*In the spirit of St. Valentine, this tale accurately reflects love and lust during the days prior to the iphone. Names and places have been obscured to protect privacy but, otherwise, the following remembrance is true.*
She was a dream-come-true… Certainly, for me.
I arrived late to my best buddy’s can’t-miss annual hedonistic Halloween party. I showed up as the Johnny Depp buccaneer from *Pirates of the Caribbean*, consistent with my natural look and rebellious goatee. I hadn’t been with a woman since I graduated university in the spring and my raging hormones had me hunting for a hookup.
A swirl of long tousled red hair swiftly caught my eye… Straight out of the *Little Mermaid*, “Princess Ariel” carried a glass of spiked punch as she sauntered between groups of costumed partygoers with grace and warmth like a gentle tropical sea breeze at sunset. She radiated an infectious vitality irresistible to both genders, laughing and chatting, interested in everybody and everything.