The Day That Changed My Life


Eight years ago today, I met someone that changed my life forever. I had been laid off my previous job for almost a month, and today was the first day of training at my new job. I walked up to the front doors of the building not really knowing what to expect. At this point in my life, I preferred when I was by myself and not having to meet, impress, or deal with new people. So, I took a deep breath and walked inside. I'm greeted by the receptionist who is probably still on high alert since 9/11, and asks me to have a seat to wait for the instructor to bring me back. I walk to the designated area and that's when I see her.

There she was sitting in a chair that is also in the "designated area". She was looking down at a book, folder, binder, or planner. I only scanned her over for a second, but it is one of those memories that I can playback in my mind with no detail lost. It's like the movie "Click", with Adam Sandler. He's able use a "universal remote" and access different parts of his life to view them. He is able to pause the memory, but not interact. This is one of those times I would just pause time and take in the beauty of the scenery.

In those few seconds, I knew that she was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Her hair was dark brown with a bit of wave to it that fell just below her shoulder. She wore a maroon blouse which also accentuated my interest because maroon is my favorite color. She sat with her legs crossed in a black skirt and black hose. Her matching shoes completed the picture of beauty that was presented before me.

I walked up to sit in the chair next to her. She looked up at me then back to her book/folder/binder/planner. That brief eye contact did it for me. Inside my head, my mind was racing "Who is this chick?" "I hope she's in my training." "She's beautiful." "Oh crap, I have a girlfriend." When she had looked at me, there was the polite smile "hello", but there was no "moving her hair behind her ear" technique that chicks use to flirt with guys. But that didn't matter. Even though I may never see this woman again, I was at that time sitting next to the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

Well it turns out that she was starting training that day. YES!!! I will be seeing this girl every weekday ALL day for the next six weeks. The class had five students. The class was your standard customer service training class where we would learn the company policies, the computer systems and applications, etc., etc., etc. But one different part of this class was the trainer would ask random trivia questions. For some reason, I have thousands of random trivia files stored away in the back of my head. Where did I learn all this?? I have no clue. Maybe I'm like Bill Murray in Groundhog's Day and I have lived the same day over and over again to where I just learn a lot of things. And I had to learn all that stuff by living September 24, 2001 over and over before I got it right. Regardless, I kicked butt in these random trivia questions in class.

Then one day early in training, She turned around and told me, "You're really smart!"

I melted in my chair.

Up until this point in my life, I could not remember a time in my life where I had any positive affirmation directed towards myself. This girl who had only known me for a few days, had finally given me what I needed from anyone in the 26 years of my life.

Now it wasn't just her looks that I was attracted too. In the next following days, her voice, her laugh, the way she walked, the way she would pinch her nose when it itched. Whether she knew it or not, she had my heart.

One night, I told my friend that I am going to ask her to lunch the next day. The next day arrived and I was a scared turtle. I wanted to say something, but couldn't. The lunch break started and I hung back, purposely stalling to hope maybe I might gain the strength to say something.

It never came.

I was going to die alone. No one would know that I was even dead. They'll find me 1000 years from now in a glacier or something. Study my habits and say, all he did was read comics, eat hamburger helper and steal wrestling pay per views. They'd probably just put me back in my icy tomb.

Instead she turned around and asked me what I was doing for lunch.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!

I had to play it cool.. But more than likely played it like a dork.

We had lunch, where I was just overwhelmed, infatuated, and intimidated by this woman. I only answered questions she asked. I hardly asked about her. I think it was because I was afraid that she would say that she had a boyfriend and they were happy together and she's only doing this because her boyfriend pissed her off and she wants to get back at him by going to lunch with another guy.

During the next eight years, we me for lunch often. We became friends. Good friends. Best friends. I eventually asked her to marry me and she said yes. We're going to celebrating five years of marriage on January 1st. We're expecting our fourth child together around the same time. A lot has happened these past eight years. Stuff that has made us laugh. Stuff that has made us cry. Stuff that has made us fight. Stuff that has made us run to each other in forgiveness. She's still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. And I am blessed beyond belief from everything that transpired from the moment I walked into the new job that day. I will always remember this day that changed my life.

I love you Sweetie.. Happy Anniversary.

Did you like this post? Please leave a comment and let me know what you thought. You can also subscribe to these posts HERE. Or any other place on the pages that offer subscriptions.

Juggling Eric Dad Blogs

Comments

  1. Wow!! Beautiful post!! I was hooked!

    Congratulations to the both of you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Man.. She enjoyed it too.. She even found out something that she never knew about..

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congrats and happy Anniversary to you both. Very nice story of how you met.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Congrats and happy anniversary. That was a really hearfelt post. I enjoyed reading it.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Here.