It was close to Midnight when Marla first mentioned the Gypsy.  Although I had no idea what she was talking about, I was definitely curious.  Marla had a dazed, shell-shocked look about her.  Seeing her lost in thought, I figured she would return to consciousness in due time.  I looked around the 'Shall We Dance' Lounge.  Although Marla and I were by ourselves in a distant corner, we were not alone.  Our conversation about Fate had been accompanied by C&W music for the past hour.  While Marla processed whatever was bothering her, I enjoyed watching our friends from the studio continue to dance.  Just then the band announced last song.  Everyone in our group, 20 in all, enjoyed one last trip around the floor to "Fool Hearted Memory", one of my favorite songs by George Strait. 

He fills the jukebox, then plays the same old song
He fills his glass and turns her memory on
There's an old love in his heart that he can't lose
He's tried forgettin', but knows that it's no use

He's got a Fool Hearted Memory.

When the song ended, the band thanked everyone, then began packing up.  As the dancers left the room, several waved goodnight to us over in the corner.  In a moment or two, the Rhapsody Lounge would be deserted except for Marla, myself and the waitstaff who stayed to clean up.  One of the waiters came over and asked if we wanted one last round.  Sure, why not.  Since I had no idea what was going on with Marla, I assumed her Gypsy story would be just as goofy as her Ouija anecdote. 

I have never been more wrong.  What Marla was about to tell me was possibly the strangest thing I have ever heard.  She grabbed my hand and said, "Rick, I have a really crazy story to tell you."

I said nothing, so Marla continued.

"This goes back to March of last year."

I interrupted.  "Do you mean 2001?  18 months ago?"

Marla nodded.  "Yes.  I returned to the studio in March 2001 to take your Advanced Swing class on Sunday afternoon."

"How can I forget?  That was the class where I tried hard to get your attention, but got nowhere."

"One reason why you stayed off my radar is that I had my eye on Bob.  In addition, I made friends with several other students in my Swing class, people like Sherry, Lawrence and Ashley."

"Oh yes, let's not forget Jane.  I made a lot of friends in that class.  We bonded into a tight-knit group.  On the last Sunday of the month, a guy named Bill suggested our group get together for a night of Swing dancing, sort of a graduation party.  Everyone agreed this was a great idea.  We needed the practice and a night of dancing with my friends sounded like fun.  We decided to meet on a weeknight at a place in North Houston called At the Hop.  They played Fifties and Sixties music that was perfect for Swing dancing."

"Were you hoping to run into Bob?"

"Yes, definitely.  That was my plan.  The moment Bob said he was coming, I raised my hand.  I hoped by seeing Bob socially outside the studio, this would create an opportunity for him to ask me out."

Marla paused for a moment.  I think she was trying to get the details right.  Marla got comfortable on the couch, then resumed. 

"The Gypsy handed me a deck of Tarot cards and asked me to shuffle them several times.  She asked for the cards back and proceeded to lay the top five cards down on the table.  After studying the cards, she took the palm of my hand and examined it.  For good measure, she put my hand between hers and closed her eyes.  When the Gypsy was ready, she opened her eyes and told me my fortune.

"These cards do not tell what will happen, they tell what might happen.  You have a choice between two paths.  You are in a long-term relationship that brings you sorrow.  However, there is a good chance this relationship will work again if you nurture it.  On the other path, I see you are considering a certain journey.  If you take this journey, your life will be changed forever.  On this journey, you will meet the man you will spend the rest of your life with."

Staring at Marla in shock, I swallowed hard as the implication of the Gypsy's words sunk in.  'You will meet the man you will spend the rest of your life with.'  Unless I misunderstood, a complete stranger had predicted Marla and I would spend the rest our lives together six months before we actually connected.  My body began to tingle with goosebumps.

Feeling shaky, I exclaimed, "Good grief, Marla, that is incredible!  But why am I just hearing about this now?"

Marla was crestfallen.  "Because I forgot all about it!"

Astonished by her answer, a flood of questions hit at once.  "Come on, Marla, we all forget things.  But some things are unforgettable.  Why didn't you remember this story when we met during last year's cruise?"

"I don't have an explanation."

"Marla, what kind of answer is that?"  Frustrated, I continued.  "I'm glad you finally remembered, but how could you forget something like this?  By my count, you are talking about an incident that took place eighteen months ago.  Surely something should have jogged your memory by now."

Marla gave me an apologetic look.  "I'm sorry, Rick, I feel really embarrassed.  I am just as shocked by my memory loss as you are."

Frowning, I shook my head in wonder.  "I don't know what to make of this.  I don't know what is more incredible, a prediction like this six months before it happened or the fact that you forgot all about it."

Marla said nothing.  Seeing that she was just as stunned as I was, I continued. 

