Lightning doesn't strike twice

My parents were married 43 years ago today. They dated for 6 years, starting in High School. I looked at each boyfriend until I was 21/22 (the ages they were when they married) with "if I followed in my parents' footsteps, I'd marry this asshole."


After I broke up with the boyfriend I had when I turned 30, I met my parents out for beers (well, they were already out with their friends, I just joined them). The bar was loud and my Mom was sitting across the table from my Dad and I and she couldn't really hear us.

Me: There was just... no magic, Dad. There's supposed to be a little magic, right?

Dad: You watch too many movies. 

Me: Why did you ask Mom to marry you? 

Dad: Because we'd been dating for 6 years and I didn't want to date anyone else. 

Me: I'm sure Mom would be impressed with your romantic answer.

And I looked over at my Mom, who looked at my Dad and then nodded as if to say "Whatever he just said, I'm sure I agree." Which proved my point and not my Dad's... because there are very few people in my life that I would just nod in agreement with when I had no idea what they said.

So that's what I'm looking for. Someone I can nod with when I don't know what's happening.

I told that story to a therapist I had about 9 months after that breakup. Not my current therapist, mind you. I told her that I knew my parents had probably had plenty of hard times... times when they didn't really like or love each other all that much, but they had the foundation to build on... that starts with magic. This therapist looked at me and said "Lightning doesn't strike twice."

Let me just reiterate what she said to me in case you missed it:

LIGHTNING DOESN'T STRIKE TWICE.

 

That was my last session with her. Because fuck right off with your bitterness and lack of romantical notions. I will not settle for less than magic. And don't get me wrong, I know that relationships are hard and require work and that love doesn't conquer shit. But if you don't have that base of love and magic then how do you survive anything? I've got that whole providing for myself thing covered, so all I need is the partnership. Pretty simple, really... 

Besides, lightning does strike twice. This website says the Empire State Building is struck an average of 23 times per year. So suck it, Bad Therapist. 

And Lightning? I'm waiting. Anytime you're ready, I'll put in the work...