It Feels Like Yesterday…
…when I met my best friend! I know my friends and family have heard this story 1 million times, but to me, I could re-live it every day and it would never get old.
As My Love Story Goes
I was at work back in 1999 talking to a friend of mine about a trip to the Super Bowl in Miami. She was showing me these fun pictures of the crazy times that were had with a group of her friends. As she flipped through one of the snap shots, I reached out and grabbed a picture that looked very interesting to me. I saw this BEAUTIFUL red-head in the group shot…I immediately asked “WHO IS THAT!!!!”. My friend proceeds to tell me cautiously who it was…cautious because she knew I thought this person was ridiculously hot! At the time, I thought…“what I would do to meet her!!! Oye!” (And I’m not even Jewish) I guess the gods must have listened to what was going on in my head!
Little Did I Know
So, it had to be weeks later when the same friend of mine asked me to go out with her and a bunch of friends. I had nothing better to do that night, so I said sure! Apparently, it was supposed to be a group of us…we were heading out to The Landing in Jacksonville, Florida. My friend at the time was on crutches because she had rolled her ankle, so everywhere we went, she needed some help. So, a couple of other friends and I help her hobble into the bar we were hanging out at. She asked me at the time to be on the look out for this girl named Angela! I proceed to ask who that was so I would know who to find in this crazy crowd that had formed. She said, “oh, it’s the girl who went to Miami with us to the Super Bowl. You remember, the one you thought was SO HOT!” As she proceeded to roll her eyes! Okay, so now I am feeling a little nervous about meeting Angela. Not sure why yet, but I really was enamored by her beauty from a picture…yep, just a normal picture had me acting weird. I guess I wasn’t as smooth as I thought I was, right!
The Chance Encounter
As the night went on, I would occasionally get up from my chair and walk out to go see if I could find this HOTTIE named Angela. I must have gotten up 5 to 10 times, you know, to do my friend a favor! RIIIIIIGHT! At one point I must have thought Angela wasn’t going to show up and I relaxed a little…my other friend had to remind me to go out and check to see if she was out in the crazy crowd. I nonchalantly cruised out thinking she wouldn’t be there again, but boy was I wrong! I took a look out in the crowd and immediately the seas parted (in my mind at least), I actually think I heard some sort of angelic music in my head, my eyes did a snap zoom (production term) and I finally saw her. So what does my goofy ass do? I start waving my hands like a fool…gestering her over to me like she knew who I was. She must have been thinking, “Who Is This Idiot?” (To this day she says she wasn’t thinking that, but I still think she was.) After what felt like 5 minutes of uncontrolled flailing…I finally started walking up to her. As I close in on her, like a damn stalker, what do I so elegantly say? “I am not hitting on you…your friend is over here, she wanted me to come get you because she is on crutches!” Not, “Hi, I’m Phillip, you know, your future husband!” Nope, it was not that cool, trust me!
She Blindly Followed Me
…I am sure the whole time we walked over to the bar where our mutual friends were, she was probably scared to death that I was actually going to say something to her…but somehow I knew she was special! No joke…you just know! To shorten this part of the story, we actually all hung out all evening and into the morning. We laughed, danced and had what was the first moments of my new life. Angela and I had such great conversations, normal conversations with no more uncomfortable moments. I think she even liked my dancing…so she says! It was a GREAT NIGHT. Here’s something funny though, I did not ask her out, even though she handed me her business card with a hand written note on the back.
She Came To Me
We all hung out as friends for the next couple of months and as Angela and I progressed, I didn’t really think to ask her out! It really was a fun relationship without me screwing it up by asking her out. But, as she will tell you, she was burying landmines that I kept stepping on. Hints that she liked me that my absent mind did not see. To this day, I am not sure Angela believes me when I say this, but at some point, a light bulb went off when I was at work!
I was finished with my day and was about to head home when I told my room-mate Tom, “Hey, I think I am going to ask out that girl Angela!” I think Tom, being the smart ass that he is said…“Dude, she is waaaay out of your league!” I proceeded to thank him and headed home thinking, I really don’t care, I am going to do this! So the whole way home I worked up the courage to make the call. I was nervous.
So, as I was making my way up the stairs…I think I was even rehearsing what I was going to say…I see this blue card on top of my door knob to my apartment. I thought I might have forgotten to pay the rent or something. Who knows, back then, Tom and I really liked to party. It’s possible we may have slipped up or something…hey, we were young. But, to my surprise it was a note from Angela. It read, “Hey, if you are not doing anything tonight, you should meet me and my friends out for sushi!” Although it was too late for me to have met them out that evening, that was all I needed to complete the cycle of courage. I called her immediately and the rest is history!
We talked for two hours that night on the phone. I knew my life was never going to be the same. We were already great friends and I knew that we were going to be a great couple. Angela truly is my soul mate if you believe in that kind of thing. She is my other half and I would not be the man I am today without her!
Angela, Happy Anniversary! 10 years married…13 years together and we have just begun. You are still as beautiful today, inside and out, as you were the first day I flailed my arms at you.
“The color of you, as vivid as it may be, never loses luster and shines inside of me.”
I love you!
Our first picture…at least that I can remember…13 years ago
Im Your Ad Guy 
What fantastic memories! I laughed and cried though your whole bog! This is why I love you! You remembered everything including the color of my old business card! I loved that you even found our first picture together and the poem you wrote me. You truly are a special guy and this reminds me after 13 years, that I made the right choice. I love you forever!
Angela
WINK! I love you too!
Happy Anniversary! What a great story!
That is such a sweet story. Glad you shared it with me. You two are great for each other! Happy Anniversary!!!
Thanks Rhonda.
What a sweet and wonderful story! You two give others hope that “the one” is out there and maybe you just need to flail your arms a little 😉 And you’re right, Phillip, you do JUST KNOW when the other half of your soul shows up. Happy Anniversary!
Thanks for reading. I am glad that someone else understands that the term soul mate is not lofty. It is tangible. Thanks again.
Great story! And Angela, you look EXACTLY the same as 13 years ago – you do not age! Gorgeous couple – Congrats on 10 years!
Thanks Christine. Angela sends over love for the compliment. Also, come back and read anytime.
Phillip, that is a beautiful story! I am so glad that Angela found such a wonderful husband. Love you! Mom Kincaid
Thanks Mom. Love you too!