A little over a year ago I met a wonderful man on-line.  As the younger generation might say, "We connected right away".  We were a match.  There was no denying it.  We've made many happy memories since that first meeting.  We've fallen into a comfortable routine and yes, amazingly, we often finish each other's sentences.

Part of our routine, from that first contact, is a good-morning-email from me every morning.  Even if I've stayed over at his house, once I get back to my own home, I send him a good-morning-I-arrived-home-safe-and-sound-talk-to-you-later note.  He and I are both seniors and as seniors we like our routines.  We like our routines a lot!

What happens when we don't follow our routine?  Well, let's just say it's not very pleasant.  I gave him quite a scare recently and was totally oblivious to his distress ............ all because I deviated from that all-important routine.

I left his home after a cup of coffee and a quick glance through the morning newspaper.  I left him with his sports page and a cup of java in front of him.  His world was in good order.  HOWEVER when I arrived home, my computer decided to be stubborn.  I was able to get to Instant Messenger but I wasn't able to get into my email.

As I was running late for a meeting, I sent him a quick IM that said, "Having trouble" and rushed lickety split out the door thinking I would deal with 'the computer trouble' when I returned.  Once I arrived at my meeting and took my seat, I realized that I had left my cell phone behind.  I silently scolded myself for being so forgetful and promptly put computer, cell phone and anything else taking up grey matter space out of my mind.

When Sweetie saw my 'Having trouble" message, he immediately tried to contact me to see what the trouble was and if he could help.  He started by sending an instant message.  I didn't respond.  Then he sent an email ... I didn't respond.  He sent me a text message on my cell phone ... I didn't respond.  He called my home  phone ... I didn't respond.  He called my cell phone ... I still didn't respond.

By now he's getting desperate.  He's sent numerous messages, emails and left numerous voice mails on both phones.  He's frantic and to add to the drama, there is a terrible thunderstorm raging outside.  Rain is coming down in sheets as he continues pacing the floor.  It's unimaginable to him that I'm not answering ANYTHING.  He considers calling the police to see if there have been any reports of any type of emergency, but decides against it.  He doesn't know the names of any of my neighbors, so he can't call them.  He feels helpless and is quite a quandary.  What to do!  What to do!

When he gets to the point that he can't stand it any longer, he jumps into his car and heads toward my house through torrents of rain.  He's soaked to the skin, scared to death, trying to drive as fast as is safe on the wet roads. 

About this time I casually walk through my front door and see that the message light on my answering machine is going crazy.  My cell phone is buzzing and buzzing.  There are SEVERAL missed calls from Sweetie.  "Hmmm", I wonder, "What's up?"  I call him  before I check  everything else that's blinking and buzzing, not realizing that he was practically a crazy man at that point.

When he answered his phone, it was easy to tell that he was rather,,,, shall we say,,,, cross!  At first, he was relieved that I was ok, but then he snapped at me for the first time ever.  When he realized that I had been a forgetful blonde senior (which is a double whammy for forgetfulness!).  He wanted to know why I didn't have  my phone with me and why I would leave a message like 'Having trouble".  Didn't I know that such a message, combined with not being able to get in touch with me would scare the you-know-what out of him?  He was extremely aggravated and had been forced to leave his comfortable recliner to come out into the rain and drive like a maniac ... for what turned out to be no reason at all.

I was somewhat bewildered by his aggitation.  After all, I was fine.  I was never in any danger.  If something had happened he would have heard.  Oh dear, I sound just like one of my children after I've scolded them severely for scaring the wits out of me.

Feeling, contrite, I asked him to come on the rest of the way and I'd make us some lunch.  But it was too late.  He was nippy and was not going to be pacified with a ham sandwich.  He grumbled and groaned, turned his car around and went back from where he came.  I'm sure the steam was still coming out of his ears when he walked, dripping wet, back into his house.

But all's well and ends well, he called later in the day.  I gave him phone numbers for everybody that I know on Planet Earth so if I'm ever 'missing' again, he'll have other people to share in his panic. 

And just between you and me, I know he was extremely angry with me but actually it's a rather nice warm fuzzy feeling when someone cares enough to worry about you and will come out, in a mini-monsoom, searching for you.  I think I've found a 'keeper'.

                  © copyright Donna Hale Chandler

                       DONNA HALE CHANDLER

                                   Author of:
                          LIFE HAPPENS (My Story)