Nearly a year since I found out that Michael, the supposed man of my dreams, was a complete and utter fiction. At one point, he actually came out and said that the Michael I knew, the Michael I loved, the Michael I lived with was someone that he invented based on what he perceived my ideal partner would be.
It's been nearly a year since I found out that my 29-year-old romantic, hunky rocket scientist was actually 41, dating another woman, and engaged to yet a third.
This time of the year is always really strange for me because of some other things that have happened, but this year....it's a different strange.
I'm so grateful that I found out in time. I'm grateful that I found out before his wedding, even if it was only three weeks before. I'm grateful that the truth made all of the little pieces that were driving me so crazy fall into place. It all made sense. That made it a lot easier to handle, although it still ended up forcing me to take a break from school.
I'm grateful more than anything else for the support I felt from everyone around me. It was so good to know that people cared and that people were on my side and would help me out, even if we hadn't been very close in the past. Out of that fiasco, the "Team Pearce" concept was born, and last Saturday, that concept turned into an actual business, with me at its head.
One year ago today, I met Rider. What I thought Michael was, Rider actually is. No, he's not perfect. He's not a rocket scientist (he's getting his phd in chemistry ). But he's intelligent, caring, romantic...every day I wake up and know that no matter what life throws at me, Rider will be there to face it with me as a real partner and a true best friend. My love for him is more surefooted than any feelings I've had for a person in the past. Out of all of the agony that the false Michael brought into my life...he also made it possible for me to meet Rider.
Rider helped me through that mess as a friend. When he finally first took me out to dinner, he arrived with a single rose with a card attached. Inside the card was his social security number, and you can be sure that I (with the help of those who supported me emotionally) did run a background check on him. I ran his credit report. And he was okay with that. He knew that I would, and he understood why.
That first weekend, we made ninja gingerbread men and decorated them with icing and all kinds of props. And for all the times that Michael wasn't there, the times I drove myself to the emergency room and went through personal crises alone, Rider was there, above and beyond what I would ever expect from someone. When I had to spend a week in the hospital with a kidney infection, he spent the entire week with me. When they wouldn't let me eat, he refused to eat in my room because he didn't want to make it any harder on me. He only left to pick up some pajamas for me to change into...and he came back with a rose. And when my parents thanked him for being there to take care of me, he was honestly surprised. He thought that what he was doing wasn't anything particularly special; it was just the right thing to do.
I don't know why I'm writing this, but I felt the need to say something. Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Rider. These words aren't nearly enough, but right now they're the best I can do.
-pH
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
Things get better Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:he arrived with a single rose with a card attached. Inside the card was his social security number,
Oh man I'm usually impassive when reading about others and their romantic efforts but this tweaked me JUST right. Glad your man is solid. Posted by Wendybird (Member # 84) on :
What a wonderful blessing to come out of a trying experience.
Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :
I'm a lurker, and logging in to say that was beautiful. Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
I'm so glad things have turned around for you. I think it was finally your turn. Congratulations, pH.
Posted by Nick (Member # 4311) on :
Those ninja gingerbread men are awesome.
I'm glad things are getting better for you now Pearce. You've got a clever man, I wish I could be that romantic and creative at the same time. Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Ya know, it's been too long since the Gininjabread Force had a mission... and that's a good thing. Hard to believe it's been a year. I'm glad I could be there for you.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
quote:Originally posted by Goody Scrivener: Ya know, it's been too long since the Gininjabread Force had a mission... and that's a good thing. Hard to believe it's been a year. I'm glad I could be there for you.
May I ask what Team Pearce is going to be? It's so enigmatic...
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
quote:Originally posted by Wonder Dog: That was so sweet, pH! Thank you for sharing.
May I ask what Team Pearce is going to be? It's so enigmatic...
It's an LLC based in Florida...pretty much a way for me to do all the things I love to do - freelance consulting, artist management, etc. I'm actually signing my first management contract this week.
-pH
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Very cool...hope it all works out for you.
