I thought it appropriate to start at, well, the start. It was September 2006. I had moved to Charleston only two months before. Luckily upon my arrival to this beautiful city I immediately met Claudine, a girl who I affectionately call the Mayor of Charleston. She is the Mayor not in the giving speeches and kissing babies sense, but rather in the "I am close personal friends with 90% of the population" sense.
Promptly after meeting Claudine while watching college football at Biggs, on James Island she invited me to tag along to another hotspot just down the street. A hip joint, I would come to learn, known as JPaulz. While there, I remember locking eyes with a striking fellow wearing glasses that only made him look more handsome. We were introduced briefly and then I was led away to meet yet more of the Mayors constituents. After politely saying "hello, nice to meet you" to around 10 or more people I searched the room trying to find handsome glasses guy(I couldn't remember his name) but, alas, that would be the extent of our encounter that night.
One week later I was standing in Trio at the bar awaiting my turn to order a cocktail when someone hugged me from behind. At that moment it felt like electricity rose up my body. No kidding, like the proverbial spark one hears about. I remember being excited before I even turned around to see that it was my handsome glasses guy from the week before. "I'm Scott ........remember me......... from Jpaulz?" he said, I would remember his name from now on. I would come to associate it with the thrill I felt at that moment.
Typically a man who is basically a stranger, hugging me at a bar would not stand. I would have some sharp things to say to such a guy. But with Scott, right from the beginning it felt natural. It was our fate not to find each other again that night, but I would wish for another run in until I saw him again in another week or so.
It was a fall Wednesday evening and I was walking with the Mayor down a very deserted Market Street. I saw him and some other guys walking down the same street in the opposite direction. Heading directly toward us. I had no chance to do anything but smile before Scott took my hand, spun me around, and finally then into his arms and began kissing me. After the kiss he asked "where are you going"? "Wherever you are" was my reply and as it turns out, that is exactly what has happened. I found my partner that day and on April 18, 2009 I will kiss him again and I hope that all of you will come and share that moment with us.
