marla and me

1980. I am living in Chicago, separated from my husband, and falling in love with Lee, a fellow student at Kellogg.

But Lee is still not over his high school sweetie from Denver, Marla. Marla is creative. Marla is adventurous. Marla is exceptional. Marla is unlike anyone Lee's ever known. Marla can do no wrong. I want to be Marla.

Years pass. I hear through Lee that Marla moves to LA and becomes a producer. Then she moves to Paris. Of course.That's all I know. Lee and Marla lose touch.

Lee lives in Denver, and we sporadically keep in touch. He's married with a son in college. I have no idea what prompts this, but I Google Marla and find her on Facebook. She is is now in the fashion business.

I am looking for stylists to join my J. Hilburn team (let me know if you know anyone). I think hmmm. Maybe Marla knows someone who might be interested. We have never met nor have we ever spoken.

I message Marla. She responds. We email. She sends me her number. All this within 30 minutes. How can you not love social media?

We talk. Marla lives in New York. We have a lot in common. Know many of the same people. We schedule a time to meet for coffee.

I call Lee, who hasn't spoken to Marla in over 20 years. I tell him the story. He is not surprised. "You know," he says. "I somehow knew that one day you two would meet."

He was right.