The moment Jennifer appeared, my life took a dramatic change.  Jennifer was the closest thing to love at first sight I had ever experienced.  Which is an odd thing to say because I had known Jennifer for a month.  So how can it be 'Love at first sight'?  Good question.  In fact, I asked myself that same question.  Truth be told, I never knew Jennifer existed until the day she knocked on my door. 

The moment I saw Jennifer, I gasped.  "Oh my God, where has this woman been hiding?"

Despite the threat of the Dancing Cowboy, my Disco program was still relatively healthy in August.  I had two favorite classes.  One was my Superstar Class on Monday night.  This class consisted of 25 students who had stayed with me the entire year because they loved Disco so much.  They were so good that I had begun to teach them how to perform Disco acrobatics.  Considering these risky moves were the same things people did in dance contests, I was very proud of them (we will hear more about this class down the road).

Jennifer joined the Superstar Class in August.  For reasons I will never understand, I barely noticed her.  Let me change that.  I did notice how good she was at acrobatics.  With practice, I expected Jennifer could be as good as Joanne, the legendary best dancer at the studio.  However, I was so preoccupied with the Dance Curse as well as Victoria's constant marital headaches, Jennifer never crossed my radar.  Not once.

My other favorite Disco class took place in Clear Lake, a suburb 20 miles southeast of downtown.  Unlike Houston, Clear Lake seemed immune to the creeping disease of Urban Cowboy.  In fact, two new Discos had recently opened in the area and were doing thriving business.  Every Saturday afternoon I drove to Clear Lake to teach a Disco class to seven married couples.  These people were incredible dancers.  Remember what I said about how friendships were the secret ingredient of my dance classes?  The chance to see their friends every Saturday was the highlight of their week. 

I had been with this group for seven months and I was very fond of them.  They were so good that several couples had won dance contests.  Unfortunately the day had come when they were too good for their own good.  What was the problem?  They learned so fast that I had taught them practically everything I knew.  The only moves left in the cookie jar were difficult dance acrobatics that Victoria and I used when we performed.  Due to my recent accidents during the Dance Curse, I had become skittish.  For safety reasons, I was scared to attempt to teach such risky material.  So on Saturday, August 25, I voiced my concerns.  To my surprise, they did not want to quit.  Neither did I, so after a long talk we agreed to begin learning advanced acrobatics starting next Saturday on Labor Day Weekend.  If things went well, we would continue from there.  Unfortunately on Sunday, the following night, I had a serious change of heart thanks to the Karate Chop accident. 

A favorite ploy in rom-com movies is the infamous 'date which isn't a date' set-up.  That was not the case with Jennifer.  This was not a date.  Even when I spoke to Jennifer at the studio about the Clear Lake class, I had no interest in her.  Nor did I give Jennifer another thought for five days.  Out of sight, out of mind.  To be honest, since we had not spoken since Monday, on Saturday I was curious if Jennifer would even show up.  I wouldn't blame her if she changed her mind.  Jennifer probably had better things to do on a Saturday night.  Just then I heard a knock.  The moment I opened the door, I was stunned to find myself staring at an exceptionally beautiful woman.  This was so weird!  It was like someone had lifted blinders from my eyes.  I blinked twice just to make sure I wasn't dreaming.  Then I pinched myself to be doubly sure.  What was wrong with me?  How could I have overlooked a woman of this magnitude for an entire month?

As we drove to Clear Lake, I continued to wonder how a woman who looked like Jennifer had remained invisible.  And why was a woman who looked like Jennifer available on a Saturday night?  A holiday Saturday night no less.  The guys should have been beating down the door for this woman.  As we drove, I realized I didn't know a thing about her, so I started asking questions.  By the way she answered, Jennifer enjoyed being interviewed.  Soon she was asking me questions too, first-date kind of questions.  Finding myself engaged in a delightful conversation, my heart skipped a beat.  Was it my imagination or was Jennifer just as interested in me as I was in her? 

Although Jennifer was five years younger, you wouldn't guess.  She was very sharp.  Jennifer was an accountant at a major Houston firm.  This was her first job out of college.  I was so intrigued that every mile or so I asked myself again why I had never given her a second glance at the studio.  It still bugged me that a girl this special had escaped my notice for an entire month.  Increasingly curious about my companion, I decided to ask a question that had been bothering me.  

"Jennifer, why are you so good at learning these acrobatic moves in class?  I have never seen anyone other than my former assistant Joanne pick this stuff up so effortlessly." 

Jennifer smiled at the compliment.  "I was a competitive gymnast in high school until nature took its course.  Curves are a real problem in gymnastics."

"Do you mean your breasts got in the way?"

"Yeah, something like that."

I smiled.  "I see your problem.  Should I offer you my sympathy?"

Now Jennifer smiled too.  "No, as handicaps go, I guess I can live with this."

