Christmas Eve was saved by my friend Claus. I worked with Claus on my first film 4 years ago, and again a few months ago.  He saw me eating alone in a restaurant and popped in to say hello.  He didn’t know that Cecilia was back in Sweden.  He didn’t know we were still together.   I told him, “I don’t know if we are still together.”

He said that I shouldn’t be alone on Christmas Eve.  He invited me to spend it with him, his wife & newborn son at their place downtown.  While heading down there, I forgot the directions so had to run back to the house, through the record breaking snow.  when I returned to the stop, the bus was just pulling up.  When I had to transfer, the driver let me out early so I could run to catch the next shuttle.  I caught it just as it was pulling away.  All day long, people were waiting 30-60 minutes for buses.  Somehow I made it to Claus’s apartment in 24 minutes.

I thought of her often while looking out the window of their comfy apartment, 17th floors above downtown Vancouver.  A beautiful spread of wine, cheddar cheeses and pâté brought a comfortable calmness to me.  The small and ornate Christmas tree reminded me of what she always wanted…  what we always needed.

I had a wonderful time and after calming down a bit (I was running!!) I relaxed and enjoyed the conversation, the warm company, their inspirational views on the industry…     and the view.

Where will I be for New Years? I think my message to a Swedish member of couchsurfing.com summarizes it best.  Here’s the copy/paste.

 

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Hej!

I have an romantic adventure coming up and I may need a place to sleep for a day or two.  I’m scheduled to arrive in Copenhagen on Dec 27th at 13:30.  I have not scheduled a train yet, so I’m not sure when I will arrive in Halmstad.

What’s the occasion?

A surprise visit to my girlfriend.  She’s been staying with me in Vancouver over the past 3 years.  She’s been struggling to get into makeup artistry and I work in the film & video games industries.  She is often waiting for me to come home, while I work and try to get residency for us both here in Vancouver.   I’m from Michigan originally and trying to make a home base in Vancouver.

I think John Lennon said it best “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.“

She’s been waiting 3 years for me, and I’ve been working too much.  Even the little time we get to spend together was rushed or distracted. I’m no longer want to wait for my job to settle down and I want to tell her, I want to show her, in person, that she means more to me than anything.

So there’s my romantic tale.  Who knows how it will end.  If you are interested in helping me out and learning a little bit about Vancouver and the film & game industries…  or just to be a part of a fairy tale…

…we should talk more!

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How will this end?  Indeed.  Am I crazy?  Well, she’s always wanted me to be myself.  She always wanted me to dump the shyness and be free.  I was always afraid to give her my heart, because I wasn’t sure if life would allow use to be together.  If things went wrong with the film & game industry in Vancouver…   if I wasn’t able to fix my unhealthy arm… well…  I may have had to return to the US, and I didn’t want to take her away from her career in Vancouver.

Anyhow, I guess this is it.  I will give her what she’s always deserved…   what we deserve.  Will this tale have a fairy tale ending?  Will I become the person I know I am?  Will she see our future?

Whether or not we are together…  I owe this.