Our Stories, Beautifully Written by Brian

Brian's Perspective

He embodies that steadfast support and words of encouragement that I often dismiss as biased, simply because familiarity clouds my objectivity.

All I can say is that I have met and fallen in love with someone who thinks the world of me. I am deemed worthy of this extraordinary love and affection because the comfort, stability, companionship, and sense of partnership it provides give me the certainty that I have found the one.

As my birthday approaches, Brian has been especially prolific, writing blogs about himself, me, and us. I sometimes wonder if he is writing about someone else, but there are vignettes and reminiscences of experiences we have shared, unique and exceptional to both of us.

These are our stories, and he writes them so beautifully.

Please, visit the blog titles below to read his reflections:

Architect of Quiet Moments

Born Early and Built Strong

The sparkle of December

Random Thoughts

There is a Writer in My Garden

From Where I Find My Strength

The Weight of Quiet Influence

Firsts That Changed the Shape of My World

To Brian, my special one

For a man so special

If I ever had a wish, it would not be to just write something but to be right there with Brian celebrating him on his special day. It is the third birthday since we met, as I have the sheer luck of being a yuletide baby, he gathers all the numbers in the mid-winter of his hemisphere, it is another July of us being apart.

Yet, as we plan and desire, things would come good eventually, that each special day would be spent in each other’s company, for he is a companion like no other to me. I fell in love with him when I thought there was no more love to experience in life but to trundle along.

The fact is our lives have been intertwined from long before our encounter, in the person of a mutual friend that had passed on years before. A glow came over me and a calmness enveloped my being, I found love in the strangest place and the person that embodies love is the most extraordinary personality.

Words would never suffice, I just know that I have been blessed with beauty, kindness, caring, love, hope, and a brilliant future with Brian. I wish him a most wonderful birthday, all the very best in life, boundless joy and happiness, and every good thing.

Brian, you mean everything to me, to have you as my partner is better than wildest fairy tale ever told. Happy Birthday! My love.

Someone won to blogging

Blogging with ease

There are not many people I have been able to persuade to blog, many see it as difficult requiring some expertise or professionalism. I have always begged to differ because I believe everyone has a story and it is best told in that person’s voice.

Obviously, when it comes to celebrities, some have hired ghost-writers to help author their stories, unfortunately, I have not been persuaded of the voice of one using the writing prowess of another. It might well be a biography instead. There is a difference between reportage and personal witness.

Now, I am at a point of jubilation as there is no unction to frequency, but there is some commendation in constancy of a sort. I have not been the most regular writer of blogs, though I have attempted to write daily for a few months.

One win to the cause

Well, Brian, my boyfriend and fiancé took the challenge and started blogging a few months ago and I think he is quite a good writer and storyteller. His style and wordsmithing skills have set me up as a student once again and I am learning in the process.

There are times I have goaded him to write, but it must always be at his convenience and timing. In any case, he published a blog today making an acronym of my name for a blog title. The rest you can read there, for my part, I am just madly, deeply, crazily in love.

Enjoy Brian’s Point of View – Articulate Knowledgeable Imbue Notable.

“If it were not for this current pandemic, I am sure we would be writing a vastly different story.”

Brilliantly Remembering Inspiring Amorous Necking - VIII

A wordplay for effect

Early today, I thought about the past week, all that I wrote on falling in love. I would not know if anyone noticed a characteristic of the blog titles. When I started, I was not sure I would find enough inspiration to complete the task.

As it happened, I did get the words to carry the context of the blogs into the titles using BRIAN as an acronym. Words beginning with N to fit the context are not easy to come by, it is a good thing, this brainwave did not come to be as a countdown of 30 days to his birthday or worse, a count up to his youthful age.

We relive and believe

However, as we share messages in the morning and find time for one or more video calls later in the day until bedtime. We get to talk about many things and that is how I was proposed to on Saturday night. Everything on our minds now points to the next opportunity to meet up in Cape Town where indeed we would get married and begin charting the course of our new life together.

It goes without saying, that our memories are tinged with the moments we had together and the expectation of even better times ahead. It is exactly 6 months ago that we parted company in Johannesburg. Our thoughts are almost overwhelmed with feeling, but we must temper our anxiety with patience and constant reassurance. We are a beautiful work in progress and if no one can see the love, the smiles, the good, the story, well. I hope they can be happy for themselves if they cannot be happy for others.

