The Morning After the Storm

The sunrise was beautiful this morning. I got to see it because I was up at 5:30 on my way to teach an aerobics class, a class that never happened because the gym was in lockdown. No lights, locked doors, and no electricity at the neighborhood L.A. Fitness because of an outrageous thunderstorm last night. It was great! Huge thunder claps, bright lightning that lit up the sky, and pouring rain - I had to sit out on the patio and watch... until the wind and an especially deep earth-shattering thunder clap ushered me back inside the safety that my house seemed to provide.

Until the lights went out.

Alone, in the dark, no television, no computer... what was a girl to do? Well, call the man of the moment, of course. My best friend wasn't answering her phone. And my other "turn-to" for chit chat was in a movie. Oh, and mom was working a late night shift at the nursing home. So I called the Artist. He is the latest in a series of many set-ups.

Set-up 1: Some co-workers tried to introduce me to a friend of theirs... I was a little unsure after the first meeting so they went with their second choice and now the two of them are dating. Guess I missed the boat on that one... or did I?

Set-up 2: My roadtrip date went well - no electricity or lightning bolts resembling those from last night but potential nonetheless. He is actually in town for the next couple of weeks and we are supposed to have dinner together. But I haven't heard from him yet. And my lack of concern just goes to show how enthusiastic I am about that relationship.

Set-up 3: One of my mom's best friends came to the 50th birthday party back in June... and was so "impressed" with me that she had the grand idea of re-introducing me to her son, someone that I knew during childhood. My only memories of him are that he wore glasses and he told his sister that he thought I was a brat. He is now almost 30 and is a successful artist. So, we went on a date. And had a great time. But he lives in San Diego. Another California man, dammit!

We've been chatting ever since our date - phone and email - and he's already asked me out on another date for when he comes back to Arizona in October. He was my knight-in-shining-armor last night and occupied my mind while the craziness of the storm swirled around me. My cell phone and the glow of my candles was all I had otherwise. So his voice was rather comforting.

Waking up at 5:15 a.m. for no reason isn't reason enough to take the sun out of my day, even if the sky is still scattered with clouds.