Stuck in the Snow

It was me who called after the long pause in our communications. He told me he was sending for me, to expect my E-Ticket by morning. New York state back at Thanksgiving weekend made a lot of sense to me then. Today, I am wondering what mishugas was I looking for that I didn't already have right here in the great state, nu?

I always wanted to go to Niagara Falls and he said he would take me. He reminded me that they have a kosher butcher shop by him and that I could have what I need. My mind was filling up with ideas; G-D knows I have what to need.

He said, "You'll come and see what's to see, if you like what you see, the picture; we can get married already, nu? We need marriage," he assured me. I wanted it then, I admit it now. My imagination, rich as I invented assumptions of how it would be was actually breaking my heart. I was softening up, opening and feeling the warm glow of attentions, eyes on my every word. So what happened? He was late to meet me at the airport. Nu? I was getting ready to burst into hives, oy, my anxiety. Had he not been late once before it would have been new.

When he appeared and grabbed my bag, we hurried out to the car, watch the snow, the puddles and there's some ice. My new Texan way knows not from coats. I was freezing in my sweater, my cotton socks where wet as I touched down on his drive way, my foot went right into a pitch black puddle. He reminded me to watch where I step.

Once inside his home, I knew it was a mistake. I saw how he needed me. If he had any desire for me, from the looks of things, it was not clear. Nu, I thought, we could get a house cleaner, once or twice a week. That was my other mistake.

In the morning, the breakfast in bed was delicious and it was off to the store. He owns an up scale men's clothing store, was voted Best Men's Clothing Store in town just the year before....mazel tov! We worked together there. You should have seen me, dealing with the displays, I arranged the sock tower, pushed all of the socks ever foward, cleaned glass surfaces, tossed out dead food stuffs from the office, you get the picture. I was, for a weekend, the wife I never dreamed of being. I didn't even fight about it, I just worked my tush off. It was so unlike me, to have nothing to say. G-D forgive me, I thought terrible thoughts. What I would say if I could, senseless to report here.

During our discussions, we packed the car and headed for Niagara Falls. The weather was in my favor and from the American side, I could see Canada and thought about the other man who held my attention. He was just on the other side unaware that I was so close to him.

It happened fast. The water was gushing hard and fast over the frozen ground as I wondered if I was standing where my parents may have stood while they were on their honeymoon so many years before. I moved a bit closer in toward him and while the wind was cold against my skin, I felt my eyes wander across his face, I saw the stress. Cairo, Egypt stress transplanted into this new world, his smile cracking with the wind. He called me by my full name and in his own English, he made mention of what I dreamed he would say. It was a gavalt yet I knew I had to get home.