Life sure has surprising twists and turns.
When Ana first came to the States I didn't get my first in-person until my son drove her back to the airport. It was a five minute driveby.*
Then when she moved here, in the spring of 2023, she lived with my son where he lived, in my (second) ex-wife's converted garage. I don't go over there much. So I hardly saw Ana and when I did it was either over there or at restaurant dinner parties with everyone. It hurt my feelings a little that they never stopped by even for just minutes. I felt a little like the crazy uncle who you keep hidden from respectable company. I hardly knew Ana, that is the honest to God's truth, and I never spent any one-on-one time with her.
That all changed in June, 2024. She couldn't study USMLE at that house--in addition to there being four people and a cat and a dog over there, my (2nd) ex is the most social creature I have ever known--by far! and always had guests over or in town.
So in January, 2024 or thereabouts, Ana asked if I could take her to a library to study. I took her to three, the Miami Beach, Aventura, and FIU. Those drives were my first one-on-one with her.
Then of course I got involved in studying with her. No exaggeration: Since June, 2024 I have spent more waking time with Ana than has her husband, my son! Who would ever have thought? Not me!
Life has surprises.
*"She's a keeper. Don't fuck this up."