I know what you mean about dating idiots...although sometime I was the idiot in the relationship. Never mean or dishonest, but often clueless.
JenniK makes all the false starts and wasted efforts worthwhile, because without them I wouldn't be who I was when I met Jenni, and it may have never happened. Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :
The gingerbread are awesome.
And that is an amazing story! If anyone deserves to find love and happiness, its you. And selfishly, it makes me feel like there's hope after heartbreak.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
BEST COOKIES EVER
So glad things have turned around. You deserve it. Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
quote:Originally posted by pH:
quote:Originally posted by Wonder Dog: That was so sweet, pH! Thank you for sharing.
May I ask what Team Pearce is going to be? It's so enigmatic...
It's an LLC based in Florida...pretty much a way for me to do all the things I love to do - freelance consulting, artist management, etc. I'm actually signing my first management contract this week.
-pH
If you need technical services support in Florida (I'm in Miami), let me know. Hosting, development, whatever...
Otherwise, good to see things have turned for the better.
And what ninja gingerbread? All I see if a picture of a wooden tabletop... Is something supposed to be there?
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nighthawk:
quote:Originally posted by pH:
quote:Originally posted by Wonder Dog: That was so sweet, pH! Thank you for sharing.
May I ask what Team Pearce is going to be? It's so enigmatic...
It's an LLC based in Florida...pretty much a way for me to do all the things I love to do - freelance consulting, artist management, etc. I'm actually signing my first management contract this week.
-pH
If you need technical services support in Florida (I'm in Miami), let me know. Hosting, development, whatever...
Otherwise, good to see things have turned for the better.
And what ninja gingerbread? All I see if a picture of a wooden tabletop... Is something supposed to be there?
I may take you up on that...I am ultimate fail at web development.
And yes...the Team Pearce ninjabread are so stealthy that you will never find them to eat them!
-pH
Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
quote:I may take you up on that...I am ultimate fail at web development.
Since there's no other way of contacting you, apparently...
The story really did have a happy ending. That's so awesome. <cheers for team pearce>
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
pH, I'm so glad you shared your story's happy ending!
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
go pearce go Posted by Trent Destian (Member # 11653) on :
quote:It's been nearly a year since I found out that my 29-year-old romantic, hunky rocket scientist was actually 41, dating another woman, and engaged to yet a third.
Not to suggest that he is anything more than a villian, but that is quite a feat.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
quote:Originally posted by Trent Destian:
quote:It's been nearly a year since I found out that my 29-year-old romantic, hunky rocket scientist was actually 41, dating another woman, and engaged to yet a third.
Not to suggest that he is anything more than a villian, but that is quite a feat.
Oh no...I am quite impressed by his ability to live three completely separate lives. I kind of want to know exactly how he did it.
-pH
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
He did it by being a complete sociopath.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I'm glad things have turned out so well for you Pearce. You rock, and you deserve it. Posted by scholarette (Member # 11540) on :
i don't see how a sane person could do three lives (or would want to). I can almost get having 2 lives, but the third just seems insane.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
TheTick = inordinately proud to be marked as one of those ninja gingerbread men. Let me know when you have more than a placeholder up and I'll throw you a little link love. My reach is INTERNATIONAL (and somewhat small).
Posted by Sala (Member # 8980) on :
pH, what an incredible story. I'm so glad it's turned out way better than you could have thought possible. Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by Uprooted: pH, I'm so glad you shared your story's happy ending!
She's not dead yet so its not truly an "ending". But it is nice that the storm has ended and that at least sometimes it you hang on through the toughest times there really is a golden sky and the bright silver song of a lark waiting.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
). But he's intelligent, caring, romantic...every day I wake up and know that no matter what life throws at me, Rider will be there to face it with me as a real partner and a true best friend. My love for him is more surefooted than any feelings I've had for a person in the past. Out of all of the agony that the false Michael brought into my life...he also made it possible for me to meet Rider.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)