I never thought I'd meet my wife on the other side of the chocolate molten cake at Chili's. Especially considering it's my favorite desert there and she didn't have any because of a "lactose intolerance" which is now not a thing. No sparks flew, no glances, only my awkward comments and a half - hearted game of ninja with the group in the courtyard.
Fast forward a year and Victoria's class just finished their orientation, My class decided to throw them a party as an official 'welcome to the school' but also to hit on their women (you can't blame us, there were only 23 in our class). We talked and hit it off in the hallway in front of the bathroom. Chemistry brewed and an air of expectation seemed to fill the atmosphere.
Our next meeting was on set. I was key grip and Victoria was a 'PA' or 'production assistant'. Another good name for, "Come here and hold this" or "Can you grab some coffee for us?" person. Among the googly eyes, conversations, and game of 'Bread Kittens', there seemed to be a growing fascination. It was more or less ON after that production.
Call it attraction or chemical reactions that kept our eyes in sync with each other. I could feel the heat as she walked by me. Simple conversations slowed down time. Going about our school lives and seeing each other in the same room. To wait until the moment we finally approach each other, counting the seconds and moving towards each other step by step. "Oh hey! How's it going?", as if we didn't already know it was just now going pretty well.
In most great stories there's a moment of surrealism. An abnormal situation that catapults the characters through the mundane and into the spectacular unknown. Ours was beer pong.
We were recruited to face off against another team and ended up winning 5 games in a row. We are both really bad at beer pong and still are. Who knows how those games were won, but after that more texting and snap chatting ensued. After that, our first date on a private beach in West Palm. Soon we had a long distance relationship. I knew I had something special, I didn't want to let go of it. After graduating I stayed in Tallahassee as a valet driver until Vic graduated too. We moved across the country and I proposed in Malibu's Staircase beach. Now your reading this. Tomorrow will bring a new sun and new challenges. But I'll always have this old love. Forever and ever, I love you honey.
-Jon