How We Met: In a Nutshell
We met in January of ’09, never knew each others names. We started dating on March 19, 2009. On April 4, 2009 he proposed. On August 22, 2009 we were joined in Holy Matrimony. Here’s the story of our whirlwind romance.
January
Our’s is the kind of story that we do want to tell our grand children about. It’s funny, sad, romantic, and everything in between. Chris and I met in an elevator. No there was no elevator music, but there was a loud bang! This scruffy, short looking man almost broke the elevator by the strongest and loudest punch I have ever seen and heard in my life! He was broken, that I could see. I also fell in love, in that instance of vulnerability.
It was January of 2009, it was cold and snowy. I had just started my new job and was making plenty of new friends. I had just gotten back from lunch with a few of my co-workers, and just to linger a few more minutes, I decided to hop on the elevator. As the doors were closing this short, scruffy (really needed to shave…badly) man yells “Hold the doors!” So I did. As he runs in he punches the elevator so hard, I thought it was going to get stuck.
I’m empathic, and I can automatically pick up when someone is hurting, happy, you get the picture. I don’t know what happened, but I reached out to him. I touched his shoulder and I felt him melt underneath that hard exterior. It was that moment that my heart became his. I didn’t even know his name. I meekly asked him if he was okay. He mumbled something about an ex-wife, his best friend, and well, you can put two and two together. I apologized for intruding, and left him to his thoughts.
I would see him in the halls or outside on a smoke break. We started exchanging some conversation while outside, and I learned that he was a trained chef, had three boys, and was finalizing his divorce. All this time he never asked me for my name, nor I his. I did refer to him though as Chef Man, and he referred to me as Sofrito Girl (I learned this a little bit later).
March
Spring was quickly approaching, as a matter of fact Spring of ’09 was so unusually warm, that my mother’s roses were blooming. I had a feeling that it was going to be a wonderful season. I had also recently had a conversation with my aunt in Italy, who always asked me if I had a boyfriend. If you don’t know anything about Italian women, they want their daughters and kin married at a ripe young age and bare dozens of children, and cook all day long. Oh and the man has to be successful. Luckily for me my family is a little more modern than that! I had come to accept the end of my previous relationship, which took me four years to overcome and move on. I also accepted and told my aunt that “Right now I’m in a good place. I realize that I do not need a man to be happy, but if one comes along, I am willing to accept him.”
As fate would have it three days after that statement my car broke down. I was close to pointing out at work, and couldn’t afford to miss any more days. I was able to use a vacation day thanks to my manager and he also worked his butt off to help find me a ride until my car was fixed. He gave my number to a guy named Chris who happened to live in my same town. YAY!
Later that day I receive a phone call from Chris. This whole time I was wondering to myself “Who is this guy?” When I answered the phone I quickly recognized his voice and blurted out, “Chef Man!” and he proceeds to yell into my ear, “Oh My Gosh, you’re sofrito girl!” Well we chit chatted a little bit and then made plans for him to pick me up the next day for work.
My Seduction Process~Or Was It His?
I woke up extra early the next day. I straightened my hair and did my make up real pretty. Wore a pretty outfit with a button up shirt and left an extra button undone. Hey I had been out of the dating game for a while, I wasn’t sure exactly how it worked! He showed up right on time after dropping the boys off at daycare (swoon). He got out of the car and opened the passenger side door for me (swoon again).
As soon as we started driving, he looks over at me and with the straightest face I had ever seen said, “You know, for a while now, and I don’t know why, I wanted to know your name. Not because I kept calling you sofrito girl, but because I wanted to ask you out.” My mouth hit the floor! I was not expecting this kind of conversation at all. It went on for the full fifty minutes it took to get to work, speeding ticket included! (Cop totally caught the wrong car, but whatever, another adventure we had.)
That night, he asked if he could meet my mom, and I invited him in. He then asked my mom if it was ok with her if he took me out. We were both very shocked. As I walked him out and to his car, he asked if he could kiss me. I replied with a kiss. It was magical, and that feeling I had in the elevator came flooding back. The next day he asked me to be his girlfriend and I responded with a kiss.
April~The Proposal
We had been dating for a little over two weeks and we were inseparable. I had never felt like this, but it felt wonderful. It was a Sunday and my mom, Chris and myself all went to the Chinese Buffet for a late lunch. We got our food and sat down. We hadn’t even started to eat, when he jumps to floor and yells, “Oh God my lens popped out of my glasses!” I immediately drop to the floor and under the table looking for this lens. All the while he wants me to come out of the table.
I oblige and as I get up he stays on the floor, but on one knee. He takes out a box and asks, “Will you spend the rest of your life with me?” I don’t know what I said (obviously yes) or what I did but I was the happiest person in the world in that instant. He’s full of surprises and nothing has changed.
Please excuse that poor excuse of a picture. They didn’t make camera phones then like they do now.
We spent the next few months planning our wedding. It was to take place in only four months! Our engagement lasted longer than our courtship!
August~The Wedding
There was so much to do! So much to plan and buy and prepare. I remember my dad being upset about how quickly we were to wed. I had to remind him that he and my mom married only six weeks after they met! I know I became a bridezilla at some point. I felt the worse for my mom. Her wedding present to us was all of the decorations! That included, the bouquets, centerpieces, boutonnieres, and everything else!
The day of our wedding was a blur. The rushing around, meeting and greeting, and then the walk down the aisle. I remember my dad holding my arm and crying and I remember seeing my future husband waiting and smiling at me. It was beautiful!
