Memories Monday- How We Met

MBC and I met in the mall. It's true. I used to laugh every time one of my friends would say they were going to the mall to look at the guys. And to be perfectly honest, I still laugh when teenagers go to the mall to meet others. You see MBC and I worked at the mall.

About a year after I graduated from High School, I got a job at a local mall in the information center. It just so happened that part of my job was to learn all the police 10 codes and be the dispatcher for the malls security. MBC was a security officer, also newly graduated from High School.

Was it love at first site? Absolutely.... not. In fact MBC didn't like me at all.

Our first encounter happened on about his second day of the job. I had gone into the Security Office looking for my best friend at the time. (She was an officer too.) I walked in and he was sitting at the front desk. I asked if "S" was there, he replied she wasn't. I asked if he knew where she was, he said no. I said I'd just leave a note in her locker and went to the back of the office. And apparently he thought, "Who the heck does this chick think she is?" He thought I was stuck up and thought I was so important that I could just help myself to whatever I wanted.

A day or two later when we worked the same shift and he realized I was the one telling him where to go, he realized the errors of his ways.

I didn't have such strong emotions about him. I remember thinking that he was really serious. Most of the security officers would hang out around the "booth" where I sat when they weren't on calls. Or would at least stop and say "Hi" as they walked around. MBC never did. I thought he took the job to seriously and thought he was too busy to bother with me. (In reality he was just really shy.)

He had been there about a month when my friend "S" asked if I would want to go target shooting with her husband, her and MBC. I said sure. I hung out with "S" and her husband all the time and I loved target practice with "D". He had a way of laughing at my bad shots without hurting my feelings and I always learned how to be a little better. So what was one more to the group? I knew that he and "S" were becoming friends and that if he wanted to come, he and "D" would probably get along just great.

The next day when MBC asked if I wanted to go shooting with him and "S&D" I realized that maybe this wasn't just a casual "S&D" shooting expedition. And in fact it wasn't. S and another officer Jen(who had known MBC for years) had been plotting for almost the entire month to try to set the two of us up. They had nagged and nagged him. Finally "S" offered to have her hubby and herself come along and he caved. I guess he figured even if he really did hate me, at least he'd getting some shooting in.

MBC had asked around where the best shooting ranges were. He'd heard there was a great place out by the bird sanctuary. (Note to self, there is never a shooting range near a sanctuary.)
After an hour and a half of driving, trying to find a shooting range, and getting desperately lost, we all decided to just go play croquet in "S"'s grandmother's yard.

We did have a pretty good time, we laughed a lot( mostly at MBC's expense), we talked a lot, MBC saw how competitive the other three of us were. (he isn't at all). Then we said good-bye. Since "S" had to teach a class that was VERY close to my house that night. I just rode home with her. MBC didn't even get the chance to drive me home and talk to me one on one.

I really think that the only reason he ever asked me on a second date, was to make-up for the first one.

But, it was on that unlikely second date, that we hit it off. We had tons of fun together, we laughed, we talked, we realized we had a lot in common, we realized we shared goals, and realized that the other wasn't who we thought they were. Within 3 months we were engaged and within 5 months we were married. (Yes, I made my poor mother, plan a wedding in 2 months.)

That was 12 years ago. Since then, well you know the rest, we have had 4 kids, moved around the country, been retired from the military and started his own business. Along with a whole lot of stuff in between. But he is still the one that makes me laugh, the one I can talk to about anything, the one I still share goals with.

I love you sweet heart! Happy Anniversary!


*hugs*