Mulligan of, "In The Mood(y)."

I wrote this a few years ago but never read it once it was posted. I was talking about M to a co-worker today and I haven't thought of him in a long time. So I went to read this installment. I am just seeing now that a large chunk never printed and made the story totally disjointed. I fixed it the best I could and I am going to republish it because I needed it to be right. I started this blog when I separated and had to jump back into the dating pool. My friends, it's quite a few years later and I find myself back there again. Ugh. Being single is hard. But I'll take that over staying in a loveless marriage or an abusive relationship any day. I hope this finds you all well. As always, I am grateful you took the time to read this. Thank you for giving me your time and allowing me to share. With much love, R

Some of my most fun adventures have happened when I've been traveling to and from NYC whether it was for Mastery or Inner Circle.  This particular time I'd had the pleasure of sitting next to this beautiful woman and her 11 y/o daughter on my flight to LGA.  The woman and I talked the majority of the flight to LaGuardia about raising our daughters to be strong women.  I'd, of course, had to tell her all about Mama Gena and even brought out my copy of the School of Womanly Arts, to which she immediately jotted down the title.  She'd told me about the different treks she and her daughter had gone on.  I tried to imagine my daughter and I trying to hike up a mountain together.  The thought still makes me laugh...What?  No room service? Evian? Nothing? I'd also given her my card from my studio (S-Factor) and told her any time she was in Chicago I wanted her to come and take a pole class with me.  She was just amazing, this lady.  So strong, but very hardened.  I was telling her she should practice getting her flirt on more. I'd suggested the tool, 'Finding the attractive feature in every man," (it's pretty self-explanatory as to what it is). She'd told me that there was a company car coming to pick her and her daughter up and since we were all going to midtown, why didn't I catch a ride with them?  Now, let me say to those of you that don't already know...as a Sister Goddess, this is normal practice.  Good things always happen to us.  Free rides in limos, drinks and dinner being paid for, flowers...just to name a few benefits of practicing pleasure over acting like a victim. So of course I scored a free ride in a luxury car.  Whooopeeeee! I said, "Yes Ma'am!  And, we're going to practice.  No matter what the driver looks like, we're going to flirt.  All that means is having fun in our own skin.  Think about it. We flirt with babies, with dogs, don't we?...We are just going to be in our pleasure...deal?!"  We shook hands to seal the contract. As the ginormous black Escalade pulls up, the door opens and out steps a 6-foot-something tall, dark skinned, dark haired, Mediterranean-looking man.  He was HANDSOME. Ridiculous-handsome. Make-you-wanna-slap-yo-mama-handsome.  I looked at my hostess, I looked at my driver, I looked back at my hostess, hit her on the arm and said, "Are you fucking kidding me?"  We both broke into hysterics because we were prepared for...well, shit, not THAT. I smile at him and hold eye contact for a few seconds. The driver grabs our bags, puts them into the SUV and we're on our way to Manhattan.  Neither of us can look at each other with out laughing. 
 "Thank you so much for picking us up, Darling. What's your name?"  I ask
"M,"  he answers very straight forward. No nonsense. (We'll call him M for the story)
"Really.  Great name."  I say and then my gracious hostess says out of nowhere...
"Why don't you show us some of your pole dancing moves?" (face palm) In the car? Very smooth.  She still needs a little schooling, but it's ok.  She's learning.  M doesn't flinch.
We get to my hostess' hotel and I get out and thank her.  I look on my iPhone and hold it up for M to see.
"M," I point at my phone and stand right up next to him.  He's tall and his shoulders are broad.  He's wearing a nice suit that fits his body and a Burberry tie. There's nothing like a man in a tailored suit. 
"This is my hotel, am I far?  Is it walkable, or should I grab a cab?" (eyelashes batting)
"No. I'll take you there," What a gorgeous accent he had. I've now got a better look at his face, his eyes are dark, his nose is noticeably crooked.  He opens the door for me again and I hop in.
"That's so sweet of you."  We have small talk.  I tell him why I'm in NY. he turns around to me and says,
"Are all the women in your group as beautiful as you are?"
"No."  I say with a straight face and I hold it. "Are you kidding," I laugh.  "of course they are.  They are the most beautiful women you'll ever meet."  
He takes me to my hotel, The Mandarin Oriental, and tells me he's been driving a Prince from one of the countries in, like, Bangladesh, or Kourtal (I know I'm spelling this wrong) for a week and he's been staying in my hotel because  he needed to be available to the Prince. He gives me his card and says, "If you need anything while you're here.  I will make myself available for you."  I thank him and I am dropped off at the hotel.  
I get into the lobby and, no lie, it is the most beautiful lobby EVER!  There's a huge crystal sculpture that I immediately make a joke to the concierge that I'm going to hang my purse on it.  He and I ended up becoming fast friends.  David...I still email with him from time to time.  He walks me over to the check-in. I guess my enthusiasm showed and made such an impression, that they upgraded my room.  I had a view of the Hudson River.  I pull out the business card and send a text to M, "I am the luckiest girl in the world.  I'm so blessed and you helped make my day.  Thank you.  And you're right.  The hotel is spectacular."
He texted back, "I'd love to see you tonight."
Uh oh.  
Did I mention I was married at the time all this was happening?  Unhappily...but married, nonetheless.  Shit. Shit shit shit.  Say no.  Say no.  
"I have my event with my girls.  I won't be back until late.  But it was a pleasure to meet you, M."
"I'll meet you after.  In the lobby.  I'm staying there with the Prince and the staff."  Oh, fer fuck's sake.
"Ok, but just for a minute."  Oh, nothing good could come of this. 

