When we first met, we were just "two lost souls, swimming in a fish bowl". Jim had been divorced for a few years and had moved to Cleveland from Omaha. He was living with his grandmother and helping to care for her. I had been divorced nearly 3 years and was living in a one bedroom efficiency apartment. Jim's children lived in Omaha with their mom and mine lived across town with their dad.
Jim was the assistant manager of the Checker's restaurant and I was assistant manager of the Backyard Burgers restaurant. We met on June 6th when Jim came through my drive-in. We had had a run on fries, so he was having to wait. I chatted with him while he was waiting. A few days later my manager found a better job and when he left, I was let go since they wanted to make someone else manager and not promote me.
I had a new job less than 2 hours after being let go from Backyard. I had stopped in the local Rocky Top gas station en route to the tanning bed. Brenda, the manager, had a sign up advertising that she needed help. I said, "You're hiring? I'm looking!" Brenda replied, "Are you serious?" I said, "Yes" So she had me go into her office, we talked, I filled out an application, and was put on the schedule for the following week.
Because I changed jobs, Jim had no idea what had happened to me. He was going to the old job and not seeing me. Finally he asked. When he was told I no longer worked there, he was a little sad, but had figured that if it was meant to be, it would have worked out. Shortly thereafter, Jim stopped in the Rocky Top for gas and a Snapple on the way home from work. To his surprise, I was there, on the register, working. When he noticed it was me, he said, "There you are!" I replied, "Yep, here I am!" We were quite busy, so he left.
Over the next few weeks, Jim stalked me at work. He would stop in on on the way to and from work everyday, just to see if I was working. When I was there, he always chatted me up. He was a little discouraged because there was always a guy or two hanging out, also trying to chat me up.
Finally, I gave him my number since he never seemed like he was going to ask for it.
About an hour later, the phone at work rings. When I answer it, it is Jim. He asks me out and I agree to meet him the next evening at the Waffle House for coffee.
About an hour later, the phone at work rings. When I answer it, it is Jim. He asks me out and I agree to meet him the next evening at the Waffle House for coffee.
I was being very careful. I refused to let him know where I lived and I met him in a very public place where I was known. The place wasn't expensive and I arrived early, had a bite to ea,t and paid my tab before he arrived.
Anyway, this was our first date. It was September 5, 1994. The significance of this I didn't find out until later. My husband is a HUGE football fan. This was the opening night of Monday Night Football. Jim gave up seeing the San Francisco 49ers beat the LA Raiders 44 to 14. It must be love!
Anyway, a few dates later, Jim asks me to marry him. I say yes and we set the date for Friday, November 11, 2011. Things started getting in the way of that date, so we moved it up a month. We settled on Tuesday, October 11, 1994. And the rest is history!
