Life sometimes gets in the way... at least with me.
For whatever reason, during the course of the workday for me, which starts early and at times, can end late, I will start something, but not finish it, because other priorities rise to the top of the list.... and so things I started to write... end up in the draft folder.
Now, however, while lounging in the South Texas sun at my family's home in Corpus, I've found some time I didn't have earlier this year. I've made my way into my DRAFTS folder... and I've finished some of the unfinished blogs I wanted to share with you
These are the blogs I didn't post.
This first one... is about my friend Riley Couture and her wedding... and how it restored my faith... in fairy tales.
Today, I watched someone I've known for, oh God, like almost 20 years, marry her someone.
Today, I watched as a former intern from our family in Tampa, who became a colleague on the same team once again in DC, look as radiant as a Princess as she said "I do" to her Prince Charming.
Today, Riley Couture restored my belief in fairy tales, that dreams do come true and in the idea of a "someone..." for "happily ever after."
It sounds very Disney, I know...
Riley's journey to this day was long. There were ups and downs along her way. Life threw her curveballs. The career we've chosen can be anything but stable at times, and the turbulence of our profession took a toll on my friend as she made her way from Tampa into her career and along the path life chose for her.... and I'm sure it wasn't easy at times. I'm sure there were times she may have wanted to just give up. We've not talked about it, but I know how it's been for me at times, and while I'm on the surface pretty optimistic, sometimes, it isn't easy to be so "sunny" all the time.
But she persisted. Pressed on. Met her someone.
She said, "I've got this..."
She shared parts of her love story at the wedding today. She read from her gratitude journal, including a selection where she wrote into existence, the man she had found in her husband, Marshall.
I fought back tears as she shared her story. Maybe I'm a bit emotional as I get older... but her story resonated with me and it gave my heart - and soul - a squeeze.
In that pew, in that church, in a small town earlier today, watching a fairy tale unfold, I realized something happened to me as I watched this new chapter of Riley's story begin...
I realized that my faith in the idea... of a "happily ever after" had been restored.
I admit it. I'd pretty much given up on it. Until earlier today.
I realized that my faith in the idea of a "someone" being out there... had been rekindled.
I admit it. I've screwed up some of the best relationships with some pretty amazing people along the way in this life, but, in the end, they just weren't meant to be... and that's probably because I wasn't ready to commit to myself - and previous partners - before.
I realized that the journey has no timeline, in fact, it has no concept of time, it's going to work at it's own timeline and things which are meant to be will happen exactly when they are supposed to happen, with whom they're supposed to happen, at the time and place of life's own choosing.
Today, my friend Riley, her sons - and her husband Marshall - restored my faith... and now I know why life put her in my path all those years ago at 4002 Gandy Boulevard in Tampa. I just wish our friend Pete was here to see this. I kinda have a feeling he was... in his own way.
Thank you Riley. Thank you.
#LoveFromToby
tk@iheartradio.com