We bear no ill; we are living our own lives and hope others can get to live freely in the beauty of their dreams coming true. So there.

The 7 days of falling in love with Brian

Blog - Birthday Renewal Invitation Anniversary Nativity - VII

Blog - Beaus Residing in Accommodating Nirvana - VI

Blog - Beautiful Romantic Intimacy Attractive Nascent - V

Blog - Brian Really Is Adorably Nice - IV

Blog - Bashful Reticent Introverted Amusing Naughty - III

Blog - Beginning Reaction Indication Affinity Notable - II

Blog - Belief Review Interest Anticipation New - I

A real engagement to celebrate

Put a ring on it

It is not the easiest thing to be 6 months apart from the one you love, it takes a great emotional toll, yet you continue in the assurance, the understanding and the hope that the separation would soon be over.

Daily we talk, we constantly communicate on the trivial things and the serious thing, reaffirming our commitment and dedication to each other, the prospects ahead gaining more purpose for us to execute in due time.

We have also agreed that our relationship has advanced to the next stage, I have been asked to be a fiancé. As we are not together, this is virtual and there has been no exchange of rings. Not that I like rings, I would prefer an open bracelet or bangle. We will see.

This crowns an exciting week of birthday greetings, the overwhelming social media support for us, we would be meeting in South Africa to conclude this, and that is it for now.

Blog - Her wife and his husband in South Africa

[]

Birthday Renewal Invitation Anniversary Nativity - VII

[]

Every day we work at it

It wasn’t as I had hoped and planned, to spend this special day with an extraordinary man from afar; who has been the main participant in the most exhilarating time I have had in my life for the past 18 months.

A long-distance relationship with all its strains, constraints, and inconveniences that we have worked through with communication, encouragement and hope, leads us on to the expectation of greater and more wonderful things to come.

From my heart, I pray so fervently for the fulfilment of dreams well beyond anything we could have ever imagined, as we are astounded and astonished by goodness, mercies and favours from near and afar that heaps blessing upon blessing on his life.

Happy Birthday, Brian

To this man whose smile lights my world and sets my heart on fire with unquenchable love, I wish the happiest of birthdays and this the beginning of better, more beautiful ones to come.

I have never loved anyone like I have loved this man Brian and I look to the day when there will be no distance between us, when the sun shall not set on any time apart, when we seal it with more than a kiss to live happily together, free to explore the whole world as our oyster.

Dear Brian, much as I hoped that we would spend this day celebrating together, I am no less thrilled for you and about you, you mean the world to me and when all is said and done, I know I have been loved so deeply beyond words or deeds can fully express, many happy returns of the day, my dear, my man, my love.

Happy birthday!!!

The 7 days of falling in love

Blog - BeausResiding in Accommodating Nirvana - VI

Blog - BeautifulRomantic Intimacy Attractive Nascent - V

Blog - BrianReally Is Adorably Nice - IV

Blog - BashfulReticent Introverted Amusing Naughty - III

Blog - BeginningReaction Indication Affinity Notable - II

Blog - BeliefReview Interest Anticipation New - I

Brian, you're the best, the very best, have a wonderful day, I am so in love with you, darling.
❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤎💜💙💚💛🧡❤
💖

Beaus Residing in Accommodating Nirvana - VI

Meeting for Cape Town

The anticipation and excitement made the countdown easier to manage, March was soon over and April was eating up days like Pac-Man, then I was on a flight to Johannesburg with the destination to Cape Town after a stop-over. His flight from Bulawayo arrived in Johannesburg earlier than mine, which was overnight from Paris, I was quickly through immigration control well before him and waited to collect him for our separate check-in to Cape Town.

We had our shoes polished and cooled off in the lounge for a few hours before our flight. I guess he noticed the reaction of fellow passengers when we arrived in Cape Town and as you collected our luggage, we stole a kiss. By the time we arrived at our hotel, I had been travelling for almost 28 hours and it was well worth it.

