I woke up this morning and, while staring at myself in the mirror as I brushed my teeth, decided that it was time for a change... time to make a decision about something and stick with it... time to grow up a bit... time to stop daydreaming about what I could have done with my life at one point in time and just make a go at things, now... time to stop making a mess of my life and to do what I've known in my heart was right for a long time, now. Years, to be exact.

Fast forward to four hours ago...

7:00PM - I broke up with the girl I've been dating for the past nine months. No tearful goodbyes. No long, drawn-out explanation. Clean break.

8:10PM - I got in my car and drove twenty minutes to the bowling alley where my high school sweetheart has been working for the past three years.

(Background: We were engaged at one point, but broke it off because I was leaving for college and she was staying behind... among other things. We reconnected about a month ago and have been talking on a daily basis since. Lots has changed over the past three years, but not the things that count. I realized about a week ago that I never allowed myself a chance to get over her and as a consequence I am still very much in love with her. I dealt with that over the past few years by changing girls (meaningless girls) like I change my underwear... once a month or so. I'm not proud of that, but I'm also not going to dwell on the past.)

8:30PM - I got out of my car and walked inside.

8:35PM - I pulled her out from behind the counter, wrapped my arms around her, and kissed her like I've never kissed anyone before in my life. Right there in front of an entire bowling league, her boss, and several of her coworkers.

8:40PM - We finally managed to stop kissing long enough for me to apologize for letting her go the first time around and she reciprocated the apology. It took another thirty minutes before either of us could manage to let each other go. This was immediately followed by an extremely awkward moment in which her coworkers and several bowlers in the immediate area started clapping. I laughed. She cried. We left together... and I just finally let her go a few minutes ago. (It's now 11:14PM.)

Moral of the story? There isn't one. Take what you will from this. I feel really weird right now... calmer and more normal than I have felt in years. I can't help but wonder what things would be like right now had I just done something like this sooner. "Incredible" is the first word that comes to mind in trying to describe my night, but it just doesn't do it justice.

Night, folks. Do whatever you want to do with this thread... Flame me... cast your doubts... show your support. I could give a damn. The fact of the matter is that I will be married within the next few months if all goes according to plan and will likely disappear from these boards, anyhow.

___________________

1. Utah Saints - Lost Vagueness (Oliver Lieb's Main Mix)
2. Klea - Tic Toc (Paul Van Dyk's Re-Edit)
3. Alibi - Eternity (Inner City Mix)
4. Cirque de Soleil - Pokinoi (Sasha Mix)
5. Chris & Kai vs. Levin - Gone to Heaven