Chanel

It was a Tuesday at the end of July, hot and humid. I happened to pick up a bartending shift at the restaurant I worked at. Unbeknownst to me that would be a life changing decision. As Robert would be there with a mutual friend who only knew of me from social media.

It was around 8pm and the bar was dead, so I got the okay to cash out and head home, but that night I was in the mood for the skillet pasta and some oysters.

If you've ever been to Harpoon Larry's in Newport News, you know there are two bars. One is the main bar and directly across is a smaller bar called the "Oyster Bar". I sat down at the end of the Oyster bar, ordered my food and looked over. A guy was looking at me smiling, reached his hand out and said "Jerry Lee...your Nelly right? I think we follow each other on social media" , I said "uhh yeah hey how are you?" Looking past Jerry I noticed Robert and said "...so what your friend is mute?"

Robert happened to be eating and said "huh me? I'm Rob".

I wasn't wearing my glasses that day, so I couldn't really see what Robert looked like. So I got up and went to the end of the bar that he was sitting at and "grabbed some napkins". Robert shot me one smile, and instantly I was smitten.

About 20minutes had passed and I had eaten, boxed up my food and was getting ready to leave. I was having casual conversation with both Jerry and Robert when a drunk guy stumbled out of the bathroom. He looked at Robert and said "Dude I love your tattoos", Me being a smart ass said "Oh I did them I'm his tattoo artist" The drunk guy said "WHAT, listen I want a shark and lion fighting each other on my back"...I had to stop him and say " I'm just kidding!!! "

I remember Rob smiling and saying "yeah but I mean I know someone if you need a tattoo artist"

Somehow the drunk guy and Rob started talking about wrestling, so Jerry and I continued on with our conversation, that's when I learned Rob and Jerry were moving to Florida in literally two weeks. I remember saying to myself *of course you finally meet a hot guy and he's moving out of state in 2 weeks*...

About 10 minutes had passed and I was getting ready to say my goodbyes when the drunk guy said to me "wait I don't have your instagram either" I looked at Rob and said "you know what I don't have yours either!" So I grabbed Rob's phone put in my username and followed myself. The drunk guy ended up wandering away, and I remember looking at Rob, thinking this guy is seriously *gorgeous* and also thinking..*is he a cop?* Because the night I met Rob he had a mustache lol, that was the one and only time I've ever seen him with one.

Fast forward one day, Rob messaged me and asked for my number, called me and asked me on a date.

Our first date was on a Thursday, hot and humid in July. We went and got sushi, got a drink or two after and then I invited him to my place. We literally talked the whole night, about our aspirations, dreams, goals, what we're looking for in this lifetime and places we had traveled too.

I think after that first night I had started to fall in love with Rob, and I fall in love with him even more every single day. Our relationship isn't perfect, but the strength in our love is what overcomes any obstacle that comes in our way.

Robert

In July of 2021, I attended a family party and had made plans to go out with my friend Jerry afterwards. Even though I spent a lot of time in the Hampton Roads area, I had never once been to Harpoon Larry's until this fateful day. I only had oysters on my mind and no clue that I would end up meeting the love of my life. I sat down at the oyster bar because there were plenty of open seats. There's a lot of goofy stuff on the walls and tv's in Harpoon Larrys but the second I saw Chanel she had my full attention. At first sight I saw dark curly hair bouncing all around from behind the bar. I was in awe of Chanel's beauty and knew I needed to know to more about her. So when she came over and sat close to us, I was elated because I had a chance. I just knew I had to play it cool. Somehow I achieved this without her thinking Im a total dork. I got her number eventually and took her out on a date a few days later. I wasted no time because I knew I would be moving soon. Since then we have made it through long distance and having a child together. Along with many other trials and tribulations. There is not a night that goes by, that I go without thanking god for bringing Chanel into my life when I was truly ready for her. All because I walked into Harpoon Larrys my life has changed for the better in every way. I have a beautiful family to love and I am rich in all the ways I longed to be.