Tuesday Tidbits....

I'm going to draw upon a couple of comments from my weekend blogs (the Q & A memes).  Two people wanted to know more about how Joe and I met - in a bar.  I've told the story here before, but will make it a shorter "tidbit" today for those who are new to my blog....

• Joe and I met on August 1st, 1983.  It was a Monday night.  MONDAY night.  I did not (and do not) frequent bars and Joe didn't either.  The "bar" was a restaurant with a bar and a dance floor, located in Skyline Plaza (a mall on the ground level and an office complex above) in the Bailey's Crossroads area of  Northern Virginia (just across the river from Washington DC).  My friend and co-worker, Lynn, wanted to go to the movies after work, to see Jaws 3D.  We giggled about not wanting to go see it on a date! Ha!  So we went to the 6:30 movie at Skyline.  Afterwards, she wanted to stop at the restaurant to get a drink.  I'm not a drinker, but she could throw back a few. I cautioned her that it is a work night and that I would have ONE drink with her.

• Joe belonged to a gym in the building.  One of the trainers had died and they were having a benefit for him to raise some money for the funeral/family, at the restaurant.  The other trainers were bartenders and club members were encouraged to stop in for a drink or to make a donation.  That's what brought Joe in that evening.

• Lynn had just broken up with her boyfriend of six years.  She was boo-hooing about getting back into the dating scene after being out of it for so long.  She noticed a cute guy at the bar and mentioned it.  I told her to just go ask him to dance.  She declared that she couldn't do that - just go up and ask him to dance.  I told her to watch me.  Piece of cake.  I had noticed Joe's dark good looks, his smile, and that he did not have a wedding ring on (yes, I was scoping him out!) so I bravely marched up to him and asked him to dance.  Believe me when I say I had never asked a guy to dance, ever in my life. I was just being silly for Lynn's sake.

• We danced. We talked. We talked some more.  Lynn did finally start talking to the guy she was interested in.  Before I knew it, it was 1:00 a.m.!!!  On a work night!  Joe walked me to my car and asked me to lunch the next day.  I said yes - pick me up at work, which he did.  The rest is history.  (I should mention that Joe's first wife, Loretta, had died of brain cancer just five months before and that day was the first day Joe had taken his wedding ring off.)  We believe it was meant to be.  Loretta told Joe she wanted him to get married again. To meet someone who would love her boys.  I certainly do love her boys (Joe & the boys)!  Loretta made my entrance into the family circle very easy, bless her.

• Nothing came of Lynn's guy...but she was one of my bride's maids when Joe and I got married nearly two years later!!  Lynn and I are connected on FB.  Haven't seen her in years and years. She is married with children now and seems happy.

So that's how we met in a bar.  We do have fun telling people that.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Peace & hugs.