We’re looking for stories about how you’ve succeeded at The Game of Love and Change. Odyssey Theatre staff and volunteers thought they would get the ball rolling. Our first post comes from our very own Dana Uzarevic, Odyssey Theatre’s General Manager since 2006.

My Game of Love and Chance

I was 16 when I dated a guy who had a friend named Zeljko. I said to my boyfriend at the time: “of all your friends, I like Zeljko the most. There is something really nice about him.”

My boyfriend and I soon broke up, but 2 years later our paths crossed again and we started dating again. I again met Zeljko and again thought he was a really nice guy, and nothing more than that. The relationship with my boyfriend lasted a bit longer this time, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Few months later, around midnight, I was walking my dog when I heard someone calling my name. It was Zeljko. I was very pleased to see him. We talked for a bit and agreed to go for a drink soon.

The first night we went out, we talked for three hours not even noticing how much time went by. We started hanging out more often. Just friends. Few months later was New Year’s Eve and he invited my friend and I to spend it with him and his friends. At some point that night I moved to kiss him. That’s when he told me he had a long-distance girlfriend. I still went for that kiss and got it. When he took me home, we kissed once again and that was it.

Next time we saw each other, we were ‘just friends’. For four months we were hanging out, going to movies, theatre and long walks. No kissing, but some flirting. He accompanied me to my friend’s birthday party where I told him I fell in love with him. He still had a girlfriend.

The next day I asked him to meet with me. We went for a drink and I told him that I wanted to be with him, that I don’t mind that he had a girlfriend and that he could be with both of us until he figured out whom he wants to be with. I didn’t want to hear anything about her and she didn’t need to know about me. He asked me what if he chose her. I said that I would be ok with that. I would at least know that I tried and would never ask myself “what if”. He agreed to give it a shot. (I mean, what did he have to loose.)

My birthday was a month later. He gave me a gift and a rose with a little card that said: “Happy birthday to my only girlfriend.”

15 years and two kids later, I’m still very proud of myself. I did what not too many girls would do and that “game of love and chance” gave me the man of my dreams and the best marriage anyone could wish for.