I've told the story of how hubby & I met at various times over the years, but I don't believe I've ever blogged about it. So it seemed the natural choice for subject matter in the latest #powerhousecreatives contest that's all about love, in honor of Valentine's Day.
Set the time machine for July, 1987
The summer of my 22nd year, I'd just finished four years of college. However, I hadn't finished four year's worth of credits (a story for another day), so I needed to return for that upcoming Fall semester. During the break, I continued to work part-time at a group home for troubled teens in Dover, NH, which was about 20 minutes from my college campus, and about 90 minutes from my parent's home (where I still lived) in Magnolia, MA. I also worked part-time for my father's burglar & fire alarm system business.
At the time, I'd had a running... difference of opinion (lol!) with my father over the state of the chairs in his monitoring station. He didn't see an issue with the fact they'd been brought over from his former appliance store office, which made them older than I was at the time! However, he told me I was welcome to shop around for better ones.
The opportunity to do some chair shopping came during the Fourth of July weekend. I'd driven up to Dover to pick up my paycheck from the group home, and decided to swing by a nearby store in town called, "Tom Ray's Office Supply" to see what they had in stock. Sadly though, there was a big sign that said, "Closed for inventory" (and believe it or not, that's actually pertinent... I promise...).
About a week or so later, I had to head back up to the Dover area with my best friend/college roommate, and decided to give the office supply store another looksee. This time, it was open, and we started to browse around. A very short time later, this gorgeous guy walks around the corner, with a name tag that read, "J. York" and said something like, "Can I help you ladies with something?"
I honestly have no idea what he actually said, because I immediately turned into a stammering, blushing, giggly pile of mush!
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Somehow, I managed to explain what I was looking for, and the next thing I knew, we were bantering back and forth like we'd known each other for years. I joked, I punned, I flirted, all the while very aware of that my friend was looking at me like I had two heads, whilst simultaneously grinning at our ridiculousness.
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Long story short (yes, I know - too late! 😂 ), I did end up buying 5 chairs, and had to fill out an order form, since they weren't in stock at the moment (meaning I'd have to come back to get them). I told him it wasn't fair that now he knew my first name and phone number, but I didn't know his. Mind you, this was during the dark, dark days before Google was a thing. I promised him that by the time I returned to pick up the chairs, I'd have sussed it out.
During the car ride home, my friend was absolutely DYING over the whole exchange, and swore that he was the male version of me. She also mentioned that the moment I saw him, my neck and face turned "neon red" and stayed that way the entire time. Not embarrassing at all, right? 😳
In the interest of time (meaning, the deadline for the contest is in a few minutes...lol), let me just say that thanks to the phone book from my college apartment and a phone call to the store asking about the nice young man who helped me, but I couldn't remember his name, and the manager helpfully said, "Oh, you mean Jim? bit of clever detective work, I had his name, and apparently his heart, by the time I returned to the store.
Oh, and that fourth of July thing? If the store had been opened, and I shopped on that particular day, we probably wouldn't have met. He'd only just started at the store that weekend, and was stuck out back doing training/inventory.
At a photo booth in the mall,
some time in the fall of 1987
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Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://www.traciyork.com/how-our-love-story-began-my-powerhousecreatives-contest-entry/
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Great story!
Sometimes we forget how different it was getting personal info before there was internet 😂.
Thanks for connecting on Twitter!
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Thanks so much, @jeanlucsr! And no kidding, right? 😂
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Oh, and you're very welcome! It's so cool that so many Steemians are connecting there lately!
No kidding, 1987 was before the official launch of the world wide web! I was just a couple of years old 😅. It's kinda funny explaining that to my students who often grew up with Social Media.
Yes! I think it's much needed that we connect on other platforms if we want to get the #Steem message out properly 😊
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Love at first sight! Lovely, Traci. I am sitting here with a really silly smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart!
Yep, it really was @fionasfavourites - I didn't even get to the part where Jim was dating 5 other girls when we first met, and after our first date, he broke up with them all! 😂
And thanks for saying so - now I have a silly smile on my face too! 😊
Hahaha! so it really was. And now I am, too. Again :D
Ok, that's a perfect story for Valentine's
The Universe just aligned everything for you two to meet
And very clever detective work ;)
Thank you for sharing this with us <33
Thanks so much in return for your sweet words, @kaerpediem! 😊 💜
That is the sweetest story!
And it looks like you had the same hair color, too! What a great-looking couple you make, and it must definitely have been love if you're till together! 💖
And that is the sweetest heart emoji, @thekittygirl!
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