It’s 2015 and my best friend Melesha Cotton's birthday is April 15th. Her annual birthday trip tradition is in full effect, and is even more special this time because it's her 30th birthday! She decides we should go to Puerto Rico and I reluctantly oblige. Leading up to the departure, we visualize: all white looks (outfits) the entire trip and call it “the resurrection” (we're thematic like that). lol The celebratory weekend arrives, and my mom takes us to the airport so we arrive on time. Needless to say, we manage to miss our flight, another flight, layover in Philly, and arrive to San Juan, Puerto Rico after midnight. The next evening, we celebrate with a fancy dinner at La Concha restaurant. After dinner, we decide to combat the "itis" with a low key nightcap of people watching in La Placita de Santurce, (much like Bourbon Street, Nola). We are having the best time sight seeing and joking, but at this point it's a little past 12 am and we're going to call it a night soon. I notice this handsome guy across the street. Quite naturally, I keep that thought to myself and continue talking to Melesha. Shortly after, I see the handsome guy heading towards us- I sneakily whisper to Melesha, “ those guys are headed over here” and when I looked up, he was right in front of me.... Sebastian: “Hi, my name is Sebastian. Is your name Lori ”? Me: *shocked with no words Sebastian: “Are you from Baton Rouge?” Me: “ummmm, wait. How —- ?? Sebastian: “I remember you from back in high school and I always thought you were very beautiful”. Me: *melts & simultaneously gives small signal to continue... We talk for a what seemed like a while, making connections of mutual friends and how we'd met before. It wasn't long before notice our crews are ready to keep it moving. We both laugh and exchange contact information. Our first official conversation was the following Monday...and we never looked back. God smiled on me with Sebastian. This is the "official" report.

It’s 2015, the fellas and I decide to take a trip beyond Houstatlantavegas. Thanks to God and Google, Puerto Rico pops up, and we decide to see what this great US Commonwealth offers. It's amazing and after meeting locals, they tell us to visit La Placita. We end up in a small dive bar and I'm having a great time until a typical drunk tough guy decides to pick a fight. Before he can start, Jorrick taps him and proceeds to let him know I'm not alone and to keep it moving. To cool off, I ask Jorrick if he wants to check the streets out. While laughing at Jorrick lecture me on how “I let too many cats make it”, I look across the street and see Lori. I hadn't seen her since high school and that was brief. In high school, my friend Eddie asks me if I want to ride with him to pick up and drop off some girls at a party. He tells me how gorgeous one of the girls is. HE WASN'T LYING! As Lori walks across the headlights, I could hear Tevin Campbell’s, “Can We Talk”, but just like Tevin, I couldn’t get a word out. All I could muster was, “nice to meet you.” So, 14 years later in Puerto Rico, I'm not missing my chance. “Say Dunn (Jorrick), that looks like Lori”. “naw Supe (my nickname); we're in Puerto Rico” “I’m about to go see”. I step to her in a way a man does when he thinks she's beautiful. After getting past the miracle of reconnecting, we converse. So long my friends' wide eyed stares signal I'm breaking “Guy Code”. Lori and I exchange info, and I bid her adieu. I tell the homies, “I’m good for the rest of this trip, everything else is lagniappe”. Heading back, I decide to call Lori, and we've been connected since. It’s one thing to think you and a person are meant to be, it’s another to know. I finally understand when married men say, “You’ll know when you know.” I believe 18 years ago, I knew. Only God could arrange this union, and I promise to appreciate this blessing the rest of my life. As my grandma says, “I’m only telling you what God love...the truth.”