As we danced and talked, I found out that his name is Patrice and that he is from Guyana, South America. Not only had I never heard of Guyana, I never came across a guy named Patrice before. We cracked up about the similarities between our names. Patrice and Patricia...that's too funny! I also found out that Guyana is the only English speaking country in South America.

Patrice and I talked and danced all night. There was definitely an attraction between us. I also found out that both of us were ending prior relationships at that time. So, when he raised the question about us going out, I told him that I didn't think I was ready for that at this time. I thought that he was interesting and would love to get to know him better, but it was just too soon. We did, however, exchange telephone numbers, and ended the evening with that.

As the months passed, we talked on the phone more and more, but never actually saw each other again. Patrice kept insisting that I give him a chance. I was still not ready to move on. After a while, the phone calls started started dwindling, and we barely spoke at all.

At the point in my life when I felt that I was ready to move on, I tried to contact Patrice, but I had misplaced his number and could not get in touch with him. I missed him. I missed our talks, the stories he used to tell me about his Guyana "back in the day", and that special way that he laughed, and made me laugh, too. Now that I wanted him in my life, I could not find him.

Then one day, out of the blue, HE CALLED! I was so happy. Almost a year after our first dance together, Patrice telephoned to invite my friends and I to his reunion party with some of his former schoolmates from Guyana. We agreed to meet each other at the reunion at 12:00 midnight. He did not show up until around 2:00 A.M. He kept me waiting for over two hours, but you know what? I was not angry, because I kept him waiting for over a year.

We've been together ever since...still going strong!

I love you, Poppy!