I Guess a Drink is Out of the Question? 

Chapter One

After the second day in the hospital, things were not looking good. She lay there, completely out of it, fogged over by the anti-seizure meds. Her skin was sullen and seemingly turned more yellow by the minute. Jaundice. She had been perfectly healthy. Did this all happen yesterday? Or was it the day before? The numbers were all wrong, still heading in the opposite direction of healthy. Liver enzymes skyrocketed into the heavens, blood counts continued to dive deep into the abyss, and it was all happening far too quickly.

He sat in the sterile room at Lankenau Hospital, exhausted and hunched over, head hanging heavily in his hands. The constant beeping of monitors had become white noise. Flowers and cards lined the window sill. There had been blood tests and ultrasounds. The orderly had apologized profusely as he wheeled the hospital bed back from the last test. She looked horrible and had obviously been crying. Left completely alone in a hallway, for half an hour in severe pain. Alone. He was furious, why hadn’t they allowed him to accompany her? Alone. Crying. Severe pain. The anger had subsided and now, he was just plain exhausted. A feeling of desperation took over. Please God, help her! Help me. He glanced up at the hospital bed and grasped the cold metal guard rail, thinking this is not what I signed up for. Taking a deep breath, he slowly shook his head from side to side, trying to will it all away. The love of his life, here one day and gone the next…it’s just not supposed to happen this way.

Startled back to reality from the tap on the door, he jumped to his feet and the doctor entered the room. “It’s time” said Dr. Fox. They stepped just outside of the room and Dr. Fox walked through the procedures. He nodded  understandingly and mentally prepared himself. The medical staff had already explained that this was their last option, a bit of a “Hail Mary”. He walked back into the room, slid the chair as close to her bedside as possible, grasped her hand, and began to pray silently. As the staff poured steadily into the room, they quickly hung the bag of murky dull orange liquid, hooked everything up and pure quiet took over the room. The blood transfusion was underway and all eyes were on her limp and almost lifeless body. He could smell the urgency and taste his own fear. The minutes felt like hours as he began to sweat, heart pounding loudly, panic setting in. In their heart of hearts, they all knew that if this was not successful, her final breath would follow shortly thereafter. And then he would be planning a funeral.

Thinking about falling in love, let alone finding somebody at his stage of his life was scary and unnerving. After meeting this complete stranger and listening to his story, I thought about how many other people out in the world might be going through the same thing.

His daughter was heading off to college soon and he was so worried about what he was going to do. He also said that she really wanted to see him happy again. How he was going to meet someone new to love and how was he going to handle the quiet, empty house? He was caught in his own tornado of thoughts worrying about her happiness and his own. One thing I do know is that nothing will ever happen if you sit at home worrying. We had such a great conversation and he began to embrace the concept of hope again. So awesome! He started to make plans to try out some new activities and pick up some of his old favorites. A baseball league, mountain biking, maybe yoga or even an art class. Yes, just getting out there means you may meet someone new! When you’re happy doing the things you love, it shows. People want to be around happy people. It’s contagious. You have a better chance of meeting someone when you are doing what you love!  I couldn’t be happier that our conversation gave him hope. The crazy fun way my wife and I met helped him to believe that it could happen to him. Guess what? It can happen to anyone! Get in the right mind set, be happy and positive, be willing to take a chance, and yes, anything can happen.

He was SO excited to read our book. We hope it will give him and others the hope to believe in love. It is never too late, no matter your situation. Love can still happen to him and to anyone IF you believe. Have hope and BELIEVE… Its all about love!

In that short bit of time, good vibrations were shared and the contagiousness of love lit up the room. Our conversation was happy and positive. I have heard this collision of two people interacting in life and sharing in this way being called a “Holy Moment.”  It can spread like ripples in a pond. People love LOVE and they love to be around people IN LOVE. Spread the joy and this world can and will be a better place to live.

Later that evening, the two ended up at a mutual friend’s house. What are the chances? Alyssa stopped by with some girlfriends, she was on a mission to find that man! Christopher noticed her too, but he was already headed home for the night.

Alyssa asked around to get his name and then “window tapped” him on Instagram. The cat and mouse social media game had seemingly begun. She “followed” him and he “followed” her right back. Christopher even had a friend take a picture of him walking on Aronimink’s golf course so that he could post it and grab her attention. Of course she “liked” it right away, game on! This went on for quite a while. Neither were quite sure how to make the first move.

Cupid intervened and Christopher received an interesting text from an old friend he had taken to prom. The text read I have the perfect girl for you! Intrigued immediately, he picked up the phone and called her. As it turned out, his prom date knew Alyssa and a first date was arranged. Christopher arrived at 6:45pm, fifteen minutes early for their 7pm date. And he waited…

Alyssa had friends come over to help her choose what to wear and of course, she needed to have a few cocktails to settle her nerves. After several outfit changes, she was on her way. Alyssa walked into the White Dog Cafe in Wayne at 7:15pm.

Alyssa’s friends had chauffeured her to and from her first date. Despite her nerves and late arrival, the evening was spectacular!  Christopher didn’t wait too long to ask her for a second date and two days later they went to Applebrook Golf Club to try out their golf simulator. Christopher watched Alyssa as she executed a perfect backswing. Unfortunately, the remainder of the swing did not pan out quite the same. As the club hit the floor, the ball catapulted to the ceiling and came straight back at her face, hitting her square in the nose. Two black eyes and a sore nose, Alyssa was mortified, but she still had butterflies in her stomach.  Christopher couldn’t believe what a good sport she was about it, could this be love? Shortly thereafter he asked her to be his girlfriend. Alyssa was overjoyed and blurted out the first thing that came to her “are you sure?”  Disarmingly honest and real, she was perfect for him!  Shortly thereafter, they moved in together.

A year and a half later in August 2022, Alyssa’s birthday was right around the corner. Determined to make it a complete surprise, Christopher was ready to pop the question. Alyssa started to plan her own 70’s themed  “Slim Aarons” birthday celebration. She made all of the arrangements and invited her friends. As her birthday approached, Alyssa started to get annoyed. How could he let her plan this whole party? She became irritable, shocked by his uncharacteristic selfish behavior. Meanwhile, Christopher was trying to act normal and play it cool. He hinted about a surprise and led her to believe it may be a puppy. He was really worried that she might be onto him.

The morning of her birthday party, they played pickleball and then headed out for lunch. There was still a little time before the party started so Christopher suggested a walk at Saw Mill Creek Park for a “surprise”, which Alyssa immediately thought meant there was a dog waiting. Christopher had something else in mind and everything had already been arranged. They enjoyed a nice stroll through the park, but there was still a bit of tension in the air until Alyssa noticed the silver ice bucket with champagne. Her heart melted and she was speechless as Christopher proposed. The next chapter of their magical journey as a couple was official. As they arrived at Alyssa’s birthday party, she was pleasantly surprised again with a boatload of added friends that Christopher had secretly invited. It was a perfect day!

The wedding is set to take place in Ireland in 2024 with family and friends. For the record, she had no idea. The surprise was a success. As he slipped the ring on her finger, he saw the 70’s inspired manicure and knew instantly.  If she had known, it surely would have been a French manicure for the engagement photos! Real life, real love! Best wishes and lucky shamrocks to this beautiful and amazing happy couple!