Posted in A Moment in My Life

“The Last Good Night”

A Moment in My Life – Meaty Monday, June 7, 2021

Jeannie Yee Davis

Remember the famous quote from Forrest Gump, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get”? That is such a profound representation of life. Neither the box of chocolates nor life holds what you expect to find. I’m adding people to that list. When you meet someone, you never know what you’re going to get. It’s true not to judge a book by its cover. I’ve learned I can’t even consider how well the relationship is going based upon our conversations. Who says if you’re hitting it off and “getting” each other, that it means you’re connecting? There are no guarantees. That’s the part that hurts the most. You think you made a friend, but the friendship fizzles before it begins. I’m not talking about a romantic relationship specifically, but rather relationships in general. 

One night, this lady from one of my FB groups messaged me and started a conversation that traversed into the wee hours as we got to know each other. I was intrigued as we walked the same streets growing up and never met each other. It was fascinating hearing her life play out on those same blocks where I lived a completely different life as if we lived in different time periods. 

When it was time to call it a night, we both expressed mutual anticipation of sharing more stories over future conversations. I was thrilled, and I sent her a friend request which, to my delight, she accepted straight away, only to have her unfriend me a few days later without a word. As superbly as we connected that night, she misled me into believing we had a connection, and I had a new friend only to discover that she did not share the same feelings for whatever reasons. From that, I deduced the only guarantee we can count on is while you’re connecting and having a fun time that you had a good connection at that moment—anything beyond that—there are no guarantees.

I met this guy during an event. He and I immediately hit it off, finishing each other’s thoughts as if we were two peas in a pod. We connected like long-lost best friends. I seriously need to stop being such a sucker for people with similar interests. I felt we had so much we could learn from one another. We moved our chat online, where we continued to discuss our mutual interests. As engaging as our conversations were, we said all we had to say a few days later. We both knew it. Sometimes, when you meet someone and have an engaging exchange, that’s it—that’s all there will ever be. He was the wiser one and knew when to end it. One night, he sent me a good night message, but in the midst of it, I read between the lines, as he wished me “happy days, always” before closing with a good night, and I knew that was going to be the last good night from him. At least he gave me a clue where we were heading—nowhere. 

Luckily, these scenarios are the exception and not the rule. I’ve met some wonderful people over the years who once were strangers with no commonality yet became friends for life. Like Franklin, who I met on Bart during our commute. After running into each other on the same Bart train many afternoons, we struck up a conversation, and that was it. We’ve been buddies for over a decade now. I no longer commute, but we stay in touch and meet up periodically for lunch.

Even longer than that, I have been blessed with my soul sister, Lenore, who I met over thirty years ago. She started as my late husband’s Star Trek buddy, and eventually, I joined in with their Star Trek banter. Since Lenore came into my world, our friendship morphed into a deep, meaningful relationship where the sky is the limit on our discussions. We couldn’t limit our conversations to one topic. After all these years, you’d think we’d run out of things to share, but that couldn’t be further from the truth as we write to each other every week.

Along with Franklin and Lenore, many more notable people light up my life with their special stars. Each has added unique flavors to my world, like a delicious assortment of chocolates in the box. Did I know what I was going to get when I met them? No, I didn’t, not until I got to know each of them. Luckily, like a box of chocolates, I don’t have to pick only one to love.

I compare people to a box of chocolates only to the extent of their unique divine deliciousness. Aside from that, people are complicated. Everybody has their story and their timeline, and timing is everything as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know why some relationships fail to work out, but I’m grateful for those that do. I much rather end a day with chocolate than with the last good night.

Leave a Reply