I met my husband at a bar.
I didn’t think that was going to happen.
It all started when Chad finally thought about hanging out with me on NYE, 14 years ago.
I was house sitting & dog sitting for my parents as they were out in California for the Pasadena Parade. My graduate school friends all left for the winter break, so I decided to make the most of it in my parents living room. It was nearing 10:00 pm and I had the fire burning in the fireplace and was watching fun NYE’s antics on the television when what should happen, Chad called me. Now, I know I’m not that stupid, clearly he didn’t have plans with me for NYE and I was an after thought to the fun, but something persuaded me to go. Clearly, he did. He was pretty good about guilt tripping me into going. Going entitled doing way too much. I had grown up around really tame hang outs around New Years, so drinking a lot was not my thing. Certainly not drinking and driving. So I had plans put in place, after all, my parents couldn’t come bail me out. So, as a reminder everyone, do not drink and drive. Call one of your sober friends to drive you, they would love too, trust me.
I put out the fire in the fireplace and proceeded to get dressed. Those that know me know that I am pretty low maintenance. So I decided to go all out on that this NYE and keep part of my pajamas on. I realized most people would already be drunk, so what’s the big deal.
Well the big deal was when I walked into the Wine Café around 10:30 that night I saw the most amazing guy. My eyes couldn’t believe it. My first thought was why the heck was I still in my “Oh my deer” pj top. My second thought was, this guy is so put together that he couldn’t possibly be in his 20s. I asked for his driver’s license. I did that. Am I proud? No, but I just wanted to clarify his age for myself. We had a great night. A few highlights,
His mom told him not to talk about religion and politics. Yes, his mom was there. We danced. And it wasn’t even at the Haze, it was the Wine Café people. We had Goldschlager shots. We had our kiss under the lightly falling snow on January 1st, 2008. Yes it snowed and it was the best way to bring in the New Year. Do I normally kiss guys right after meeting them? No. My husband was the only exception. Did I drink too much and stay out past midnight? Yes, I did. So I had a sober ride, friends.
We’ve since had a few NYE celebrations at the Wine Café. One even at the same table we shared so many years ago for the first time. It was simply such a magical time meeting. We’ve both lived in the area our whole lives. We both knew Chad for several years as well. Chad though managed not to bring us together until that night.
I would consider this love at first sight. So it should have been the easiest beginning to to our “Ever After.” Life isn’t that easy though is it? I had many things I needed to work through, finding my self worth, self confidence and believing that I could be loved, just to name a few. So we have a beautiful meeting, followed by some rocky steps, followed up by a beautiful love story that bloomed six amazing children. I couldn’t feel more blessed.
I’m so glad that night that I decided to go out, it lead my life in a direction I never thought possible.
