Eagles Called to Fly

I can see my Philly Mike pulling on his Eagles jersey as he gets ready to watch his team enter the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots later on today. Finally, his wish is fulfilled, and I can see that great smile on his face as the excitement builds.

Mike G. and me in the copy room some four years ago at PPD in Bluebell, Pennsylvania where I visited quarterly to straighten out my site files - the copier kept jamming relentlessly and he helped me finish my work, flirted, I was friendly yet professional with a smile. I knew he was younger than me by quite a bit, and I knew he thought I was about his age. Straight out, he asked me if I was his age, 23 - uh no...a bit older. 25, no...27, no...28, yes (almost 29). That east coast straightforwardness, no beating around the bush, I think you're cute approach took me off guard, and all I kept thinking was, "Who IS this kid?" Ha! He was cute though, and he always met me in the copy room whenever I had a job to do somehow to sweetly help me out and distract me. But being the professional that I am - hee hee - I went about my business.

A day went by and he found out which cube I was working out of, and he asked me out to lunch. Wh..what? "You gotta eat right?...it's just lunch" with that smile and those eyes the color of the ocean. Blush, smile, all...right...and it's all history after that. Hee hee. Every quarter after that, he'd excitedly wait for my arrival, take me on different adventures out of my box - hiking through the lush forest along the creek ("crik" as Mike said), fishing in the "wudder", running through cornfields, playing basketball, soccer and football, picking wildflowers, picnicking during our lunch breaks, driving through the Amish country, shoo fly pie, a trip to Atlantic City, Philly cheesesteaks from Mocia's, bonfire on a farm with friends, beautiful Fall colors, rides in my many rented Ford Mustangs ("you're the Mustang lady"), captain and cokes, corrupting me, his home cooking of fish and his famous broccoli and peas, and screaming unbelievable, huh, I'll never forget. He said I am special to him ~ blue-eyed boy meets a brown-eyed girl, ohh, the sweetest thing.

But alas, he was so east coast and I was too west coast and there was no meeting in the middle, plus my project was coming to an end and thus my visits to Philly as well and we'd both started new relationships. After everything was said and done and I told his boss off for unjustifiably firing him for not fitting into the corporate mold when he couldn't speak for himself or burn any bridges, we became good friends through it all. What great times, but it was time to say good-bye and go our separate ways.

I remember that last time I saw him a couple years ago - that same great smile and eyes of ocean blue, a vision that never left me. I hope your Eagles fly today, Mike, and take it all the way. My new company is based in Philly, so I will be going out there on a regular basis again. Maybe I'll give blue eyes a call.