This Activerain contest was something I wanted to enter but had a hard time choosing a topic. My life has just been so full of - I can only call it - ADVENTURE, what to pick? Not until I read Margaret Rome, Baltimore Maryland entry did I decide what to pick.
Ria, my girlfriend of 40+ years. Photo above was taken at Elton John concert in Honolulu on January 8, 2012. Yep, we get together during the Christmas/New Year's Holiday pretty much every year.
Ria and I met through our respective daughters when they were in kindergarten in Mililani Town, Oahu, Hawaii. They felt we should meet because we were both German. As it turned out, Ria and I were born in the same year in Germany while bombs were raining down on us. We both immigrated to the US as young adults, Ria because she married someone in the service stationed in Germany; my parents left Germany after the war for Canada and when I was old enough, I immigrated to the US.
I had just gotten a divorce and Ria was going through a separation with her husband. Ria was a real estate broker then, and I actually got my real estate license but decided to stay in public relations and advertising so never did anything with it. In retrospect, I wish I had--but maybe not, because Ria is now retired from the profession, while I am in full stride with my broker's license in both California in Hawaii.
Over the years, we have stayed in contact, early on even double dating, and now I house-sit for her two cats and dog in her beautiful house in Mililani when she goes on one of her many trips around the world. When I go to Hawaii, Ria and I go to community theater plays, art openings, dinners, and parties of all kinds. You can find us at the Halekulani's "House Without A Key" oceanfront terrace listening to live music and hula. Because of our background similarities, we like the same foods (healthy), music (classical and '70s), clothes (tailored), cars (European made), flowers (all), travel (anywhere in the world - she's catching up to my early travel years), books (in print not online), and speaking other languages (she makes me speak German to keep it up).
One of many things that I value is the fact that we will call each other and there is no awkwardness about catching up. We don't feel we need to be in touch all the time, and frequency depends on what's going on, if we need to bounce something off each other, or share a triumph or hurt. Right now I'm looking forward to getting together over Christmas and New Year's when I am in Hawaii to visit my daughter and grandchildren. We will probably see Bill Maher on New Year's Eve, then go to Waikiki Beach to watch the fireworks.
Ria is one of few constants in my life besides my immedate family.
Comments (25)Subscribe to CommentsComment