Falling deeper in love

Until this holiday, I had visited Cape Town three times before, but never spent more than 3 nights maximum. This time, we had 12 days to play with before returning to Johannesburg for 5 days. It was important that this holiday was one I did not take over and control even if it was his first visit to Cape Town which in a way was a cultural shock for him, with people thinking he was from the Cape, a native Afrikaans speaker, my passing Dutch gave me an ear for Afrikaans.

The usual touristy things we did; Robben Island, Table Mountain, Cape Point, and the Cape Winelands, but on Easter Sunday, he had agreed to attend church with me, both of us wearing the same jacket design. It was the first time I had attended church with a partner, it was a welcoming and meaningful setting for both of us.

I believe that it was in this time that we knew we had something going strong, I could see this man in my life and every consideration that if the question came, I would say, Yes!

We’ll make a home here

Making the best of the time we spent together in Cape Town and then in Johannesburg, we planned on having summer in the UK, which unfortunately did not happen out of the hostile immigration policies we were up against. During that time, we sadly did not get to spend his birthday together. We returned to Cape Town for a month in September and then another month in December which included my birthday, Christmas, the anniversary of our meeting and the New Year.

We love Cape Town, it harbours many memories of our budding love, we also changed our domestic arrangements from hotel rooms to fully furnished self-service apartments, giving us the opportunity to live together like a couple. At least, within the constraints we had, we could do more of what partners do, cooking and basic chores. We know we are going to get married, there was a time I even thought it might have happened over the Easter just past, but for the pandemic.

I don’t know if it is easy to write a love story, but I know what is in my head, in my mind, and in my heart, I am in love with the most beautiful person in the world and I am the luckiest guy to have found this amazing person.

Beautiful Romantic Intimacy Attractive Nascent - V

A love nest in Jo’burg

The opportunity to meet in February was one I could not pass up. I arrived a day earlier than him and was at the airport to pick him up the next day with a sign, ‘Brian with an I’. It is likely our hearts were pounding unsure of what to expect of each other. Our only other meeting was at the bar and then for lunch. We had a lot of learning to do about each other.

This was a holiday of moments and experiences, fully laden with activity, mainly touristic. Then dinner at night. It afforded many ways of getting to know who we were, the pictures we took together began to look like this couple were made for each other. How that South Africa constitutionally recognises same-sex relationships meant we had liberties to be expressive and we used every opportunity to revel in it.

Much more than it seemed

It is likely that the 10 nights went so fast, but I never cancelled the plans for Easter, we had that pencilled in and an agenda that was filling up that little did I know that some of the arrangements he had in visiting Johannesburg at my behest were in fact, first-time experiences.

I commandeered the moments and activities, yet found in both the company and the companionship, someone I could converse with and relate to. We were becoming friends and lovers at the same time. Maybe I was thinking ahead of myself, but I felt there was a lot going on between him and me, not just platonic but quite involved. We were not going to make an apology for having become lovers.

It was 46 days to our next meet up in Johannesburg for Cape Town, whether I was counting down the months, the weeks, the days, the hours, or the minutes, there was no doubt in my heart and mind, I could not wait to see him again.

Brian Really Is Adorably Nice - IV

Daring to step up

With just under two weeks in South Africa when we parted ways, but I was not parting company, I was a bit forward in maintaining communication with him, and I initiated without asking our first long-distance interaction using WhatsApp on video.

If I had not planned to spend the New Year in Cape Town, I might have done something crazy like make an unannounced visit to Bulawayo, maybe I shouldn’t be too eager, but I knew where my heart was heading to. Every day, we exchanged messages and nightly calls, whilst I was not that inquisitive, I was learning a lot about him that heightening my admiration and respect for him.

The chance meeting we had seemed to have another touch of providence, he asked if I knew of a computer company, a very close friend and mentor who died five years before had owned it and with that came other interesting and troubling revelations that we hope will be resolved eventually in the estate and bequest of my friend to him and other parties that we have assembled to work in concert.

Again, we met up

I had decided we will meet again for Easter, the rendezvous being Johannesburg and us flying out together to Cape Town for a longer break, all tickets were booked by the end of January. The green shoots of love were growing fast, we seemed to have decided we both had something going. When Valentine’s Day came, I received the most beautiful bouquet of flowers.

