One More Writer

Lillian and I broke up Saturday.

I realize people reading this blog might not know whether we were on or off, but as I figure it we've pretty much been together since I met her in late July of 2004. Yeah, I took some breaks in the meantime, but over the longhaul most of the time has been a committed relationship - as it's been for the last three months or so.

She left on a plane back to Oregon Saturday, after spending nine days with me in Arkansas; the visit had been prearranged since May, so we stuck to the plan even as things went downhill.

I seem to have a knack for letting intractable plans coincide with the dying days of a relationship (see Europe + Savannah in 2003) but it gives me lots of bittersweet memories to reflect on. Such as the photo above. Lilly and I took a day last week and went to Eureka Springs, which is a little European outpost in the middle of the Ozarks. Think Ashland with fewer hippies, bigger hills and better architecture. Spending the day there with her felt like Europe all over again, except this time the girl wasn't all cold fish on me.

The visit was very romantic. We traded I Love You's countless times, ate great meals and did wonderful things. But she's caught the wandering bug, and it's time for her to see what's out there in the world. I call it 19-year-old syndrome as it's taken hold of at least five former girlfriends, but if so, then it's my own damn fault for always dating girls several years my junior.

Is there a chance for a future between us? Yes. I am keeping a friendship with Lilly, realizing that the 2,000 miles between us is at least as big of a hurdle as her state of mind right now. Perhaps something will rekindle if/when I move back to Oregon. Or perhaps this was just a great relationship I can look back on and smile about, years from now when I'm 40 and married to a plump Russian with two kids and a hot tub.