Thanks for the super sweet idea, Hutch! My version of not only how we met, but how I started calling him “Erik” instead of “Garrett”.
In December of 2002, our friends Gerry and Rick had a holiday party. I attended and brought my pajamas for a sleepover – Charlotte was recovering from an ice storm, and GnR were nice enough to offer their warm apartment with delicious power while I waited for Duke Power to come to the ghetto and fix the powerlines at my place. The usual gang is at GnR’s place, and a new face – someone by the name of “Garrett”. Gerry points out to me (pointedly) that Garrett is single and straight – what more could I ask for? But I was newly single and still recovering, and not interested in dating yet. Still, Garrett and I bonded over cigarettes and Austin Powers: Goldmember. He stayed until I was about to fall asleep on the sofa.
He became part of the “regular group” after that. Pizza (my maid of honor) kept saying, “You and Garrett should date. I think he likes you. You’d be a cute couple.” But I was all, “Whatever, he’s just a friend. Besides, Charlotte’s got some losers and I need some rebound dates.” Really, I thought Garrett was too sweet, too nice, too handsome to date a crazy mixed-up girl like me.
Fast forward to summer of 2003. A female friend of Gerry’s comes down to visit, and GnR have a summer barbeque. That night, as the party went on, I started to see him in a different light. And from then on, I realized how wonderful he was, and that I was really crazy about him, and I was determined to let him know.
But because I am a silly girl, I didn’t do anything logical and tell him directly… I told his roommate. And “swore him to secrecy” which of course didn’t stick. A couple of days after I told his roommate, Garrett surprised me at work, on a day when I wasn’t feeling so hot. We met in the parking lot of my building. He gave me a little stuffed gorilla in a karate outfit. I asked “What’s this for?” and he took a deep breath and said, “That’s in case you don’t like this…” and kissed me.
I was so shocked, so happy, so stunned that my mind went blank. All I could think of to say was…. “Come in, I’ll show you around the building.” I would have said something better, but my brain had exploded.
We went on our first date later that week, and it was wonderful. We kissed and held hands, and I went to bed that night knowing that he would be the man I’d marry. And that’s when I started calling him Erik.
The only thing I remember about the night that you guys met was the two of you out on the deck…and Gerry trying to be all matchmaker-y. So he closed the blinds hoping you two would…I don’t know…start doing it on his porch or something. And then he giggled like a girl. Ahh, good times. Little did we know that a few years later you two would be in lurve. Awwww.
Garrett, how come I’ve known you for about 8 years and I had no idea you were so smooth?
I think maybe I should take lessons.