"It seems impossible that you did not remember this.  A Gypsy said you would meet the man you would spent the rest of your life with.  No woman in her right mind could possibly forget something like that!"

"When the Gypsy told me my future, my jaw dropped.  I was so astonished, I did not have a clue what to think.  Did this woman really just predict I would meet the man I would spend the rest of my life with?  When I probed further, the Gypsy reminded me my fortune was not predetermined, that I had a choice in the matter.  The Gypsy assured me both paths held promise.  If I chose to return to Chris, there was still hope."

"Did you ask the Gypsy if the man you would meet on this journey would make you happy?"

Marla gave me the hint of a smile.  "No, but I should have."

Suddenly Marla gasped.  "Oh, that reminds me, one more thing, very important!  The Gypsy said, 'If you take this journey, you already know the person you will meet.'"

Now it was my turn to gasp.  "No way, you cannot be serious."

Marla nodded.  "Completely serious."

"So when she told you that you already knew the man, did you think of me?"

"No, sorry.  Your face never crossed my mind.  I tried as hard as I could, but for the life of me, I could not imagine who that special person might be.  I was a bit in shock, so at first I did not even know what journey she was referring to.  But then I guessed the Gypsy must be referring to your dance cruise.  That was the only journey I was considering at the time.  That meant it had to be someone at the studio, so I assumed she was referring to Bob.  Who else could it be?  Other than Bob, there was no man at the studio I was interested in.  I guess this was the point when I began to get skeptical.  The Gypsy was either out of her mind or she was a fake.  Her prediction was typical fortune teller nonsense.  Like what did I expect her to say?" 

"How would I know?  I've never had my fortune told.  So you blew her off."

"Not immediately, but yeah, I guess I did.  Rather than take the woman seriously, I decided this was all way too incredible.  My mind rebelled against the idea that a complete stranger like her would actually know what she was talking about.  Maybe that's why what the lady said didn't stick like it should have.  I was feeling really uncomfortable.  I noticed someone waiting to speak to her, so I thanked her, gave her $10 and left." 

"But you already said you believe in that sort of thing.  Why not take her seriously?"

"That's a good question.  I don't know.  I accept Fate theoretically, but when it became deeply personal, then it was too incredible to take seriously.  I shrugged it off as a joke, you know, a carnival act."

"How long did the reading last?"

"Five minutes I guess.  Like I said, there was someone waiting, so I got up to go."

"Did you think the Gypsy was on the level?"

"Before I returned to my table, I stopped to evaluate the Gypsy as she conducted her next reading.  There was nothing phony about her.  She struck me as a serious person, no-nonsense, very intense.  The more I think about it, I had good reason to believe her if I wanted to.  If the Gypsy was taking a shot in the dark, she was the best guesser I have ever met."

"Why do you say that?"

"A number of reasons.  The Gypsy had no way to know I was currently stuck in an unfulfilling long-term relationship.  I suppose that could be a lucky guess since bad relationships are true for many women.  Second, the Gypsy had no way to know I was already thinking of taking the cruise trip you had organized.  Another lucky guess.  But again not that unusual.  Lots of women like to take trips.  Plus she wasn't specific that it was your trip.  All she said was 'Journey'.  What really got me was when she said, 'You already know the person you will meet.'  If the Gypsy was making stuff up, why would she add such a pertinent detail?  And the crazy thing is her entire prediction came true just like she said it would."

I rolled my eyes.  "No, Marla, that is just kind of crazy.  The really crazy thing is that you forgot all about it!"

Marla shook her head in consternation, but said nothing.  For a moment we were both lost in thought.  My head was spinning.  Marla claimed our relationship had been predicted six months in advance of last year's trip.  Unless she was pulling my leg... which I doubted seriously... this was one of the three most extraordinary Supernatural Events I had ever experienced.  That was incredible enough, but how could she forget such an incredible prediction for a year and a half?  Her memory loss was almost as weird as the prediction itself.  I took a deep breath to settle down, then resumed the conversation. 

"Let me make sure I have heard you correctly.  You were contemplating taking a cruise trip and you were supposed to know the person you would meet."

"Yes, that is correct."

"And you did not think of me?"

"No, you were never in my mind."

I was mildly exasperated.  Of course that's what she would say.  What did I expect?  Irritated that Marla had found yet another way to remind me that I was invisible prior to last year's trip, I continued my questioning.  "After you left the Gypsy, then what?"