So we had a whirlwind romance and we continue to do so. Everyday there’s always something he does that just makes me fall in love with him more than the day before.
Why I Love My Husband
- He is one of the strongest men I know
- He is funny
- He is generous
- He does my laundry
- He surprises me
- He believes in “just because” gifts
- He gives me alone time
- He snuggles me until I fall asleep
- He lets me stay in bed 5 minutes longer than him
- He makes the coffee all of the time
I’m going to cut the list here, and resume it next week. Stay tuned!
Awww, what a romantic story! That definitely was a whirlwind romance!
Nikki recently posted…A Delicious Valentine’s Day Meal From Start to Finish
Thank you Nikki!
Oh my, it is all moving so fast, I am holding on to the handles. Such a great story
Lena – @elenka29 recently posted…Upgrading to DSLR Camera
Thanks Lena! Yea I should have placed a warning label huh?!
This story is so romantic! I have found that the shorter a couple is together before getting married the longer they will last!
My SO and I were together for 6.5 years before just getting married in January. We’ll make it too though because we’ve been together and lived together this long already. Nothing has changed except a piece of paper
Love your story!
Thank you Heather! You will make it! You’re right it is just a piece of paper, and you living together has proven that you are meant to be!
That’s so funny that our stories are so similar! My parents married 4 weeks after they started dating (and were married for 39 years until my dad passed away last year). My hubby and I met in May, he proposed in September and we eloped in December…of 2003. It’s been an amazing 10 years and I’m looking forward to the next 10 with even more excitement than the first. Thanks for linking up, Maria! Lets do it again next week.
Fawn Weaver recently posted…Why My Marriage Just Keeps Getting Better {& Link Up Party}
Fawn, Thank you so much for visiting! I love how similar our stories are! I will definitely keep this going! After all the list IS never-ending!
Swoon
Love that you had nicknames for each other!
Erica recently posted…Bring Your Child’s Imagination To Life Through BabyFirstTV’s Educational And Fun DVDs
Did I use swoon too much?! I’m just mad I was sofrito girl! LOL
Whirlwind indeed! Seems meant to be – something kept bringing you two together
Darcy recently posted…Because Prompts are Fun: An Introduction to My Life
Yes and I’m glad it brought us to marriage!
Oh wow – that certainly is a whirlwind story! Y’all sound very happy – and like you were meant to be together.
Emily recently posted…Win $500 in the Cupid’s Cash Giveaway event
Thank you! So far so good on the meant to be!
Sounds similar. I only knew mine 6 months, then we were married. We are celebrating 7 years of marriage today!
Tiffany C. recently posted…Dessert Designer Focus on the Best Part of Baking – Decorating
Congratulations on 6 years of bliss!! We’ll be celebrating our 4th this August, and it feels like a lifetime! I love it!
I love whirlwind romance stories like this one! Isn’t it amazing how fate works, continuously bringing you two together until you became an item and tied the knot?! Thanks for sharing!!
Kecia recently posted…Friday’s Five Finds #1
Yes it was amazing. I thank my lucky stars for him!
I love your story – so much passion! Whirlwind romances are the best.
Amber K recently posted…Making Date Night a Reality in 30 Minutes or Less! Campbell’s Skillet Sauces
Thank you! I just look back on it, and I tell myself how happy I am even today. Even when we argue, you can tell we’re in love.
My husband and I got married 7 months after we met, and we have been married almost 6 years now {this month}. When it’s right, it’s right.
Dawn
That’s awesome! I didn’t believe in love at first sight, until I met my husband.
My husband and I married 7 mths after we met and will celebrate 6 yrs in October!
janet recently posted…Who is Janet and why is she Going Crazy?!
Congrats Janet! I still can’t believe it’s been almost four years for us!
Maria recently posted…Lovin’ the Weekend Blog Hops
Great story! When you know, you know, right? Sounds like you two were meant to be together and will have many years of happiness!
Beth recently posted…I like to breathe. And I don’t like spiders.
This is such a beautiful story! I’m so glad you are joining us to love and honor your husband. I can’t wait to hear more. My husband was a chef when I met him, too!
janet recently posted…Who is Janet and why is she Going Crazy?!
Well looks like we have even more things in common!
Maria recently posted…Lovin’ the Weekend Blog Hops
This is just the story I would love to hear again and again on a special day like February 14. It is plain romance and I know you were both struck by the right kind of arrows on that elevator (although you didn’t know it yet). Some people are just lucky to find love. You are destined to be together and live many happy years thereafter.
Amy Turner recently posted…Barclaycard Rewards Review
What a great story. Somethings are just meant to be!
Cecile recently posted…Help Support Anti-Bullying Efforts
Thanks! I think we are meant to be as well!
What an awesome post! Love this story!!! Congrats!!!
Kristin Wheeler (Mama Luvs Books) recently posted…MedImmune RSV Awareness ~ Know the Signs; Protect Your Kids
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Love this! My husband and I had a whirlwind romance too and today is the 5th Anniversary of our First Date!
Lindsey G recently posted…John Deere Baby Shower
Congrats! These kinds of romances are awesome!
Love your story! Very sweet!
laura recently posted…Creamy Crockpot Potato Soup Recipe
Hi Maria! This is Mai at the Happy Wives Club and Fawn wanted to make sure you saw the note that our Thursday link up party has now moved to Marriage Mondays – beginning today. We want to get all our favorite married bloggers linking up every Monday so we hope you’ll join us.
Mai Bateson recently posted…You’re Invited to Marriage Mondays {Link Up}