It's always an amazing time when you're just getting to know somebody special! The butterflies! Anticipation! That feeling you get when the phone rings! Talking on the phone until you can't stay awake any longer. And smiling... Smiling... Smiling...

When I'm falling in love there is nothing in the world that I can't do! Everything in my life comes together!

Denise was maybe the coolest girl I'd ever dated! And... She did all the right things! I mean as far as being an "active member of society!" She was a proper grown-up. She had a job. She went to school. And that had to be her priority. She refused to ever let a relationship put either of them in jeopardy. I had to be patient!

Patience not being one of my strong suits, I would occasionally try to get her attention away from her books. Sitting on my knees in front of her. I would burrow my way under the book in her hands until it was resting behind my neck, my back arched across her lap and my face nestled in, just under her chin. My arms wrapped around her waist I would look up at her with my best puppy dog eyes and she still wouldn't quit early! That look had failed me before and yet she refused to be deterred! Damn! She was so cool!

That's why I still have the note she wrote me, so many years ago, on a small scrap of paper torn from a worksheet at work.

I had dropped by the club to see her and even though she was with a client, she handed me the note before signalling to me that she would be ready for lunch soon and to wait outside. I opened it and read:

"-- watching you get off was worth being six minutes late to work!--"