October 1, 2007
Hi, my name is Veronica and I am a soon-to-be single mom. Having grown up reading harlequin romance novels, it is no surprise I fell victim to the ever rampant “I think he is the one syndrome.”
I met him in 1996 in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. We were both completing our Advanced Individual Training (AIT) in the military. I was 18, he was 20. I thought he was kind of goofy looking at first. Tall, lanky with a goofy smile. But everywhere I went, there he was. Our first off-post weekend my friend Odie and I went to the mall. He kept showing up everywhere we went. What started out as a bit annoying became an entertaining game of cat and mouse. My friend Odie went her way and I stayed behind with him. He put his arms around my shoulders and started whispering something in my ear. I can’t remember what he said–or if he said anything at all. He may have simply been reciting the alphabet as far as I can remember. He turned me around and kissed my lips. That is the first time I realized how beautiful his green eyes were.
We got together for every off-post pass for the next 6 weeks. He asked me to fly out to Virginia were he was from to meet his family. He said he loved me and he knew I was the one for him when he first saw me walking across the lawn that seperated our two barracks. His words rung like those of the many Harlequin novels I had read when I was younger-probably too young to have been reading them! So, it was settled, I would fly to Virginia when we finished our training. He did introduce me to his family and it was great! However, I spent 7 days in Virginia, 5 of which were probably spent at his brother’s house in company of his dog “Wheezy”. Clearly that was a sign?!
To make a long story short -I saw him once in the next 6 years. While he was stationed overseas he would call me and tell me how I was the love of his life, etc. He got out of the military and I flew out to Hawaii to visit him. A month later he had moved in with me in Illinois. A year later-I was pregnant.
Looking back all of the signs were there! We were not really compatible at all. But I lived in my fantasy world of this romance that spanned an exchange of words over 7 years. I now have a 2-year-old daughter and am in the midst of a divorce. Beyond the lying, deceit and infidelity–we were still not compatible.
I started law school this summer and I have my own business. I have my beautiful Sofia and a very supportive family. However, the upcoming years are sure to be challenging.
I am petrified, excited about the new beginning and overwhelmed with uncertainty about the days to come.
Bills, Dating, Life After Marriage, Single Mom Stigma, Keeping The Peace With The Ex . . . Surely I am not the only one out there . . .
