No 7 year itch here!
First things first, happy birthday to my Dad!
To the heart of the post. 7 years ago today, Ty and I went on our fateful first date. Here is the story of us:
In April 2004 I was 20. I was working as a pharmacy tech at Shopper's Drug Mart, finishing up my 3rd year of my BSc.Psychology and had big plans of eventually applying to pharmacy in Edmonton or Vancouver. I was living at home, chose not to drink, and although I had a busy social life I wasn't really into the bar scene. Because I was concentrating on school and thought I would be moving, I had a self imposed moritoriam on dating at the time and had zero interest in starting a relationship.
My friend Amber convinced me to come out for a last class bash with her and some other friends and I reluctantly agreed. We started the evening at her place, went to a houseparty, and then went to Spin (which is now Average Joes/Joe's Garage). When I pulled up (I was driving seeing as I didn't drink), I told them I had forgotten my wallet (true) and as such had no ID and was going to go home. I really wasn't in the mood to go in with them, but before I knew it, Amber's boyfriend Paul was dragging me through the VIP entrance with him, and we weren't carded.
We hung out for a bit, but Amber must have sensed that I was about to bolt because as I was making my way closer and closer to the exit, she suddenly pulled this tall blonde guy out of the crowd and shouted in my ear above the noise that her friend wanted to dance with me....and took off.
So, the tall blonde stranger (Ty) and I danced and made as much small talk as possible in a noisy club. My team (the Flames) and his (the Canucks) were squaring off in the Western Conference finals at the time so chatted about that. I asked him how he knew Amber (you know, his friend) and quickly learned that she had literally grabbed him out of the crowd, and he didn't know her from Adam.
That bitch.
Now I was really ready to bolt, but suddenly, there was Amber again, telling me we were heading to the Roadhouse (am I dating myself here?) and that I could drive "what was your name again?" and she and the others would go ahead and get in line. Again, I tried to beg off since I didn't have my wallet, but she helpfully suggested I quickly rip home and get it.
Awesome.
So, there I am with this stranger in my car, thinking about how incredibly stupid it is to be driving to my home with someone I don't know. We pull up and I ran in through the garage, grabbed my wallet from the kitchen, and was back out in 2 seconds flat. To my surprise, I was greated by an empty car, passenger door open. My first thought?
Crap, he stole my stereo.
Suddenly, he saunters out from beside the house, and gets back in the car. After a few minutes of awkward silence he bashfully said that he had to go pee and couldn't hold it, and didn't want to invite himself in.
Ok.....
So, onwards to Roadhouse we went, where I was moderately impressed with him as her offered me his jacket in line. I was even more impressed when he produced a Roadhouse VIP card and got us through the line in no time. Now, anyone who spent any sort of time at the Roadhouse is laughing at me right now, but what did I know? And the Roadhouse was really busy around that time!
We get inside and I instantly locate my friends, and try to dump this guy at the same time. Not too long later, I was trying to sneak out when Ty caught up with me and asked for my number. One of my girlfriends quietly convinced me to give it to him, so he collect the first real number I had ever handed out. Then, the ever helpful Amber suggested that I may as well drive Ty home since I was leaving anyway.
Thanks, Amber.
So, off to his house we go. A little more small talk as I inwardly seethe at Amber. We get to his house and he asks me inside to "play pool".
Um, no thanks. Now, in fairness, there was a pool table in there.
Next thing I know he is leaning over and kissing me, something that I terminated pretty quickly. I think I wasn't two feet out of the driveway when I was already on the phone with Amber reaming her out. Unfortunately, she was too drunk and too interested in the McDonald's that she was eating in bed to really care and basically told me to live a little.
Now, on to Tyler's side of the story (what he remembers, he was pretty intoxicated that evening). His friend Shawn dragged him to Spin (his least favourite club) because his girlfirend at the time worked there. Ty initially refused to go in and wanted to sit in the Jeep, but was eventually dragged in. He was literally making his first lap when Amber grabbed him and told him that her friend (me) thought that he was cute and wanted to dance with him.
A week later, Ty (with much encouragement from his sister and friend Robin) called me and asked me out. Since it was my Dad's birthday, I tried to beg off and make an excuse, but before I knew it I had agreed to go to a late show with him. I figured to myself I would go on one date and that would be that.
When he picked me up that night I didn't even really give him a chance to shut the engine off before I was out the door. Poor guy had picked me up in the Comet and I think I barely gave it any notice. We got to the theater and I went to pull a pack of gum out of my purse. When he noticed that, he instantly insisted that he was going to pay. Now, before you judge me on my response, please remember that I really had no interest in dating and had nothing to lose here. My response was "I know, I am just getting some gum".
We watched Starsky and Hutch and afterwards he asked me out for a drink (I didn't drink at the time). When I told him this, I instantly followed it up with "I'm not Mormon though". I don't think he believed me. After all, my last name was Stewart and I was one of 4 siblings. Ha ha. So, he dropped me off at home and I was unbuckling my seatbelt and getting out pretty much before the vehicle had come to a stop. No way was he stealing another kiss from me!
I figured I would never hear from him again, but I did. Shortly after I went back to PEI for a week, and I told myself that if I was still thinking about him when I got back I would call him. So I did.
A year and a half later we bought the house and moved in together.
2 years later we were engaged
3 years later we were married
6 years later we had our baby girl.
I would say I owe Amber an apology for reeming her out that night!
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