This is something from a couple of years ago that I felt like I had to publish as an introduction to the next piece which is new. I hope you, Dear Reader, will bear with me and read both, for they present two sides of a coin, and are two of the defining moments of my life.
She Laughed
I had been working for a manufacturing company outside of Dallas for about a year when they purchased a small company out of bankruptcy. This company had a lot of issues with production and quality, and several of us were transferred from what was now the parent company to this newly acquired company to try to pull it back, and turn it around.
It was early April when I went in. I was the new quality manager, replacing a man who had worked there for many years and been let go the week before. That and the fact that I came from "Corporate" meant that I was already hated.
There was a short meeting of the office staff to introduce me, and she was there. I did not know who she was, or what her job was, but I could not take my eyes off of her. As soon as I saw her, I was infatuated with her. She had dark auburn hair, and the most beautiful deep brown eyes that I had ever seen.
A day or two later, I formally met the young woman who I had seen at the introductory meeting. I was ordering some tools and equipment for my department, so I went up to accounting to check on some payments to vendors, and she was there. She was in charge of accounts payable, so I had to clear new vendors with her. Every time I looked at her, I was struck by those deep, dark brown eyes. Every time I looked into those eyes, I would become lost in them. I would lose my train of thought. I could not remember what I was about to say. Basically, I fumbled about like a 12 year old at his first boy / girl dance. So, I used the only tool that I had in my arsenal, and tried to be funny. I guess I was successful.
She laughed.
I asked her out that first Friday, and she turned me down. FLAT.
I had a cousin that came into town the second week I was there, and called me the night before to see if I was available for lunch. I told him where I worked, and he dropped by about 11:30 on a Wednesday. I went up to the lobby to meet him, and she was there. Seems that the women in the office took turns covering the receptionist's desk during her lunch and that was her day. I gave her a "Hello", and she returned it, but that was all. My cousin looked at my dream girl as we walked away, and then asked who she was. I told him that she was the girl I was going to marry, but she just did not know it yet.
I asked her out that second Friday, and she turned me down. FLAT
I began to spend time around her, whenever I could, telling her jokes, making fun of events around the office, and making her laugh every chance I could. Several of the men who had been transferred to this company with me noticed my obsession with her, and I informed them that I fully planned on marrying this woman. They told me I was crazy.
Through my clumsy flirting and attempts to make her laugh, I found out she was divorced, had a 5 year old daughter, and was working hard just to make it. She was the most beautiful, independent, and determined woman I had ever met. I spent every moment I could spare around her, for any reason I could think of, making her laugh, and looking into her eyes.
I asked her out that third Friday, and she turned me down. FLAT.
I got to know her better over the next few weeks, and found out that many of the men who worked for the company, as well as many men who worked for companies who were our suppliers and customers, asked her out seemingly every week, and she never went out with any of them. Her major concern was her daughter, and taking care of her was all that she felt she had time for. I joked about her prospective suitors, and made her laugh at the way they were pursuing her.
I asked her out that fourth Friday, and she turned me down. FLAT. (I sensed a pattern developing.)
April turned to May to August. I spent Monday through Friday finding reasons to run into her, to tell her a joke, or make a wise crack and see her smile.
I asked her out every weekend, and she turned me down. FLAT.
Finally, in Mid August, I asked her out, and before she could turn me down, I told her that I was sure that she would be eating a meal sometime between Friday at 5:00 PM and Monday at 8:00 AM, so she needed to pick one, and I would buy it for her. I told her that my gentle psychological make up could not stand another rejection, and she was running the very real risk of me becoming a bit concerned about her feelings for me, and perhaps a bit discouraged.
She laughed. And finally, she said yes, she would go out with me because I made her laugh. She told me she could not afford a sitter, so she would have to bring her daughter, and I said fine.
We had our first date on Saturday Night, August 19.
She would not tell me where she lived, simply because she did not want me to know, so we arranged to meet at a restaurant at 6:00 PM on Saturday.
I arrived early and nervous, and waited for her. I watched the door impatiently, and right at 6:00 PM, she was there.
She looked like a dream. Her daughter was a beautiful little girl who looked like a miniature copy of her mom. She introduced me to her little girl, and sat down. The restaurant where we met had paper on the tables so kids could color on them, and the little girl was in heaven drawing and coloring on the table.
During that first date, we finally began to really get to know each other.
She informed me that she had heard that I had told some people that I was planning on marrying her.
I admitted it.
She told me I didn't know her.
I said I didn't care.
She told me I was crazy.
I agreed.
She told me I could not possibly know if I wanted to marry her.
I reminded her that I was crazy.
She asked me what I would do if she said yes, right then.
I told her we would be married before Monday Morning, if she said yes.
We ended up talking about life, our goals, our hopes, our beliefs, our dreams, family, friends, marriage, and more. We sat at that table, drinking iced tea and talking, until they kicked us out at 2:30 AM, and I carried a sleeping little girl out to her mother's car as we left the restaurant.
Standing there in the parking lot, feeling like I had just walked my prom date to the door, I asked her out for the next night.
She laughed. And, she said yes.
We spent just about every evening together after that.
Three months later, in November, I found myself standing in front of a Justice of the Peace, and she was there. I was looking at her, drowning in those dark brown eyes, and happy to let myself drown there. I put a ring on her finger, and we were married, almost exactly 3 months after our first date.
When the alarm buzzed this morning, I woke up, opened my eyes, and she was there, looking back at me. She asked me if I was going to let that clock go on, and I told her that I was about to let it go on out the window.
And, she laughed.
She still has my ring on her finger, and we are still married, and I can still make her laugh, almost 20 years after that day in front of that Justice of the Peace.
That little girl who went with us on that first date is 25 now, and has given us 2 beautiful grand kids. Our son is a now a freshman in college. Our youngest, another daughter, is in high school.
I lay there, looking at her, drowning in those dark brown eyes, and happy to let myself drown there.
We've gone through a lot. Births and deaths. Happiness and Sadness. Richer and Poorer. Sickness and Health. Good times and Bad times.
I do not know if there is such a thing as destiny. I do not know if soul mates really exist. I do not know if everyone on this earth has someone here, especially for them. These are questions that are far beyond my capability to comprehend, let alone answer.
But I do know that I love to make her laugh.
Written September27, 2009
Addendum
November 27, 2009
It is hard to read this knowing the outcome. I hope that you remain a hopeless romantic
Well, I have been told many times that I am hopeless.
I don't know if the romantic in me will survive, but I did find that writing about it was somewhat cathartic.
It was what it was, and I was lucky to have what I had for that long.
I must admit I read this one second and like Perrie knowing the out come had an affect on my perception of this story. The story is well to say the least beautiful and I am sure you thought yourself in a fairytale. I am glad that the two of you had those years and memories to take with you each day. I can see why you still love her. Stay the hopeless romantic, there are others who want to laugh out there and one of them is looking for you.