Not that it's inappropriate or anything, but I would never post this on my public blog because half my family (and d wife's) reads it. They all know about it, but it's just not something you go about broadcasting on the internet. Plus, the tale isn't too family-friendly and I like to keep my blog compliant in that respect.

Although I have never met any of my Cbuzz buddies in person, I do consider you my friends. My friends all know this about me, so you're entitled. I decided to post this because of a post on Xbox4NappyRash's blog that I commented on (http://xbox4nappyrash.blogspot.com/2007/11/dads-straw-poll.html).

THE STORY OF HOW I BECAME BUSYDAD

Circa 2000. I had just come off a 3-year relationship and fortunately all of my buddies were still single. Never being one look back on the past, I dove headfirst into the wonderful world of singledom. And what a world it was!!!

On one typical night out, my friends and I were at a bar in Hollywood. I met this girl named Lisa. She claimed to be on business from the Philippines (her family owned an apparel sourcing company) and this was her first time in the States. Seeing as she spoke perfect non-accented English, I didn't believe her (much like in that Vegas ad where the groups of girls and guys go around giving out fake names and professions), but I didn’t really care.

Well, one thing led to another, aided by Tequila and you can put the rest together. We parted ways. I had a good night, she had her "vacation fling" and that was that. But we exchanged email addresses.

The next day, we started emailing each other and through it all learned more about one another, and I thought "this is one cool chick." She was headed to Vegas the next weekend and I suggested we meet up. Hmmm... not a good idea. She was meeting up with her uncles and aunts who lived up north in the Bay Area. Auxiliary parents. Somehow, some way she and I eventually were able to finagle it with the relatives so that I could meet up with her.

I drove up to Vegas and we had our first "date" -- of course I was met by about a dozen or so relatives when I got to the hotel lobby. Yeesh... But I'm good with relatives. Luckily.

I said "where would you like to go - we have all of Vegas to choose from!"
She said "I want eggs."
We went to Denny's. Major points for her!

That wonderful weekend ended. We parted ways. We emailed again. She was going to spend the rest of her time in the US up north in Santa Clara. Another long drive. But I did it. This time venturing onto her relatives' home turf.

Some of you may have read about my Clam Chowder skillz in my "7 Random Things" post. Well, they were put to the test on this trip. One of Lisa's uncles grew up in Maine (he's the tuff looking guy with the beard in one of my Thanksgiving Road Trip post pics) and is a retired coast guard officer. Intimately familiar with all things New England AND the ocean. I cooked chowder for the family and his comment is one I will forever be proud of:

"Wait till I tell my mom that some Chinese guy from LA makes better chowder than she does!"

That was followed by his wife (Lisa's maternal aunt) yelling "Get the minister. Now!"

It was a good weekend. But our last one. Lisa was scheduled to fly back to the Philippines that Sunday. Yes, we connected. But we were also realistic. I still had wild oats to sow, and she would be half a world away. Bad timing. We agreed that we'd wait a year and see what fate would bring us. If it wasn't in the cards, then so be it. I dropped her off at the airport and trekked on back to LA.

Back home in LA, I continued enjoying my freedom, but I set aside a jar. It was my "visit Lisa" fund. Every time I had extra cash, I'd throw it in the jar. Maybe by spring I'd be able to visit her in the Philippines.

We stayed in touch via email and phone. One day, she called me and shared with me that for some reason cigarettes were making her sick (she was a 2-pack-day-party gal). Maybe it was an ulcer? I told her to go check it out.

The next weekend, I flew home to Boston to visit my mom and sister. As I got off the plane, I noticed a voicemail. It was from Lisa. She said "Call me as soon as you get this."

Just then my mom and sister show up. We decided to wait out morning rush hour traffic and just eat breakfast at the airport first. After were seated, I excused myself to find a payphone. I called Lisa. I got the news. That wasn't an ulcer. That was Marcus "Fury" Lin.

Next came the hardest thing I ever had to do: go back to the table and eat a huge breakfast (I eat a lot of food - anything less would invite suspicion) while carrying on a totally normal "what's new" conversation with my family, all while my stomach was doing a Cirque du Soleil, and my inner voice was chanting "shit shit shit shit shit shit shit oh boy shit shit shit oh boy..."

It took me the entire weekend at home to gather my wits and lay out the rest of my life, but the conclusion was evident: I was no longer a lone warrior in this world.

I told my mom (she was hysterically happy that she'd have a grandson), I called Lisa to make arrangements for our life that was going to start "right now," I took the $17 from my "Visit Lisa" jar and bought me a bottle of whiskey, and I never looked back.