Let’s Take it From The Top

So, if you find yourself here, chances are you’ve been following my IG or seen my Facebook posts. And I appreciate you. Many of you tuned in to read my story, and now it’s our story. Some of you have known me for what seems like forever and you are just happy to see me living life again. So I wanted to take a moment and share from the beginning. Not all the way back to MY beginning, but back to where this story became our story. I want to take you back to 2016. To a little company called Comcast. A place that has had so much impact on my life. Who would have known that my life would take so many twists and turns when I showed up for that interview? I certainly wouldn’t have guessed. Never would have seen where life was taking me. But let’s get into it. Let me share a bit of backstory to what is becoming my life story. Let’s take it from the top.

I was fresh back from maternity leave. I remember sitting in one of the meeting rooms dreading what was to come. They had just informed us that there would be a temporary team assignment. One of the other supervisors was out for one reason or another and their team was being split up for a 30-day period. We went around the table and split the team up. I did what I always do. I looked at the numbers of each of them as they were given to us. Not too bad. That was until they told me that I’d be getting the king of project time and ACW. Mr. Marcus Blackston. I am sure my unhappiness showed on my face.

Marcus was a nice enough guy. But his use of project time and hold time was widely known. WIDELY! And if nothing else, my team often had the lowest aftercall and the lowest off-phone activity. We were a solid group. But, it was just 30 days. I decided to make the most of it. Having zero idea the groundwork was being laid even then. I cleared a desk for him and went on about being a supervisor. I am always going to look back at this time and laugh, now that I know what I know.

The first thing I remember is, he smells good. Really good. But, I didn’t say much of anything at all. Just noted that in the back of my mind like you would anything you don’t plan to do anything about. Just something I noticed. And he was nice. Even if he was clearly, very, unhappy. We spent 30 days and met once a week. And every week I thought to myself, he’s so sad. I shared a bit. As a new mom, I had plenty of stories of my own. None of which we will get into here but, for those who know, I stayed true to character. Not sharing all the major details. But he knew. He gave me the respect at least of not outing me. Just listened. And I did the same. Before you know it, a month had gone by and he was off to some other leader. I’d see him online and around the call center. Until I didn’t. But I never forgot that short stent of time when I got to know such a nice guy, even if he seemed miserable a lot of the time.

Here I will do what any good short storyteller does, I’ll start to get to the point. By August of 2023, I was a completely different person. I was a mother of 2. Single. But living life again. Trying to make a space for myself. Not just a mother or a manager. But a woman. I left Comcast after 15 years and had started my current job at Bath Fitter. I had been on a date or two. I had started my faith walk. I would get up at 6 every day for a prayer call. Life was good. Great even. But better was waiting. So much better.

I got a text to show up at a party. Now, that may seem like no big deal. But for ME.. it was. I don’t really go out. I don’t really like people to be very honest. But I decided that I’d go. The hostess was cool and told me it was going to be a good crowd. I said sure even if I was still very unsure. I had a good deal of anxiety about it. Not the bad kind but the good kind. Like Christmas morning or the night before school starts. And to seal this feeling, I told the bishop of my prayer line how I was feeling and he told me to go to the party. That something good was indeed going to happen.

It was August 19, 2023. I was standing in the livingroom of someone I use to work with. And in walks Marcus Blackston. And the first word that came to mind was Glory. Read these words clearly. It was not just the obvious weight loss. Or the smell of cologne. There was something else. There was a glow. Something had changed internally. This was in no way the same man who sat on my team, unhappy, for 30 days. And while he has always been handsome, this man who walked in was gorgeous. I said hello. And I decided right then I had to get to know him.

The night ensued. Jokes and laughs. At one point even singing broke out. I felt wonderful. And as we all sat at a table I decided ok Qui. Now. And I started asking questions. Are you still with the person I had heard you were with? And he answered. And he had questions of his own. We sat at the table and went question for question for what seemed like both a very long and a very short time. Everyone was paying attention. I told myself to make sure I didn’t fumble this. This feels like the start of something. And it was.

The night came to an end, and he walked me out. I had added him to my Facebook before the party was over. I made it home and sent him a message. Hey, I made it home safe. We chatted all the next day. He called me that night. We planned to get together that upcoming weekend. And we have been together every weekend since. Everyday conversations and weekend dates have turned into being together every day and the weekends are our time for breakfast around the table and afternoon movies. Extra time with the kids and date nights. My Sunday kind of love has become what I plan my future around. That temporary team alignment as become my plan for forever.

And there is so much more. So much left unsaid. As much as I share and as much as I post, you can’t even imagine the conversations we have. The fun we have. The way he works to understand me and my boys. Often he comes to me with things he looked up or asked about in order to get a better understanding of Neurodiversity. I won’t even.. can not even, put into words the love and kindness he has shown. Nothing like the man on social media. Nothing like the man who seemed so unhappy in life. This man is happiness. Even on his worse days. This man prays with me and for me at night. I love him. And there is no question that he loves me. He loves us.

I can not wait to finish telling the story. I know it will take a lifetime. But that’s ok. We have all the time in the world.