Its Tuesday night.Rocio comes over to the house.I convince her too not ride the motorcycle,take a taxi,gringos pay.
She is very happy and smiling.I tell Rubby to tell her that she is the
only girl to get a second date.
I want a really nice quite intimate place for dinner,not like where we went for lunch.We go to the restaurant in the Pacifico Royale Hotel.It has a nauticall theme.We get this table under this boat rigging type decore.There are only 2 or 3 groups in the restaurant.Its perfect,just what I wanted.We are talking with the translaterr.She says "you offend me".I say what?? The story comes out,Monday the day after we met she called Latin Love twice asking for me to call her.I never got the message.I would never do that to you I said,I didn't get the message.This girl seems so happy just to be with me.She is looking at me with this look that seemed like "if I coluld only have you I would be the happiest girl in the world."The psychology was definetly on my side so far,I am the one pursued.We are kissing right at the table.Thse warm sweet kisses.This glowig look on her face.I fell in love with her right there.I thought this doesn't have to be so difficult.You want me,I want you.I was the best evening we ever had.It was magic to me.
We went back to the restaurant our next trip to Cali a year later.Things were much different by then.We got the same table.I was trying to tell her how special it had been for me.It didn't mean much to her,no favorite memory for her.I told her if you had been acting like you are right now,there not only would have been no marriage but no 3 rd date.Then I started crying,right at the table.Rocio was all embarrased.I've only done that a couple of times,the other being recently.She can't handle it,doesn't want to know about it.Maybe feels guilty,I don't know.
The next day is a holiday.We see each other again She brings her son Sebastian for me to meet.Nice kid.We hit it off fine.We go to an amusement park.He is having a ball, Rocio is beeing sweet and warm.Seems like yesterday.
The next day,thursday,she has to work.She call the agency to say she has a conference with sebastians teacher and might not be able to come over.Then she calls again later and leasves a message that she has gone to her church to pray about us.Wow.I am impressed.I am thinking this girl really wants me.
The next night,Friday she comes over.I'm very serious and make an appointment with Rubby for us to sit down and talk.I have a list of things in my mind I want to cover with her.I start thinking about the list and decide only one is important.What is the story with her religion.Will she think I am a sinner if I don't agree with what they say?She says no.Every person has their own relationship to god and its not up to others to judge.Good answer.
So I am thinking.I really want o marry this girl.She seems to really want me.We have planned a whole weekend together.I am thinking why not make that time more special for us and ask her to marry me now?
I canhear the groans out there,but I was the guy emotionally hooked here.So I borrow a phrasebook from on4e of the guys.I had been planning anyway,but for later.I asked her to marry me.She says yes,si.No expression,a little shock or syurprise.I say did you understand what I just asked you?she says yes,she did.Ye she would like to marry me.I was expecting a little more loving reaction here.Wow.! 1st big red flag.Proceed at your peril.Edgar came over and I told him.His face sort of dropped.Crazy gringo he is probably thinking.He just met her 5 days ago.I go to my room wherfe I have a little refrigerator to get the champain.I think "what the hell did I just do?" But I felt obligated.I was at least not going to retact it immediately.
another part to the story.The night before she went to her church to pray for us.Well it works different than that.Her church is very interesting.Very christian,but not judgemental.Statred in Bogota about 20 years ago,spreading all over,we even have one near here now.The thing that is really diffferent about them is they have people that are specially selected to give you a prophesy,to wisper in your ear what they believe to be the direct word of god.You tell them nothing,just form a question in your head if there is something
you seek guidance on.My wife went with the question of would we be married?The person tells her,again she said nothing to him about the question. " I have sent you a blessing.This is your next husband.Treat him well." So when I proposed it validated what she was told,but she was stil in shock about it.One otherr little thing about the Church.When I came back before returned to marry her I was shoppig for a second car,For her to drive but also I wanted an SUV foralot of things,including pulling my boat.I got a steal(Like I always do) on a Jeep Grand Cherokee limited,v8,just what I wanted.One of my female friends was saying "maybe she would like a little car,." I say "shes getting a jeep."' I hadn't told her about it.She goes to church andgets this prophesy that she is getting a new vehicle.She is thinking,am I buying a new motorcycle? The next day she got my mail telling her about the jeep.
Today,right now,she went to her church.They are probably headed back by now.Its about 70 miles from,here.I have been waiting for the big guy to wisper inher ear again about her blessing that she is supposed to treast well.Its a 2 way thing,she is supposed to be my blessing also.Only an act of god could turn this one aroung from here.She would have to do a totall transformation and I am not waiting for that to happen anymore.I asked her last time if she hhad the prophesy and she said yes,but gave me no imformation,nothing regarding me I guess.
The next day I met her family.Herr father lives in a different town.I asked her mother for permission to marry her.She is probably thinking who is this nut that met my daughter 6 days ago,talks to me for 15 miniutes then asks my permissio to marry her,.she looks thoughtfull for a long time,and then says it is really Rocio's decision.I say I know,I just wanted to be respectfull.We have a nice weekend.I rented a car,Edgar drove and brought his wife along.Buts its bothering me her lack of excitement about my proposal,and she is warm and affectionate but I expected more at this point.We go to the Zoo in Cali.Its raining and we arte waiting for it to clear.I tell Her I need to talk to you.We leave Sebastian with Edgar and go sit under this umbrella t a table.I tell her I need to know if you really want me.I'm just not feeling it from you.She says oh yes.Its just all so new to me,I need to know it will last,plus I need the benediction of my god.I tell her I can be patient,but Iwas just concerned that this lack of passion might continue after we are married.She say "Oh No."
She does not remember the conversation.I remember the time,the place,the umbrella,the rain,exactly what was said.
Lets take another break,its getting too long again.
Pete
