Because my good friend Ted has been insisting that I tell this story, and since I just got another reminder about it from him on ravelry, here goes:
Yes, you read that right. I'm moving. For many reasons, the most important one being that I met the love of my life and I need to be near him. Secondly, I'm VERY tired of teaching. Burned out. And have been for the past couple of years. So, it's time for a change. I won't get into the work related stuff, it's not important. I can say that I'm leaving while I still have a little self respect in what I've done with the kids. I've seen many teachers just hang on till retirement - not happy, not excited about what they're doing, not enjoying the kids, not enjoying their colleagues, and pretty much miserable over all. And instead of becoming one of them (which is probably my biggest fear), I decided to let teaching go. Try other things with my life. Be with someone who just loves me and all my faults. And start over.
David and I met online (I know what you're thinking - match.com, but NO!!!) on a knitting site, menwhoknit.com. Yep, he's an amazing knitter. I had e-mailed him just to tell him how much I liked something he wrote in response to a very scathing post on "decorum". He wrote back to thank me for writing to him. Then the next day I got another e-mail from him:
"I was looking at your knitiot blog and see that you are a musician and like opera. Are you busy on Sept 22? It’s a Monday but can you maybe get away? I have 2 tickets to opening night of the Metropolitan Opera. Would you like to have dinner with me and go to opening night? I know you live a ways from NYC, but… opening night? Renee Fleming? Dinner with a tall, fair, and balding man?
Hope you can say yes, David"
I read this over and over for about 15 minutes, and decided, "What the hell, why not make a new friend and go to the opera?" After I said yes, the e-mails and phone calls back and forth were rampant. Several each day, and we pretty much laid the groundwork on what I thought would be a lovely friendship, if nothing else. So, September 22 came, and we met, and there were sparks and fireworks and all that good stuff - even flowers at Penn Station where we met for the first time. So, it was a great first date (well, it actually lasted three days...). The opera was amazing, the places we ate were wonderful, and of course, the company was just easy and comfortable, and even better than I expected. Besides the Opera, we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the Van Goghs, and various other sites of NY. At the end of the trip, being a wise guy as I sometimes tend to be, I said "This was a great first date. What do you have planned for the second?" And with out a beat he says "Madama Butterfly". I said "What, here in NY?" He said, "I already have the tickets!" Needless to say, I was speechless for about 15 minutes (yes, it can happen!!), and as we were walking down the street, he starting to pinch my arm and say over and over again "Do you believe it now? Do you believe it now???"
So, we met again in New York before Thanksgiving, then again over the Christmas holidays, and once more later in the winter. In all, we saw 10 production at the Met (and even if your not a big opera buff, you MUST go! It's magical!), and visited many museums. And keep in mind, he was flying in from Oregon! So, it wasn't just the opera that kept him travelling! Tee Hee!
At Easter, I flew out to see him and meet the family (and they're just a wonderful bunch of people!), and we spent a week in Hawaii, which was really just amazing! Then in May he flew out to NY for the Men's Spring Knitting Retreat, and I flew out to see him in his first concert with the Portland Gay Men's Chorus in June. He was awesome, and SO proud! And I was so proud of him! After the school year had ended, I decided that it was indeed time to make a change, so I got an apartment, and I'm off to the other side of the country.
So, the summer has been filled with purging the apartment, throwing things out left and right, a very successful garage sale, and I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as far as packing is concerned.
And I feel that it IS the right time for a new beginning. Especially with David.
*There. That should make Ted a happy boy... LOL!*
I am so happy for you: for the change, for the new life adventures on the other side of the continent, and for you and David together.
I'll miss seeing you at Rhinebeck this year, though... ::sniff::
Posted by: Ted | August 17, 2009 at 07:50 PM
That is just sweet and wonderful and Very Excellent News. Does this mean, though, that we won't be seeing you at Rhinebeck this year?
Posted by: Mel | August 17, 2009 at 08:13 PM
awww i am so happy for you! I may have even cried a little. My friend Blase just moved across country to be with the man of his dreams too. Something is in the air :) be deliriously happy Pauly!
Posted by: brendajos | August 17, 2009 at 09:39 PM
Oh! That is wonderful! I wish you the best of luck in everything!!!
Posted by: Devorah | August 18, 2009 at 04:28 AM
Congratulations! :)
Posted by: Saffron | August 18, 2009 at 05:55 AM
Many congrats - and the best wishes for a happy future!!!
