Love At First Sight

by Jim Salisbury

There has been a long standing debate in regards to "love at first sight." Some believe in it wholeheartedly; others claim that it just doesn’t exist.

Well, I’m here to tell you that love at first sight most definitely DOES exist. Allow me to explain. I was sitting in a local watering hole about twelve years ago. I remember every detail of that magical night. There was a bright green neon Heinekin beer sign blinking on the wall, the smell of hot chicken wings was in the air, and Eric Clapton’s "Rock and Roll Heart" was playing on the juke box.

I was enjoying a cold beer while conversing with the bartender when I happened to look across the bar. What I saw at that moment seemed to take my breath away: it was the girl of my dreams. Not just attractive but the actual epitome of what I imagined the perfect woman would look like. To my surprise, she was looking at me too! Time stood still as we stared into each other’s eyes.

As I looked at her and she looked at me I couldn’t help but think; "Damn this must be the worst Clapton song of all time!" I knew that he had been through a bad drug problem. Was he back on the stuff? I mean, this guy is considered the "Blues Master.” What could have prompted him to compose such a piece of crap? First he came out with "Lay Down Sally" and now this lame duck? Another artist has gone pop. Damn.

As I cleared my head I looked back at my dream girl, but to my horror she was gone. I ran out the front door and looked up and then down the sidewalk, but she was nowhere to be found. My fantasy girl was gone. I never saw her again.

Now, years later, as I think about that exquisite beauty, I cannot help but wonder, you know, if I had only kept my eyes on her, and if only Clapton could have stayed off the white pony, and if only he hadn’t written such a crappy, crappy song, then maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t have thrown his baby out the window.

© 2004 Jim Salisbury, All Rights Reserved.