Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Six Months and Counting

I had a request from Anita at Just Curious to do a post telling how Cindy and I met, it seems I am always giving her a hard time and telling you all of things we have done and seen, but how we got together and became Cindy and Jimmy I really cant remember if I have ever shared.
I was an “Outside Commercial Service Representative” which is just a fancy name for Serviceman, I worked for the local water utility company and my job consisted of everything from turning water services on and off for customers, to reading and repairing meters, so needless to say I had met most everyone in our town.

One day I had a service call to turn water on for a business in town, walking into the front door is when I met Cindy for the first time, she was running this business, so over the next few years whenever I got a call for this business she was the person with whom I dealt, she was always kind to me and we actually struck up a friendship which included discussing our children, the weather, and whatever else friends discuss when seeing one another.

I signed my youngest son up to play t-ball and during the first team meeting I found out my friend Cindy was his new coach, she was really great with the kids and everyone always had a good time, in t-ball you are not supposed to keep score and with her no score was kept, life’s lessons were learned and a good time was always had, fun was the key to success for this team.

After about ten years of friendship she and I found ourselves both divorced, we kind of talked each other through the hard times and remained friends, we often saw each other around town and we always asked one another to see how the other was doing, we were good friends and that was as far as it had gone.

One day she came into the water company to pay her bill as I was walking through the office, she yelled as I passed by “Hey Jimmy we are going out tonight, why don’t you meet up with us” I told her that I would think about it and went about my business, I thought she was dating someone and was just being kind, because she knew I was alone.

I was too dumb to realize that she was in a round about way asking me out, “we” was a group of friends, and we were supposed to go dancing, but I didn’t show up.

All of our boys were playing baseball by now, and one day when they were all playing on the same field, she handed me a scrap of paper with her phone number on it and said “Why don’t you give me a call sometime so we can talk”

I did call her the next day, we talked practically all day long, but I missed another hint about meeting her at Taco Bell so we could “Do The Family Thing” and feed all the kids, and rather than make that mistake again I asked her out and we ended up sitting at the China Star restaurant having our first date, I don’t think we have been apart since.

The rumors around town were that we had met and had a whirlwind romance, followed by a quickie wedding which was doomed to fail within six months, that was eighteen years ago and although the road is rocky at times, and like everyone else we definitely do not always agree, but I have yet to see any sign that we have failed at anything when it comes to our relationship, becoming good friends for so long before we ever began dating I think was key to our success.

I still miss a lot of hints, but I do catch on to a few, I still have that scrap of paper with her phone number on it, she laughs and tells me that it is no good now, but I beg to differ because it means a lot to me.

29 comments:

  1. A little slow on the uptake, or maybe you were just playing your cards just right. Either way, well done.

    Loved this story!

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    1. Hi Joe, We can say that I was playing my cards right, but Cindy will tell you that I was just slow. ha ha

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  2. O.M.G.......what a fabulous story! Ten years is quite a long getting-to-know-you period! You two have something very special.....and I love seeing a picture of you two from back in the day.

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    1. Hi Bijoux, that picture was taken just after we had gotten married, I have a framed copy on my desk.

      Thank you my friend I feel blessed

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  3. You two have quite a long history. I'm the opposite. Met my hubby in December and married him in February. I knew what I wanted and didn't want in a husband and he fit the criteria. I made a great choice, but I'm not sure he did! LOL! We've been together for 38 years.

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    1. Congratulations on 38 years Ms. A it appears that you did make the right choice :)

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  4. so very sweet. love that you saved the paper, too. :)

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    1. I am afraid the writing will eventually fade from it, but after eighteen years I still cherish the meaning behind it.

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  5. Wonderful story! I'd say you might not be the only man who doesn't catch Woman-Speak very well. Hope you are doing well, Jimmy!

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    1. Thank you Betty, as for Woman-Speak I hear the words most of the time just struggle with the actual meaning :)

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  6. "becoming good friends for so long before we ever began dating I think was key to our success."

    Jimmy, you're absolutely spot on about that because I think having a solid friendship is the key to any successful relationship. And knowing you and Cindy through these past many years of blogging, I have always felt your love, devotion, and loyalty to one another. You two are meant to be with each other. Like soul mates.

    "I still have that scrap of paper with her phone number on it, she laughs and tells me that it is no good now, but I beg to differ because it means a lot to me."

    I love that!

    Thanks so much for sharing this story, buddy.

    Great photo of the two of you!

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    1. Hey Ron, I am indeed blessed because through any difficulties we have had only have made us closer.

      I always loved that picture of us, Cindys Mom took it when we visited them on our first trip to California just after we got married.

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  7. 'becoming good friends for so long before we ever began dating I think was key to our success.'

    Absolutely right, Jimmy. So many people rush into relationships without giving themselves time to KNOW each other. You and Cindy make a good team, that's obvious. Well done both of you and thanks for sharing your lovely story.

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    1. Thank you Valerie, I feel like we have always made a good team and am honored that you mentioned it.

      Yes a lot of people do rush into relationships too soon and sad to say this is the reason many fail.

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  8. I can only imagine what it would be like to enter into a relationship after a failed marriage. I met my wife in high school. We parted for college but married soon after graduating. Our son is 35 and still looking for the right woman. He thinks his parents meeting in college is creepy.

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    1. A failed marriage does both make it hard to trust anyone while at the same time makes you want someone to keep you from being so alone, a good friend helps you through it, I never knew at the time that this friendship would turn into love.

      Your son will find the right woman, sometimes she is right in front of your face and you don't realise it because you are looking too hard.

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  9. I sensed that your path to the nuptials would be a good story! I enjoyed reading it.

    Including Cindy in your posts here and there is a testimony to how you feel about her; and keeping that scrap of paper... that seals it!

    Here's to 18 + + + + more good and blessed years together. :)

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    1. ps. I like the picture, too!

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    2. Hey Anita, I enjoy including her in my posts because she is a big part of my life and I do love her.

      Thank you for suggesting this post, I did enjoy writing it :)

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  10. Great story, great picture! I believe the best marriages are those when you can be friends with your spouse. Of course, romance and passion are important too - you should have both "like" and "love."

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    1. I agree with you that a good marriage is between friends, and she is obviously my best friend.

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  11. What a great story! Thanks for sharing, Jimmy.

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  12. A man needs time to contemplate these things!

    Delightful story - I wish you and Cindy many more years of happiness.

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    1. "A man needs time to contemplate these things!" no sense jumping into things..Right?

      Thank you Bryan, I appreciate you my friend.

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  13. I loved this Jimmy! It was also very well written...
    You've inspired me to post something about the journey of me and my wife. We also knew each other for many years before we actually got together.

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    1. Thank you Pat, I look forward to reading the story of your wife and you getting together, knowing each other for a while before ever dating I think is a good thing.

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