The following is a Valentine’s Day inspirational story from my files. Check out both Barry and Robin’s pages for two more.

A Happy Valentine’s Ending

Sarah L.

NYC

July, 2007

My Bee Gees story almost didn’t have a happy ending because I was really stupid about what mattered most. I met my “love of my life” at a Valentine’s wine tasting party that was given by a local club for “young professionals”. That was me—fresh out of law school and in my first year of work, putting in 60 hours a week and finally able to afford real food. I was dragged to the event by my roommate Jill, who at 6 feet one inch tall was a model (a real model) and gorgeous. At 5 feet 4 inches I was never noticed when she and I went anywhere together. My last boyfriend had accepted a job in London, broke up with me on the phone and ripped out my heart. I was a Bee Gees kid who knew every album my parents played and who regularly drove my neighbors crazy by playing the music much too loud while I cleaned on Saturday mornings. There’s nothing like singing with Barry, Robin and Maurice while I scrub the toilet bowl with bleach. The Bee Gees are a habit I will never break, thanks to my family and their obsession with them that goes back to 1968!! So, I was ready to stay home and watch a DVD of Sleepless in Seattle when my roommate threatened to drag me out in my pajamas. The event was at a small building in the village owned by the Knights of Columbus or the Masons or some such group. The place was overflowing when we arrived at 10 PM. Swarms of guys immediately surrounded Jill, and I showed my ticket and headed for the bar. There was a DJ (not playing the Bee Gees) and no one I knew, so I was grumpy from the start. About an hour in, a guy who looked familiar walked up to me and said hello. Turns out he knew my sister and we’d met once before. Jason and I danced and chatted for a short time…and I was ready to leave and head home when someone walked up behind me and asked Jason to introduce us. I glanced over to see this very cute guy with longish black hair, messy bangs kind of falling in his face..sort of a Hugh Grant type..thin with dimples, definitely adorable. He took me by the elbow and headed me to the dance floor. I complained to him that the DJ needed to play the Bee Gees and he steered me over to the guy and let it be known that he needed to play “You Should be Dancin”. Now, this was the 80’s and the disco burial had taken place, but the song got played and everyone in the place got on the floor. It was great. It turned out (miracle of miracles) that Max (his name) loved my Bee Gees. It was lust at first sight for both of us, but I was not going down that road. We decided to leave and go for coffee, which we did. Man, I really, really liked him. As we started sharing background info, I found out that Max had two small children (ages 6 and 4) and that he had full custody of them. I was a bit shocked about the family, but I still wanted to spend time with this guy. Did I say that I really liked him??  His wife had walked out on him to pursue her career in art history in Paris. What? I didn’t believe a word he said, but it turned out to be true. We talked for SIX hours. When he kissed me, I knew that I had never felt like that before. It was amazing. The problems started when I shared my newfound man’s info with my mom, sister and close friends, people I trusted. Everyone told me to run away before I got in too deep. What was I thinking? TWO KIDS. I remember going to my room and playing my music, trying to work through my thoughts. I always played the Bee Gees when I needed to think. My heart felt like “Spirits Having Flown” but my head was thinking “How Do You Mend A Broken Heart?” was coming my way, for surely this would end badly. I admit that I panicked. I called Max the next day and canceled the date. I was afraid of the responsibility for someone else’s kids…pressure from my mom and sisters pushed me over the edge. I knew that Max was hurt. I felt guilty but dove into my work and back to the music, playing all the old songs I loved so much. “Can’t See Nobody” …on replay for an hour, with me crying as I listened. The next three weeks were pathetic. I was pathetic. Then HE showed up on my doorstep on a Thursday night with a bouquet of yellow roses and a smile. My heart!! We talked. I had been an idiot. Fear of what? I think I loved this guy from the moment I saw him, and that was the beginning of my real love story. Twenty years later we’re a family of SIX. All girls but Max. Our kids listen to the Bee Gees with us, of course. This is our “forever’ music, and our kids’ kids will know them and hear the story of how a Bee Gees song and a first dance brought us together. It’s like a romance novel!