I really enjoy this time of year. I love the crispness in the air and the faint smell of wood smoke. I love sipping on hot chocolate with whipped cream and staring out the window at a bright and beautiful morning. I also love that it reminds me of when Paul and I first met.
It was November 2007. I had recently graduated from college and just completed an internship program at a well-known advertising agency. However, I couldn’t find a job (thanks to not having “enough experience.” Which is silly because how are you supposed to get enough experience unless someone gives you a chance?) so to make ends meet, I worked as a cashier at a friend’s restaurant, which happened to be located inside the building where Paul worked.
The first time I ever laid eyes on Paul, I was rushing out of the kitchen, looking down and not paying attention to where I was going. The restaurant stayed pretty busy during lunch time, so I was always rushing around.
I came around the corner right as Paul rounded the other side of the wall, and I plowed right smack dab into the center of his chest, FULL FORCE. The impact pushed me backwards, and I stumbled and nearly lost my balance.
“Crap!” I exclaimed. “I’m so sorry!” I looked up at him as he smiled, graciously letting me pass. OHMYGOSH he’s cute! I thought as I rushed past. And he’s so tall! Oh! There’s the rest of the box of napkins! Just what I was looking for. I grabbed the napkins and went on about my day.
In the meantime, Paul took notice of me and started talking to Anthony, my friend and the restaurant owner, about me. Anthony immediately jumped on the opportunity to be a match-maker and started telling me about their conversations, encouraging me to go on date with Paul. I, on the other hand, was completely over the whole dating process and certainly was not looking for anyone. However, Paul seemed like a really nice guy, someone I wouldn’t mind dating… plus he was really freaking cute.
The first time he asked me on a date, he leaned over the counter in front of the cash register, resting his hands on the counter top. I had finally landed a job as a graphic designer at a small, local advertising agency. Excited, I told Paul about my new job.
“Really?” He said. “One of my friends just got a promotion and we’re celebrating tomorrow night.” He smiled. “Would you like to come with us so we can also celebrate you getting that job?” he asked. I looked into his eyes and my heart practically melted. Did I mention he was cute?
“That would be awesome!” I said as I scribbled my phone number down onto a ticket. “Just give me a call and we’ll get together.” I handed him the ticket and he tucked it into his back pocket.
He called that night.
Well, he actually called so soon because his friends had to cancel their plans… so that left just the two of us for the get-together. I was happy about it because I was secretly hoping our date would be just the two of us. We went to a restaurant and then played some pool, which still happens to be one of our favorite pastimes.
Little did we know then that we would be married with a baby. That we would be farting around each other and gaining weight together. I found my soul-mate and am eternally thankful that I was in between jobs and that my friend was able to hire me for a short period of time. So that’s how Paul and I met… through a series of fortuitous circumstances.
And I wouldn’t change a thing.
What a sweet story! And how convenient his friends had to cancel, leaving the two of you alone! Thanks for sharing!
.-= Jane´s last blog .. =-.
It all worked out perfectly! We had such a wonderful time together and still talk about it to this day. Now, if only I could lose all this weight I gained when I was pregnant… I would LOVE to be that size again!
-Jen