(((hugs)))
Posted by: knitnana | August 18, 2009 at 12:46 PM
You know I am most thrilled for you...and am happy for your happiness! You will be missed on this side of the world - but Oregon is nice...and being with the person you love will make it even better!
Posted by: Sara | August 18, 2009 at 01:33 PM
What a sweet romantic story! Bravo :-)
Hey...is that a shiba inu I spy?
Posted by: Janet | August 18, 2009 at 06:13 PM
Grinning ear to ear and counting down the days!
Posted by: David | August 18, 2009 at 10:45 PM
I am so so so so so happy for you!!!
... and I want pics of the new home - the new COUPLE - etc.!!!!
Posted by: tristanrobin | August 19, 2009 at 12:33 PM
You two are the best...it is so wonderful to have watched this progress and turn into something so beautiful.
Does the mean you'll be going to the West Coast Men's Knitting Retreat in Seattle?
Just askin'
Posted by: QueerJoe | August 19, 2009 at 12:34 PM
How awesome! I am so happy for you!
Posted by: J.P. | August 19, 2009 at 02:51 PM
Congratulations on the new adventure and love. You deserve it, you both do!
Posted by: Angie | August 20, 2009 at 05:27 AM
Wow! I have tears in my eyes at your wonderful sotry! Congrats! Enjoy every minute of your life adventure! (All the way across the country! WOW!)
:)
xo
Posted by: sandy | August 20, 2009 at 02:40 PM
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do that the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." --Mark Twain
As someone who just hit the one year mark of making a cross-country life change I'm here to tell you Pauly that life is amazingly wonderful to those who take a chance and let go and love life.
I am very happy for you and David, and wish you many years of adventures and happiness. Sending a big hug your way. You are at least on my side of the US now, maybe one day our paths will cross and I can deliver the hug and well wishes in person. You are one very special person, and you deserve nothing less than the happiness that has come your way.
Posted by: WanderingCyberspace | August 20, 2009 at 08:09 PM
So very happy for you. I hope the move goes smoothly and that you are wonderfully happy in your new life - both professionally and personally.
It takes a tremendous amount of courage to leave teaching rather than just marking time once you begin to lose that joy of it and I admire you tremendously for that.
Please keep us posted on what you are up to.
Posted by: Ruth | August 21, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Congratulations, mazel tov, and all the rest of it. Bravo for following your heart and the beautiful sunset and all of that. :D
Posted by: Norma | August 21, 2009 at 06:41 AM
Even though you know I'm familiar with your story, this précis of your past year just brought a tears of joy to my eyes. Tears~ as I will miss you and joy ~ because I have a grasp of the happiness you are feeling. This is an amazing love story. Just amazing and wonderful and......well, I don't have to tell you!
Posted by: Anne | August 21, 2009 at 06:55 PM
This is fabulous news! Best wishes to your new life!!!
There seems to be a lot of moving to the West Coast lately . . . hmmm . . . maybe there's someone on the West Coast that needs to move to the East Coast . . . you know, just to keep things balanced . . . (and make an East Coast bear happy) . . . just sayin' . . . .
Posted by: Tom | August 27, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Congratulations and thank you for sharing your lovely romantic story. Flowers at the station - how nice. Good luck and very best wishes from sunny (at the moment!) England.
Zoe x
Posted by: Zoe | August 27, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Moving to Oregon, eh? Think you'll be here in time for Oregon Flock and Fiber in Canby the last weekend of September? It's only an hour's drive.
If he hasn't already told you there's a wonderful fiber community here in Portland. One group is the PDX Knitbloggers; another is Portland Spinnerati. They're both Yahoo groups so check 'em out. Both groups are GLBT friendly.
Many good wishes on your new adventure!
Posted by: Duffy | August 28, 2009 at 06:53 PM
How completely and utterly charming. I'm getting all teary over here. Can't wait to congratulate both in person!!!
<3
Posted by: WonderMike | September 01, 2009 at 12:49 AM
I have GOT to stop skipping my blog reading!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! This is the most romantic story I just about started bawling when I read it.
Best in the future. You better keep updating...
Posted by: jessie | September 11, 2009 at 03:11 AM
I just bumped onto your blog and LOVE IT!!!!
Posted by: Trudy | January 12, 2010 at 10:31 PM
What a lovely story!! I know you were a wonderful caring teacher - I read those stories too! I hope your infrequent blog updates means you're crazy happy on the west coast!? Take care and keep posting. :)
Posted by: Laura | March 02, 2010 at 08:01 AM