Nine Years Ago Today...

I met a man who changed my life. I was 19 years old, and working for Merle Norman Cosmetics. Across the hall from me, was The Tilt, an arcade. I had been watching a guy who worked there for a couple of weeks. Obviously, working for a cosmetic counter, I had to look nice coming to work daily, but since I'd seen him, I was taking extra time to make sure EVERYTHING was perfect. We'd exchange glances from across the hall, but words were never spoken, not until tonight.

At 8:01pm, he walked across the hall. My heart was racing. He looked into my eyes and said, "I like to stalk stalkers." Ok, right then, I not only knew I had been "had", I also knew, I'd met my match. The night before, I had sat in the parking lot, waiting for him to leave work. I wanted to see what kind of car he drove, so that if all possible, I could park next to him. I thought that might be a good way to begin talking to him.

He didn't tell me his name immediately, and I was so enthralled by what he was saying, I didn't even bother to ask. We talked from 8:00 to 9:00 pm, when it was time for us to close our stores. After hurriedly closing, I rushed out, hoping to continue talking to him. He was sitting out on a bench with some of the employees of Ruby Tuesday. I'll never forget, I met Becky Hickman that night, and I'd give anything to be able to find her, she was a dear friend- anyway. After everyone had gone back to their stores, he asked who was going to come with him to hear his life story. Well, it's painfully obvious, I was the one jumped right up to volunteer.

We talked until well after midnight that night. He told me some of the most fascinating, off the wall things, and he did tell me his life story. I knew things about him in the first night, that most people he'd been talking to for months didn't know. I REALLY liked this guy. For weeks, I had been praying for God just to give me a chance with him, if it didn't work, I'd accept it, I just wanted the chance. On September 29th, 1997, I got that chance. It was a night I'll never forget. The guy's name, Ryan Leonard.

Needless to say, since I'm married to another man, things didn't work out between us- but it's a very interesting story to say the least, so I'll continue with more chapters. I had originally planned another post for today, but when I realized what day it is, I had to share this. It's a memory etched in my mind forever.