I remember my birthday 10 years ago so well. We had my {oh so favorite} traditional pool party. Hello! It’s June!! Games, drinks, snacks, and all the pool sports were going on. The burgers were prepped to put on the grill for later when everyone arrived. All of my friends were there, some of my family, and even people I had never met before. [The more the merrier] is always my idea of a great time. Well…enter Leslie. She was one of those strangers that I had never met, who just so happened to save the day (stay tuned). Leslie had just moved to town, didn’t really know anyone, but luckily came with friends of mine. The party was getting started, and it was time to grill! Enter problem... That was the one thing I never thought about, who is gonna grill. A few people tried and flopped. We had all these burgers and all these people. Leslie asked if she could give it a try and I told her anything has to be better than what we have now. Leslie put her spin on things and went to town in her comfort zone…the grill. She hung out and had a few beers, thanked me for letting her be a part of my birthday and made her exit. Party saved.

We remained acquaintances and would see each other around here and there. She lived south and I lived north and we all know here in Austin that you stay true to one side of the river. She then took a job promotion that took her to Cuero, Texas. She would come in from time to time to visit. I met up at Plucker’s with “The Crew.” We hopped from place to place, but I had to work the next day, so I was tryin to play it cool. A few of the crew ended up back at my crib to hang some more and I offered them all a place to crash. (PS over the years I had moved south.) The next morning everyone was moving slow, but I had to get to work. I left my key and asked if Leslie could walk my dog. I gave her an “alka seltzer” and was out the door. I got to work and needed to make a bank run for the salon. I stopped at Torchy’s to grab some tacos. On the way back I ran by my place to grab my key (fear of getting robbed). I went inside my place just to make sure everything was turned off and everyone was gone. Ummm….Leslie was still there….asleep!!!
I woke her up and she said she just couldn’t seem to wake up and apologized. I told her that was fine and headed back to work. (I also left her my Torchy’s.) She needed it more than I did. Fast forward to 5pm, and I headed out of work, wooohooo!!! Leslie was gone when I got there…..I text to ask if she was ok. Come to find out…..I gave her an alka seltzer cold & flu!!!! No wonder she was out all day. On a positive note: she walked my dog.

After that we started hanging out when she would come to town. She eventually moved back to Austin. Now here we are celebrating the rest of our lives together!