The cliff notes version:
"I'll see you soon". The text I sent after a day of messaging technically a total stranger from one right swipe 1800 miles away from home. & all I could think about was the sunset I was about to go see out in a park that has basically become a home away from home the last year. This isn't me, Taryn lord why did you let your app update your location? You don't even USE apps when you're home most the time. What am I actually doing? God I hope this isn't a catfish. I should really tell someone. Is this even a good idea? "Great, I can't wait. I'll meet you there!" Guess I am committed at this point. & as I got closer to the park knowing service would be non existent I opted to tell a friend...or two that I would be on a mountain with someone I'd never met.
Umm...so don't judge me (any conversation that starts off that way we ALL know has something unique coming next). But I am going to Valley of Fire for sunset and meeting someone there for a hike. & before you even ask this is his profile in case you need it. At least I had the basics covered. Thank God I have friends that are either half as crazy as I am, or at least don't tell me to my face I am totally crazy. As I pulled up to the spot I knew I wanted to scope out, I realized two things were about to get complicated. One, I called it there is NO service out there. Two, the park basically closes at sunset and with 8 minutes to spare this was about to be the quickest meetup ever. What am I even doing? Jesus what do you even say to someone that drove 45 minutes to come watch a sunset with you when the park is literally closing? Oh crap he's pulling up. Too late for that screenplay in my head to happen.
There he was in his blue Ford Raptor, which I later found out is his favorite color. Phew he isn't a catfish, and uhh...he looks better in person. As he got out of his truck I couldn't help but first notice the old school Vans he had on. Solid choice, I give it a gold star. I'm not even sure what he said at first because all I could do was look him up and down. Tattoos, the smile, the way the jeans fit his frame...damn he totally has a firefighter body type. Damn why does that somehow tend to be "my type?!" Shit, right he's speaking. Focus Taryn, say something. "I guess the park closes right at sunset...& had I known that I wouldn't have said drive all the way out here". Instant guilt flooding me and semi a weight lifted though because it's not like I planned to hangout again or anything...why would I? He lives 1800 miles away, it was just going to be a quick hike and that was that. It's not like I even meant to have my location update out there. Anything sounds good right now to convince myself this is absolutely nothing...it has to be nothing.
Before that thought even finished I looked up to see him looking at me with a smile that I still remember as he simply said, "Then follow me because I told you we'd get sunset pics". I don't know if I liked that he took initiative or what but I didn't even question it. We're literally chasing sunsets, what is this a Hallmark movie?! There's no way I am racing time with a man I don't even know, and wtf why is he stopping?! This is not how I saw this evening going. & damn it there's that initiative again as he notions me to follow him to a side of the park I'd never seen. Oh he's good...way to listen sir. I don't even know if I was truly thinking, or if I just wanted to see what would happen but next thing I know we made it to a coffee shop. At least you like coffee...ugh and he opens the door. Great a gentleman, seriously what am I even doing?! This must be a twilight zone...it has to be. I am about to wake up. Nope, instead I went to sleep an hour later after talking/sharing pictures of all the cool spots we had captured photos from. Not too shabby for a one time occurance...did i want it to be a one time occurance? "Thanks for tonight, it was a blast. Goodnight". His text made me smile as I put my phone down and went to sleep. I don't think I remember the last time I have smiled that much all at once.
Good morning....no don't send that. Hey how are you? This isn't high school don't send that either. WHY am I even texting him?! I'm here for one week, and I don't have time for anything. Good morning, I enjoyed last night and look at these pics I got. Guess my mind decided we weren't done talking yet because I hit send and 4 hours later we were face to face again with another coffee in hand. He isn't even trying anything, do I look funny? Did I put on deodorant?! Please tell me I put on deodorant! This man literally just walked to my car and gave me hug saying thanks for meeting me and have a good trip while here. Doesn't matter I had a job to do, but there we were texting non stop each day while sending new photos of explorations. Yeah, this has to be a dream...
"I want to send you something". What did I just read? He wants to what? Okay, but what are you sending? Now I am curious, but damn he's good and won't tell me anything. My random swipe had now become a text message, voice memo, and facetime "norm". I have no expectations, but oddly this is fun. A few days later a handwritten letter and a rock from a hike he had done made its way to my mailbox. Did this fireman really write me a letter? Did we just become pen pals? WHY do I want to write a letter back?! WHY am I writing a letter back?! Can I wake up now please?!
It just gets better and better because that Raptor pulled up next to my Rav4 out in White Sands National Park. He literally drove 10 hours to come hike with me?! Am I really chasing sunsets again all over the West? Oh god he's asking me to dinner. SPEAK TARYN SPEAK. Sure I say, we can go to dinner. All that hiking has made me hungry anyway. That adventure was two weeks ago, this is now 30 days since my accidental swipe right in the "wrong" location. & here I am with another 3 page letter sitting on my table from the same man who rocked Vans out in Nevada. Here I am coordinating another trip to go explore the West more and hangout. Here I am reading this damn letter easily 3 times, smiling, laughing, and smitten. Purely smitten. At this point who cares if we date, this is the most unique story ever...this is our story. Colleen Hoover are you watching me?! Am I a novel in the making? How have I already written him 4 pages back...
"This is our story". That text makes me beam as I scroll up on my phone. I don't understand why it excites me. I don't even know what that means. But until next time this is one right swipe and I am hinged. Until next time I am here for this novel in the making. Maybe this swipe is seriously the right one.
-Taryn
IG: Taryn_annette
Email: taryn.shaffer@yahoo.com
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