"I could not keep this crazy story to myself, so I told my friends at the table about the Gypsy.  When I said I was supposed to meet the man of my dreams and live happily ever after, they laughed it off like it was just a big joke.  The consensus was that the Gypsy probably said the same thing to everyone.  For example, the woman predicted a journey.  Oh, how original.  The woman suggested a trouble relationship.  Oh, how original.  The woman suggested Marla would meet someone and fall madly in love.  Oh, how original.  When everyone starting laughing, the whole thing was so unbelievable that I began to doubt the Gypsy's authenticity.  Let me be frank.  The whole group viewed the Gypsy as a charlatan.  Once I saw how easily everyone dismissed the story, they confirmed my fear that the woman's wild prediction was absurd.  To think the Gypsy could really see my future was too incredible, so I dismissed it."

"Yes, but you still signed up for the trip.  Did you sign up for the trip based on the Gypsy's suggestion?"

"That is a good question.  Maybe, maybe not.  It might have affected me subconsciously, but my conscious self dismissed it.  I forgot about the Gypsy five minutes after I sat back down at the table.  However, the incident did play a role in my decision.  Sherry was listening intently as the subject of the cruise trip came up.  First chance she got, Sherry reminded me we had talked previously about being roommates.  She was so encouraging, I warmed up to the idea of taking the trip.  I like to take cruise trips and your trip sounded like fun with all the dancing.  Besides, I was perpetually irritated at Chris, so taking this trip would be a nice way to step out on my own."

"So you never accepted the Gypsy had quite possibly laid out your future?"

"No, I just laughed it off.  By the time I got home, I had forgotten all about the Gypsy.  My thoughts had already moved on to a decision regarding Sherry's request."

"How is it possible to forget, Marla?  You have a sharp mind."

"Yes, I agree.  I do have a smart mind.  But I can't explain it.  This makes no sense.  However, there was one good thing that came out of the night.  By bringing up the subject of the trip, Sherry's enthusiasm helped me decide to sign up.  Maybe a subliminal memory of the Gypsy played a part.  How should I know?"

"Your forgetfulness blows my mind.  I don't know, I guess I am wired differently than you.  If someone predicts I will meet the person with whom I will spend the rest of my life, whether I believe it or not, that is something that would stick in my mind for a long time.  Actually, in my case, I would mull it over every waking second for the next week at a minimum, probably longer.  It is very difficult for me to accept that you forgot this."

"Of course.  And I don't blame you for saying that.  I feel the same way.  Given the wonderful thing that has happened between us, in hindsight it makes perfect sense that I should have remembered long ago.  But it was so unrealistic at the time, the Gypsy story completely slipped out of my mind.  But now it has come back to me tonight, probably because your talk about Fate has jarred it loose."

"Are you nuts?  There is actually some doubt left in your mind?  Of course the Gypsy was on the level!   Look at all the weird stuff that happened on last year's trip.  I have spent the past year analyzing every detail of how we met.  Just add to the List.  Thunderbolt, Invisibility, Cinderella Night, Enchanted Evening, Day of Confusion, Darren, Dark Night of the Soul, coincidental meeting in the hallway, Ashley, Marathon Conversation.  Even your Ouija board memory of my initials.  This is the craziest thing I have ever heard in my life.  Most important of all, after knowing each other for just two days, we made a firm commitment to each other to take this as far as we could.  You and I have never waved from that commitment.  We were basically married from the moment we met.  How often does that happen?  This was a once in a lifetime experience.  And look how well everything has turned out."

Marla nodded.  "Good point.  So you believe the Gypsy was real."

"How can I NOT believe she was real?  The circumstantial evidence supports everything you have told me.  Of course it is crazy.  This sort of thing is not supposed to happen.  But our entire story has been weird from the start.  And just when I figure this story cannot get any weirder, now you tell me a complete stranger predicted you would not only meet the man you would spend the rest of your life with, you already knew him... which was true!   And look what we did at the end of our marathon conversation?  We committed to each other.  Look at how happy we have been.  It is like we were meant for each other.   I can easily imagine spending the rest of our lives together.  Marla, sweetheart, this is Fairy Tale stuff. How much more proof do you need?"

I had tears in my eyes.  This was too good to be true.  Marla blushed, then reached for my hand. 

"If the Gypsy can be believed, that makes you the guy I am destined to spend the rest of my life with."

I was so nervous, I actually laughed.  "It does seem that way, doesn't it?  I certainly hope so." 

Marla smiled and squeezed my hand.  "Me too."  Then she shook her head in wonder. 

"Wow.  As first anniversary presents go, this is quite a doozy.  I can't even imagine what to make of all this.  That Gypsy was a complete stranger.  How did she have the power to read my mind?  How could this woman know I was in an unhappy relationship?  How could this woman know I had already been thinking about taking a trip?  How did she know I already knew the person I would meet?  And where did she get the confidence to say I would spend the rest of my life with this man?  The Gypsy was right about everything."

Marla paused, then added, "This is way beyond mere chance.  Her prediction could not have come true by accident."

I nodded.  "I agree.  It seems likely the woman had the gift of second sight."