Based on her skill at acrobatics, obviously her athletic talent was still there.  So were those curves.  At that thought, I turned my head to take another good look at her.  Jennifer caught me, so I grinned.  Jennifer smiled back.  She knew I was checking her out and liked what I saw.  Jennifer was a dark-haired blonde, 5' 4", long hair, big brown eyes, hourglass figure.  A serious babe.  Under normal circumstances, I would have never taken my eyes off her.  And yet Jennifer had been invisible for a month.  Weird weird weird.  Beyond weird!

Well, my eyes were open now.  Just then a wicked smile crossed my face.  Jennifer was Victoria's worst nightmare.  Jennifer was the woman Victoria had long-feared would appear someday.  Jennifer had it all... looks, brains, poise, athletic ability, love of dance, a solid career.  And she liked me, I could tell.  Victoria's fear that a woman like Jennifer would replace her was the main reason she had embarked on these past eight months of irrational behavior.  How strange that Jennifer had appeared out of nowhere when she did.  At this very moment, Victoria was talking with Michael about trying to repair their marriage.  Jennifer's entrance into my life was timed so perfectly I wondered if Fate was involved.  I prayed that Victoria would hand in her resignation and clear the way for Jennifer.

The evening with the Clear Lake group went well.  Jennifer was rather diffident, probably because she was a newcomer and the youngest person in the room.  Although Jennifer lacked Victoria's flash and dash or Patricia's seductive charm with men, that didn't matter one bit to my Clear Lake couples.  Underneath her shy demeanor, Jennifer was a lady, poised, calm, collected, confident.  As opposed to the temperamental Divas who strived for attention, this woman was mature beyond her years.  Jennifer helped every man with his leads and showed each woman how to make the Scissors pattern work.  Jennifer made quite an impression.  Noticing how much everyone liked her, I was awestruck.  After class, Linda, one of the ladies in the group, came over and grabbed me by the forearm.  Pulling me aside, Linda whispered, "Rick, I don't know if you take advice from older women, but this young lady you have found is very special!  I really like her!" 

I nodded.  I agreed with Linda.  Jennifer and I were instant teammates.  Throughout 1979, my life always seemed out of control, but not with Jennifer at my side.  Jennifer might just be the anchor I needed to ground me against the swirling currents of Dance Curses, Dancing Cowboys and Victoria's troubled marriage.  Best of all, Jennifer did not need me to 'support' her.  'Support' was Victoria's favorite word.  Every time I turned around, Victoria wanted to know how I would support her if she left Michael.  Whatever made Victoria think I wanted to support her in the first place?  Nevertheless, it was reassuring to know Jennifer could stand on her own two feet.  With Urban Cowboy looming and Disco fading, I worried constantly over what I would do when my dance career got squashed.  If worse came to worst, I suppose I would get a computer job.  Whatever I decided, it was nice to know Jennifer would not depend on me for money. 

As we drove back to Houston, I was happy to have Jennifer at my side.  Based on her smile, I had a hunch where things were headed.  If so, I was technically a free agent.  Although Victoria claimed me, she was a married woman to whom I had made no promises.  As for the 'Forbidden Line', Victoria and I had come close twice, but stopped both times.  I would not claim innocence, but at the same time I saw nothing to prevent Victoria from patching things up.  I had waited for Victoria once before over July 4th.  I wasn't going to wait again. 

"Jennifer, you were pretty wonderful in class tonight.  You made a huge difference.  By the way, my friends really like you."

Jennifer reached across.  She took my right hand in hers and squeezed it affectionately.  When Jennifer laughed, I asked why. 

"I have a little secret to share.  I've been watching you for some time.  I kept hanging around hoping you would notice me." 

What an odd thing to say.  This young lady had been trying to get my attention for a month and not once did I see her.  For the umpteenth time I wondered if there was a supernatural element to this inexplicable Blind Spot.  Previously I always thought the term 'Love is Blind' suggested our emotions masked flaws in our lovers.  However, maybe there was another meaning.  Perhaps the Universe deliberately disguised Jennifer in order to create the correct timing necessary to fulfill our Destiny. 

"Jennifer, do you mind if I ask you an odd question?"

"Shoot."

"Was this working downtown story on the level or was it some ploy to get you into my house?"

Jennifer grinned.  "How did you guess?"

Jennifer and I were inseparable all weekend long.  We spent Saturday night at my house.  We spent Sunday at my house as well.  We spent Labor Day Monday at her apartment.  A whirlwind romance was in the making.  Jennifer was a wish come true, a stunning companion who had appeared out of the blue as if in answer to an unspoken prayer.  Victoria did not know it, but her worst fear had just come true.  She would be facing a formidable rival at the exact time when her own powers were diminished.  Jennifer had it all plus she loved to dance.  Oh, one more thing... Jennifer was single.