The Meeting...
Gloria POV: I showed up at AJ's Bar in Davenport because I wanted to participate in Talent Quest and had missed the deadline to sing in Lakeland. The place seemed alright and people were friendly. Of course, I noticed the KJ! He was a fantastic singer and he was married (Afterall, he was wearing a ring on his finger). At her second visit, though, I learned that the I had caught the KJ's eye. Oh?! Well, I guess he'll chat me up when he's ready.
Tim POV: I was getting ready for my show and Talent Quest when we first met. Gloria was very polite and seemed to be as interested in singing as I am. I always love when people are enthusiastic about music. She told me she found my show because she was wanting to audition for Talent Quest and all the venues in her neck of the woods had already taken place. I heard her warm up with a song and was quite impressed. I thought to myself "HMM, I would like to sing a few duets with this one!!!" Interesting........
Tim POV: I was getting ready for my show and Talent Quest when we first met. Gloria was very polite and seemed to be as interested in singing as I am. I always love when people are enthusiastic about music. She told me she found my show because she was wanting to audition for Talent Quest and all the venues in her neck of the woods had already taken place. I heard her warm up with a song and was quite impressed. I thought to myself "HMM, I would like to sing a few duets with this one!!!" Interesting........
The Beginning...
Gloria POV: It turns out I didn't have the patience to wait for Tim to talk to me. After several weeks of being approached by people asking if I was aware that the DJ was interested in me, I decided to talk to him. Many late nights were spent in the parking lot, long after the bar was closed, talking. We realized we were both in transitional points of our lives and didn't think timing was good to begin a relationship, but we couldn't deny that there was an attraction. When AJ's unexpectedly closed, we started spending time out of the bar scene.
Tim POV: For those that know me, they know that I have always said for me to be really attracted to someone they better know how to sing. LOL - Her eyes, smile, laugh, and enthusiasm for music caught my attention. Little did I know just how visible it was. I was told by the owners of AJ's early on that they definitely noticed something change within me. My past relationships and life's lessons have made me the man I am today. The next few visits we talked a lot after the shows about likes and dislikes and we sang all the duets we knew we knew. I explained that I have been getting in shape and was not really looking to date anyone just yet. Yes, I said that. However, being with Gloria was fun. On one particular night we sang so much (after my show had ended) we both did not pay attention to the time. We finally decided to quit, we found that it was really late (Early) and needed to call it a night. When we got to the vehicles we saw that Gloria had a flat tire. I knew I would not leave her stranded at a closed bar this time of night and low and behold her spare was flat too. We drove up to my house to get the air compressor and eventually we were able to get the tire removed and the spare on. The fact that so early on in our new friendship we were thrown a curve ball, got us to realize that quickly that we were able to make it through stressful situations together.
Tim POV: For those that know me, they know that I have always said for me to be really attracted to someone they better know how to sing. LOL - Her eyes, smile, laugh, and enthusiasm for music caught my attention. Little did I know just how visible it was. I was told by the owners of AJ's early on that they definitely noticed something change within me. My past relationships and life's lessons have made me the man I am today. The next few visits we talked a lot after the shows about likes and dislikes and we sang all the duets we knew we knew. I explained that I have been getting in shape and was not really looking to date anyone just yet. Yes, I said that. However, being with Gloria was fun. On one particular night we sang so much (after my show had ended) we both did not pay attention to the time. We finally decided to quit, we found that it was really late (Early) and needed to call it a night. When we got to the vehicles we saw that Gloria had a flat tire. I knew I would not leave her stranded at a closed bar this time of night and low and behold her spare was flat too. We drove up to my house to get the air compressor and eventually we were able to get the tire removed and the spare on. The fact that so early on in our new friendship we were thrown a curve ball, got us to realize that quickly that we were able to make it through stressful situations together.
A (Badly Kept) Secret...
Gloria POV: I think we did a pretty good job of taking it slow. After meeting Jayda's father, Tim and I started spending time together with Jayda. Tentatively exploring the idea of being a couple while considering the impact it would have on both of our lives, there seemed more to be at stake then just two hearts. Even as those around us watched our friendship grow and speculated, I didn't want to really think of myself as falling in love. Granted, I was...but I didn't want to think that I was. Afterall, who would fall in love with an attractive, kind man who was talented, fun to be with, smart... GAH!
Tim POV: Why keep it a secret? Well, we knew that our relationship would affect others. Those we were most concerned with we told first. I met Gloria's best friend first. Natalie came to a show at AJ's and had a chance to meet me. Gloria and I discussed meeting Jayda's father and what we thought my role in this new family would be. I was given the all clear and was introduced to Jayda as Mr Tim the weekend after AJ's closed. We got off to a good start and it was time to try going on an outing to Wiki Watchi Springs. This was a highlight for me. I had always wanted to go there and none of us had been before. Jayda liked the water but was still using floats or clinging to mommy. I knew I could help teach her to swim. I also met Gloria's mom Maria and mentor Charolette there. I then went to visit my family in TN for two weeks. I told my parents I was seeing someone named Gloria. A Secret? Well, no. We just did not make it known at my Karaoke Shows until we knew there was something there that wasn't there before.
Tim POV: Why keep it a secret? Well, we knew that our relationship would affect others. Those we were most concerned with we told first. I met Gloria's best friend first. Natalie came to a show at AJ's and had a chance to meet me. Gloria and I discussed meeting Jayda's father and what we thought my role in this new family would be. I was given the all clear and was introduced to Jayda as Mr Tim the weekend after AJ's closed. We got off to a good start and it was time to try going on an outing to Wiki Watchi Springs. This was a highlight for me. I had always wanted to go there and none of us had been before. Jayda liked the water but was still using floats or clinging to mommy. I knew I could help teach her to swim. I also met Gloria's mom Maria and mentor Charolette there. I then went to visit my family in TN for two weeks. I told my parents I was seeing someone named Gloria. A Secret? Well, no. We just did not make it known at my Karaoke Shows until we knew there was something there that wasn't there before.
Love in the Sunshine...
Gloria POV: It does a heart good to be with someone who is proud to be with you. Tim has shown this over and over again and I clearly remember the first person to come up to me and was SO excited that Tim and I were a couple. Word spread quickly and the combination of being able to love in the open and the massive support from friends and family was awesome. Our relationship has grown in very fertile grown of acceptance, love and learning. We sync up in so many unexpected ways....our smooth finishes and our ragged edges match up so well. A future together has become an inevitable song full of rich tones, an irresistible beat, and meaningful lyrics. I think we push each other to grow past ourselves into something we could not be without the other.
Tim POV: It has been a long time since I allowed myself to love and be loved. Before I met Gloria, I felt that my chance for that had past me by. I have not laughed this much in years. Yes, life can be hard, being a new parent can be hard, relationships are definitely hard, but they are worth it when you are looking outward together in the same direction. When all is said and done, I can't imagine my life going on without Gloria and Jayda in it. That is why I have decided to make this commitment to be with them for as long as I should live.
Tim POV: It has been a long time since I allowed myself to love and be loved. Before I met Gloria, I felt that my chance for that had past me by. I have not laughed this much in years. Yes, life can be hard, being a new parent can be hard, relationships are definitely hard, but they are worth it when you are looking outward together in the same direction. When all is said and done, I can't imagine my life going on without Gloria and Jayda in it. That is why I have decided to make this commitment to be with them for as long as I should live.