April 12, 2013

I’m always amazed when I hear a story like this one. The music has such power and brings people together when one would least expect it.

Bee Gees and the Hand of Fate

Rachel

Tampa

This story is a little bit wacky but true and kind of sweet when I think back on it.  I met my husband because of the Bee Gees. When I drive my car, I only play their music, no one else’s. I have a huge stack of CD’s on the seat, and I rotate them, depending on my mood. I usually sing at the top of my voice and have the windows rolled down as though no one is watching. I seriously get lost in the songs and am in my music zone. During the fall of 1997, I was crazy for “Still Waters”. I loved “I Surrender”, “Alone” and “Irresistible Force” when I was in a rock-out mentality, and I’d play them over and over again. They are seriously still three of my favorite songs. I was driving one Friday night around 7 or so on my way to pick up my best friend Jen to go out for pizza and beer. I’ll never forget that day. I stopped at a red light and was singing loudly as usual. There was a white pick-up truck next to me in the right lane. I noticed it because it was a big truck, and I was driving my tiny Toyota Corolla. I never stopped singing; and when the light changed, the guy in the truck gave me a thumbs-up sign as he started to drive. I didn’t really see his face, but I laughed about him giving me a high sign. I was regularly caught by some driver staring at me while I sang, but I did it anyway. I pulled into the next gas station to get gas; and as I got out, I saw his truck pull in behind me. At first I was a little freaked-out, thinking maybe the guy was a stalker or someone creepy, but then I heard his music playing in the truck; and yes, it was the Bee Gees, not something from “Still Waters” but the song “Kiss of Life”, another very serious rock song. If you are not familiar with that song, do yourself a favor and listen to it…Robin Gibb at his best. So he gets out of his truck and starts to walk towards me. He is seriously gorgeous, wearing jeans and a black t-shirt, smiling, and he tells me he had to meet the girl who sang like a maniac to the Bee Gees and made him laugh after he’d had a terrible day. One flat tire and a bad headache later, I made his day. Jonathan and I started to talk about the music we loved best, and then he asked me for my phone number. I did not want to let him get away, so I told him where Jen and I were going in case he had time to stop by. Long story short, he showed up at the restaurant and he stayed, for the last 15 years. I think it was fate that we met the way we did because I could never love a guy who didn’t like the Bee Gees. It would never have worked. I love him as much as I love my music, and know he feels the same way. Fate!