I got back from my event with the girls and texted M. He came down to the lobby to meet me. We sat in the closed restaurant by the window overlooking Columbus Circle and talked for a long while.  I find out he's not an employee of the limo company.  He tells me he OWNS the car service. Holy crap. We are the only people in the room sitting on the couch. It's dark and there's only the lights by the lobby casting shadows in the room. He holds my hands and calls me, "Habibti," which is Arabic for, "my darling," which ended up being his name for me in the months to come. Sidebar: Did I mention how miserable my marriage was? Did I mention I was almost 200lbs at this time because I was so miserable? Here was this gorgeous Egyptian man who was caressing my face and telling me how beautiful I was. Now, I never questioned that I was a beautiful woman, regardless of my weight. I never noticed I was heavy until I saw myself in pictures. I had a very high self-esteem and you saw it when you saw me. M leans in to me, looks at me with his dark eyes and his crooked nose. I can't breathe. Well, I could breathe but I think I just forgot to.  He puts his fingers into my hair behind my neck and pulls me in close. He pauses just before his lips touch mine and smiles. Just a small smile. I can't believe I can remember that. And then he kisses me in the dimly lit lobby on the couches overlooking Columbus Circle. We sat there for a bit longer and then went to our respective rooms. But before we parted ways, M tells me, "I'm going to have one of my drivers come and take you to the airport tomorrow." He kisses me once more and we say goodnight. The next day the car with my name was waiting for me with my driver who had strict instructions to take care of my every need until my next arrival to NYC.  Which that one was even more amazing. Whenever I would come into town M would pick me up, take me wherever I wanted to go, stay with me in my hotel if I wanted. He picked up my girlfriends and took them wherever they wanted to go. He treated me very well. But that's another post entirely. 

I kept in touch with M and when I would come to NYC he would still take care of me and my Sisters. He was attentive to whatever I wanted. *Sigh*
Yes, my Loves, I have but almost forgotten what it was like to be treated the way I deserve.  Today I'm going to pamper myself with a spa day.  I'm going to remind myself how I deserve to be treated and loved and if the proverbial, "He," is not on board, then, "He," is not for me.  I told someone the other day, "I put you on a pedestal and treat you so well, my darling, because I expect my seat to be right there next to yours..."  I am not a doormat.  Do not wipe your boots on me. *exhale*  And now he's gone...again...lol.  This time I think for good.  What's the saying, "Fool me once..."?  What about fool me three times?  Ugh, I'm not going to litter this blog with him and take away from my driver.  If I ever get around to writing about the other, I will...but not now.  I hope this installment of my fun, ridiculous, fluffy, haha life finds you all well.  I am standing for all of you and still believing. 

My song picks for today are:
If You Want Me To Stay by Sly & the Family Stone
Naughty Girl by Beyonce

I Brag I am strong enough to write about my life whether I make mistakes or not, I remain true to myself and have fun.
I Am Grateful for friends with arms that hold me, ears that listen, and hearts that are big enough to love me the way I am.
I Desire a new direction on my journey.