How I Fell in Love

Posted by Dr. Neill Neill

Dr Neill Neill

Just before Valentine’s Day in 2009, a magazine ad for a story-writing Contest caught my eye. It was to be a 300-word story about “How did you fall in love.” I wrote our personal story, asked my editor (my wife) to check it over, and then sent it in. I entitled it “The Supper.”

To our surprise and delight, the story won the prize for the “most serendipitous love story” and was published in the March/April 2009 issue of Synergy. We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary in 2010.

Please have a chuckle with me..

The Supper

It was a warm spring Tuesday in late March. I was walking across the Guelph University campus where I taught. Coming in the other direction was Eileen, a teacher who had worked on the other side of the campus for about four years. Chance meetings were rare because of where she worked.

Eileen stopped with “Neill, I have some good news.” “What?” I said, and she bubbled over with, “I have accepted a position with the federal government in Ottawa. The kids and I were there last week and rented a place. Someone is handling my last week of classes and the exams. We are moving in two weeks.”

I am always thrilled to hear people’s stories of achievement and renewal. Eileen was obviously proud and excited at the prospect of taking on the challenge of a new career and a major family move.

I suggested we have a meal to celebrate her good fortune. We agreed on Friday supper at a local restaurant.

Now I am big on intuition and intuitive knowing, and I counsel others to trust their instincts. However, this time, I was blindsided.

We had dinner. Before the evening was over, I knew I was in a new long-term relationship.

It made no sense whatever. I was a tenured university professor in Guelph. She was moving 500 km away the next week. I was not that far past the ending of my second marriage, so another relationship was the last thing I wanted or needed. However, I just knew. I knew we were in a long-term relationship, “starting right now.”

Within sixteen months, I had resigned my job, moved to Ottawa, bought a house and married Eileen. Our love continues to grow.

That supper in late March was in 1979, more than three decades ago.

Psychologist Dr. Neill Neill maintains an active practice on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. He focuses on healthy relationships and life after addictions. He is the author of Living with a Functioning Alcoholic - A Woman's Survival Guide. http://drneillneill.com http://neillneill.com