It was a wonderful, stressful, painful, and overwhelming day. It was the day The Fiancée officially took on the name that will stay with her for the rest of her life, The Wife. It was a grand occasion with family from both sides, and we were hitched among great pomp and circumstance. But... that is not where the story really begins. Instead it started thirteen years ago, back in an ancient time we now know as "The Nineties." Let's go back there now and take a look, shall we?
Good old UW (that would be me) worked in a small computer company delivering computers, setting them up, and picking them up. It was a simple life, but a lonely one. I had a tiny one room apartment, my furniture was crafted from old cardboard boxes, my TV was only 19". Then one day I received a phone call from an unlikely source, my old room mate in college, "R". Seems R had found himself a woman, and was planning on getting hitched. How about that? I have to admit it was the last thing I expected from R, but there it was. He was younger than me, but had a love. Lucky bastard. I was invited and cheerfully accepted, then spent the evening in the manly tradition of eating ice cream and watching "When Harry Met Sally." Yeah, I guess I'm a romantic at heart, so what? You wanna fight about it?
The wedding was planned for December 12, 1997. Thinking about it, I did ask him if there were any women who may be of interest to me. He thought a bit and then stated, "no." Oh well, whatever will be will be. So I made a few plans to visit my Aunt in Tampa while I was down there and made my flight and car reservations. On December 11th I flew down to Tampa, Florida from my Maryland abode and drove to Sarasota where R lived and went to college. Following the printed directions, pre-GPS boys and girls, I made my way to the apartment and walked in the door.
Now, before I tell you about what was on the other side of the door, let me explain a few facts. R was under 21, studying in college. Everyone at the wedding, other than parents, was in that age range. I was older than them in years and maturity. I had low hopes for finding anyone for me. I had packed light and fit all my clothes into my backpack with my laptop. Since I had a wool suit for the wedding, I didn't want to wrinkle it, so I wore it on the flight. And I wore it as I went to that door on that hot Florida day.
Anyway, back to the door. It had a door knob, I remember that. But that's not important. What is important is what was on the other side of the door. Inside were a collection of young kids (yeah, not my thing) and there, in the kitchen was this goddess wearing shorts and an over sized t-shirt, doing dishes. Ok, let me be honest, "goddess" was not what came to mind. What did was, well, she looks interesting and cute. Not like the preschoolers that everyone else was. She looked at me and blurted out, "WHY ARE YOU WEARING PANTS?!"
Now, UW is a bit of a socially inept computer type guy. I didn't know what to do. I think I mumbled and shuffled my feet. She went on to explain how it was soooo hot! and why wasn't everyone hot? and there would be someone from the north who would understand how hot it was, walking in wearing shorts, sweating, and complaining of the heat! And here I come in, wearing wool pants. After a few quick introductions, I changed into jeans and a t-shirt, still no shorts for the cute dish-washing lady, but it would have to do.
Time has faded much of my memory of the day, but I remember playing Duke Nukem, hoping that the cute girl would come over. (OK, I was young I still thought of them as girls.) Lo and behold, it worked! Being me, I did not know how to converse properly with an attractive woman, but she was so open and talkative and we seemed to hit it off. We talked a lot and had fun, and that night, at the big dinner before the wedding day, at The Olive Garden, she did lewd things with bread sticks to make the pre-schoolers (and their parents) laugh. Yeah, she was neat-o. That night we talked. And she made her intentions clear. And I was not so sure of them. But, well, let's just say we had a good night together.
The next day at the wedding we discussed it and decided to tell R, who was a friend of the Cute Girl, that we were "an item" for the duration of the visit. He gave us a big thumbs up and a big grin. Little did he know that by bringing us together he would change the course of our lives so greatly. Then again he didn't imagine he would be divorced in three years either.
We spent the next few days together, cancelling my visit with my aunt, and getting to know each other... better. Then I flew away, never expecting to see her again. But we spoke each night on the phone, and I made a decision to offer to fly down and spend New Year's together. It would be a trip that would end with Cute Girl transforming into The Girlfriend, but that is a story to continue another day.
Uncle Walter -- Ten Year Husband of The Wife (and proud of it!)
