by Tami Hastain

Created on: December 13, 2008

The Sheets

If you're one who has had the opportunity to explore the dating scene, you have experienced, what I call, the relationship association phenomenon.

It seems that there is always something, that one thing that will occasionally remind you of a person you once loved, dated and/or did.

Most associations are typical, such as a song or a certain food or maybe a smell that brings the memory of him or her immediately back to your mind. You reminisce and remember and associate that thing about that particular person and about that distinct time in your past. Sometimes it's sought out intentionally and sometimes it's a random, subliminal effect - either way, the phenomenon exists and impacts us for months or years or even lifetimes beyond the relationship.

Whether it is a memory you'd rather forget or one you pray you'll always remember, the association, somehow, intermittently, breathes a bit of life back into it. I have many of those typical associations, some good, some bad, but all relevant to the path that I have traveled and the journey that has contributed to the person I am, today.

For instance, there's a classic muscle car that reminds me of Nick, a country music artist that reminds me of Eddie, a hotel in Las Vegas that reminds me of JP, a cologne that reminds me of Wayne, a song or two that remind me of Ron and there is a host of people, places and things that remind me of others I've known along the way.

But, there is one association that is not so typical and one that continues to haunt me on a regular basis. There is one particular man that entered my life for, as they say, a season. He was a man that, one would assume, would have scarred me with many typical associations - he was very handsome, very unique and very mysterious. He felt good, looked good, smelled good and was good. So many things could have and should have tainted me with typical associations to him. However, his permanent imprint seemed to have imbedded itself into my senses forever, on one, very memorable night with him.

Tony had just spent the weekend moving into his new home and he invited me over to see the house and celebrate what was left of his birthday. I had only known him a few months, had only seen him a few times and was definitely interested in exploring whatever future may have been in store with him - I was flattered that he invited me over on, what I considered to be a very special night.

We had a nice bottle of wine, relaxed and talked about his new home, listened to

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