How was I to know that an issue with my schedule of work would free me to pursue a passionate affair in late February? As good fortune would have it, he could take time off too and we met in Johannesburg for 10 nights. This thing called love is too beautiful for words, dreams and fantasy became my new reality.

Bashful Reticent Introverted Amusing Naughty - III

Patient in impatience

The morning could not come soon enough, I must have dreamt some of the most beautiful dreams in a long time. What I could not forget was the embrace we had, it was like my body was more prescient than my head. The feeling was calming like my blood pressure had come down a good few points. Not something I could remember I felt but from 15 years before.

I was eager for the day to get on, yet I had to curb my enthusiasm. Mid-morning was the limit of my restraint when I sent a message inquiring if he slept well and was up for the lunch date. When he responded in the affirmative, I sent a cab for him as I prepared for our meeting. I had a good mind of where we should go.

Soul with a soulmate

At the hotel, we made for Melrose Arch and found a restaurant for a healthy lunch. I probably spent more of the time talking. He was reserved, he later said he was nervous all through. I was too mesmerised to notice. After lunch, we called a cab for Sandton City during which I discovered his quick wit and nothing could conceal his smile that took over his whole face.

After ice-cream at Häagen-Dazs, we returned to my hotel to relax, taking pictures before he left for his friend’s place and then for Bulawayo. I think by then, I had decided there was going to be more to our encounter, I was already planning my return to South Africa. His overnight bus trip back to Zimbabwe might have been totally inconvenienced by my messages. I think I have found a soulmate.

Beginning Reaction Indication Affinity Notable - II

The chance for change

Strangely, I was not looking for anything, I was just on holiday in the sun during Christmas, a pleasure I last enjoyed on the beautiful environs of Taj Mahal some 7 years before. However, I could not excuse myself from this handsome man who initiated the conversation when I thought I had no prospect of a passing glance.

When we got to the bar and ordered drinks, we began to chat to each other, the topics veering from the serious to the trivial, punctuated with laughter and increasing affinity. I was a bit crestfallen when he said he was returning to Zimbabwe the next day, but it was significant to know that his journey would be late at night.

The lurch for lunch

Maybe, it was an opportunity or an opening, I seized it and invited him for lunch the next day, having exchanged numbers and making to leave. As we were leaving at the same time, his friend offered to give me a lift back to my hotel, which I gladly took. The further engagement on the trip to my hotel consolidated the prospect.

In a few hours, I have developed a liking for him. When he introduced himself, I asked if his name was ‘Brian with an I’, it could have been Bryan. Before I went to bed, I send a long message of appreciation and thanks for meeting him. I did not forget to remind him; we were going out for lunch the next day. Could it be I was falling in love?

Belief Review Interest Anticipation New - I

Then came a plan

I think about the time I helplessly fell in love at the end of December 2018. The trip I made to South Africa was one that had been on my mind for months, but it was difficult to plan for. As the year closed, I was put on a new regimen of pills that simply messed up everything normal about me and then I underwent a procedure that required a two-week rest, especially from air travel.

Immediately, after the rest, I was in Germany for work and it was there that I decided, if I did not take that holiday, I risked regretting it. I jetted out on Christmas Eve and arrived in Johannesburg on Christmas Day. Meanwhile, I was back on my old pills and feeling good in myself.

Mona Lisa is mine

Three days later, I saw this amazing person, not that I dared approach because he just looked like he would have eyes for something else. I resigned myself to the equanimity of a museum visitor. You can view Mona Lisa, but you cannot take it off the wall and walk home with it.

Reticent and shy as he suggests he is, he was the one who made the first move, saying Hello and that was the beginning of history. I just had a crazy thought that for the days until his birthday, which is the 7^th of July, I might just write something about falling in love.

In the mystery of soon

Every moment I think of you,
The strains of a song filter through,
In my mind, I always see your face,
Unlike the lyrical lines of good emotion,,
You have never had a smile out of place,
Not once the appearance of contortion,
And for the tears, I could easily trace,
It was for the love we celebrate.

O boy, I tell you, I really miss you,
No one can tell what we’re going through,
For I do long to touch and kiss your face,
Let loose this rather pent up emotion,
When we return to our lovely place,
The sight of you erases all contortion,
As my heart to yours is more than a trace,
In the mystery of soon, we’ll celebrate.

[]