to me. Which is good because god love him, he goes 10mph over the posted speed limit and that is it. We don't have time for that, I'm going 30mph over the posted 75mph. This is more like it! I still have not heard from Amandarin which isn't a good sign.
I've looked up airfare on the web though and it tells me for a very reasonable price I can get there and back quite easily. I just need to raise some funds which is what I do anyway so it shouldn't be that difficult right? Ha! My boys are brokeass losers so maybe not so easy. I will figure something out. 90 miles out of Chicago and the rain is pouring down like Niagra Falls when all of a sudden my windshield wiper decides to eject. Luckily I am only a half mile from an exit and a truckstop. While inside I take the opportunity to call Teece. My god does she sound good! I am reminded the importance of this mission. We need to be together soon. We are going to be together in July but that is much too far. I've been without her touch for a month now and I cannot bear it much more. I've missed DreamSchool's show which sucks. I guess now I must focus on the plot.
I text my Love one more time and then fade into unconsciousness, seeking her in my dreams. We like to meet at our playground and that is where I go now. Find myself in my familiar swing, she comes behind me and gently touches my shoulders. I turn around smile as we reach for one another to kiss each other's lips. My hands wrap gently around her cheeks as I press my cheeks against hers. These dreams keep me sane in this insanity, dreamwalking with my Love.
Tuesday greets me with a smile. Morning phone calls with Teece puts a bounce in my step and a sense of lightness in my mind. I need to figure out this airfare today, her taste is a pleasant memory but I grow sadly weary of the memory when I know exactly how easily I can renew that memory with the reality. I have my own two leads for support if I need it. I finally get ahold of Amandarin live and she relays that while the favor has fallen through, the ladies have come up with 2/3 of funds necessary to secure my ticket to LA. I let her know I will come up with the rest. After going back and forth with a couple of my boys here I am left empty.
Frustrated but not beaten. I explain to Amandarin that I'm having some issues but will work something out. She reads me and simply says I'll get your ticket, cover me when you get here. I am speechless. This would not be the first time she does that to me. Speechless. My heart won't stop racing until the email gets to me. Finally after a few hours I see Orbitz is nice enough to say "Hello, here is your confirmed flight information." Hell yeah! I'm going! Now comes the hardest part of this entire mission, radio silence. I have Amandarin online virtually every moment that I am talking to Teece because there is no way I can do this on my own. She is sad. She needs me. I am happy. I need her. It is a surprise though and I need to keep my cool. Yeah right! Amandarin help....
Friday morning finally arrives. Countless text messages, hours of phone calls and days of instant messaging and I am certifiably insane. Her voice is so sad. Her work is killing her. I want to be there NOW. I can't reveal the plot. It kills at me. My heart aches, my stomache pains and my eyes tear. She needs me, I am supposed to be there. "Its only a few more hours," I tell myself. I wander to Filene's Basement to see if I can find a new shirt she may like to see on me. Really its an excuse to get outside of the office and fantasize with her over lunch. She has no idea how close I am and that puts a grin on my face. One more meeting and its running late. I politely step out and board my train to Midway. I've got a plane to catch damnit! I get there with 40 minutes to take off. Man, I'm gonna be pissed if security makes me miss this flight. Luckily flying is what I do a lot. In line I'm taking my belt off, the shoes have been slipped off and every pocket of my cargo pants has been emptied. I slide effortlessly through security and arrive to my terminal minutes before they open for boarding. I decide to call Amandarin.
"Yeah, I am about to board my plane."
"In Denver?"
"No in Chicago. Don't tease me!"
"Okay, I thought so. Call me when you get to Denver."
"Will do! I just wanted to let ya know where I'm at thus far."
"This is gonna be so cool!"
"I know!"
"Talk to you soon!"
"Yup, bye!"
I just recieved pictures of her in the mail today and they are in my hands now. Damn is she gorgeous! The scent of her hair lingers in my mind. Memories of the seventeen hours that changed our lives forever. I close my eyes and recall seeing her on the camera monitor of my friends condo in San Diego. A place neither of us had ever been to before. My heart was jumping with joy at the sight of her then. I wanted to grab her right there and run away with her to my castle far away. Instead we headed out for a walk in the city, happily consumed some sushi and later a fine cigar and wine together. But my favorite moment, the moment of complete and utter clarity was back at the condo. I went to the bathroom and came back out. She wasn't in the hallway or living room or kitchen. Then she caught my eye. She was leaning out over the railing of the patio. Her sexy jeans with the heart patch on her ass. I was caught breathless as I walked towards her. A trance like state as the Universe called to me, or as Amandarin would later put it, hit my across the head with a neon sign. My arms slide easily around her and we are one.
*Ding*
Shit we are at Denver! I'm getting excited now. I don't have to change planes which is cool but there is an hour layover. Well fuck, I can't sit here so I tell the stewardess that I am gonna grab a drink. She smiles and says good idea. I say, "By the way, isn't this the hottest girl you've ever seen" and hand her one of the pictures I have of Teece. She smiles and says, "Very hot." See, nobody can deny it! I down a gin and tonic in short order. It was super sweet so I consider another but think "Naw, let's get back on that plane." I give Amandarin one more call. She and Baisleac were grabbing dinner and would be at the airport to pick me up.
I board the plane and then talk for an hour about Teece with my neighbor. He played along and smiled with me. Finally the plane is coming into LAX. I can see the lights of the City abruptly fall as the ocean runs into the land mass of the City. It is beautiful.
We land and I am immediately on the phone. Amandarine describes what they are wearing and says they are just outside the revolving doors by the baggage claim. I can't miss them as I walk down the steps to the door as they have a big ribbon which I am going to wear for Teece. It has a tag attached to it as well from the ladies to her. I try to speak to these two wonderful friends of Teece's but little intelligible sentences are coming out. We exchange hugs and rush off to the vehicle.
I ask Amandarine how long DreamSchool has been occupying Teece and she says about four hours. I roll my eyes, "poor girl!" We are all kind of giddy, Baisleac can't sit still in the seat and echoes my sentiment; "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" My god never have 17 miles felt so damned long!
Finally we arrive. Everything about this place is beautiful, I cannot wait until this is the doorstep I walk home to every night. I review the plan with Amandarin. We are going to park in the back and walk around the front so that she cannot hear us coming. Amandarin has a camera and is hiding next to a bush. I am in the middle of the court yard and I call her.
I follow up my text message that suggested a delayed flight to Minneapolis by saying that I am sorry I didn't call sooner, stuck at the airport and so forth. Damn, thank god I am here in LA because I am a lousy liar and this is quickly going to fall apart.
I convince her to come outside and look at the stars with me though we are miles apart. She comes outside and I say "Hi" as I wave at her. She doesn't register it right away as she softly waves back with those sexy fingers of hers. *Squeeals* She comes running down the steps as I set my bag down and catch her as she jumps up into my arms. O my god does this feel so damn good! I bury my face into her neck. Flashes are going off as Amandarin captures the moment. I can't stop kissing her. We look at each other in the eyes and smile, more kissing. This is what its like when kindred souls separated by miles finally find each other again. I hold her tight and don't let go. Kissing her neck. She is paradise. She is my home. I was so very homesick!
Finally we let each other go and I am introduced to DreamSchool. We thank the ladies for being the greatest friends on the planet and they leave. I hold Teece again. My body blends in with hers. We fit so very well and this moment is forever. We are forever.
I love her.
