Mr. Wonderful

They say love comes into your life when you least expect it. And sometimes the guy you expected to be a jerk is actually the love of your life.

"To say I was not happy would be an understatement, his ears must have been ringing that night."

Where to begin with this one. I survived a story that has yet to be told and came home to loving parents to start over. I was over men completely. It wasn’t going to happen. Oh well, I was ok with that. I still enjoyed men, I just wasn’t going to get stuck in the same old same old. So, I got a job at the local restaurant/bar close to home, you know, just to make money and figure out the next step to my life. Met some really nice people and had some good time fun.

A friend of mine was taking classes at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, so basically every weekend we would hit the road, meet some chef’s to be, and get our party on. Always been attracted to men who could cook, I like to eat, who doesn’t. So, I had my eye on someone there and I found out later he had his eye on me too. And as time went on, we would meet by the CIA, have a few drinks, and basically that was all. A nice guy, go figure. Ha.

This is totally reality, right?

Working at the restaurant was going well, made a girlfriend there. She was the chef, told you I like chefs. One night, I had the bar tables – you know the ones nobody ever sits at because they are right next to the bar and if you’re that close, you might as well just sit at the bar. It was nearing closing time and someone told me there was a customer at one of my tables that wanted food.

Ugh!!

Ok, no problem. It’s close to closing, so I mean, how much food can this person want?

I take the order – roast beef sandwich on rye, mayo, salt, and pepper. I explain to the gentleman that the salt and pepper are on the table, so please help yourself. Ok, no, that might not have been the nicest thing to say, but seriously, it was late and I was kind of tired.

I bring the sandwich and ask him if I can get him anything else (why not bring the check total up so I can at least make some money off this guy).

“Sure”, he says, “how about another drink”, even though he’s standing at the bar. So, I get him another drink anyway and then bring him the check.

Now, the bar is about to close and I can’t leave unless all my checks are closed. So, I go over to “mister wonderful” (definitely not dripping with sarcasm at all) and ask him if I could take the check and he’s says, “not yet,” even though he has the check and the money in his hand.

Seriously, now I am getting pissed. I go over a second time, still not ready. Now I’m just waiting in the back until everyone else has left the restaurant. Then, to my surprise, I see the check on the bar with exactly the amount of the bill and no tip. Oh yeah?! To say I was not happy would be an understatement, his ears must have been ringing that night, let me tell you.

So, the next night was pretty slow, I think it was a Monday, and my chef friend and I decided to hang out at the bar, have a drink, and listen to the band. And who do you think walks in? Yes, that’s right, Mr. Wonderful.

Right away I’m like, I’m out of here. But who does he know? My friend’s boyfriend, who just happened to stop by that night too. So, of course, Mr. Wonderful decides to join us. I’m so done with this night and this guy, so I decide to leave.

He says, “Let me at least by you a drink.” In my mind I’m like, you owe me a little more than that! But I say alright. I’m almost finished with my drink and Mr. Wonderful has been trying to talk to me, but honestly, I wanted nothing to do with the guy! You see, I have never been stiffed before and I was still pissed. He’s still trying and now I’m actually done with my drink. I am about to leave again, but he suggests we dance. And I agree… what can I say I like to dance.

Then, this time I’m really leaving and he’s says, “I owe you dinner.”

Hmm, I’m like, “Damn straight you do!” Hey, at this time in my life I wasn’t going to settle or anything, but dinner? And at a nice place too? I agreed.

My girlfriend and I still did our weekend thing at the CIA and I met up with the guy who had his eye on me. We had a good night, to say the least, and he asked me to breakfast. I said sure, I figured I should still have plenty of time to go on my so-called date with Mr. Wonderful. But breakfast lasted a little longer than expected, and the next thing I know, I am hightailing it on the highway in order to make it home before Mr. Wonderful comes to pick me up. I run into the house, hit the shower, and just as I make it upstairs to my room, I hear my sister come up saying that he’s here. Her hands on her hips like she can’t believe I cut it this close.

I get myself together and come down to see Mr. Wonderful sitting right between my parents on the couch. I have to admit, I was a little impressed.

At dinner, he told me to order whatever I wanted, and still being bitter about the sandwich, and the salt, and the pepper, and the beer, I ordered everything I wanted. He was impressed. I told you, I like to eat. After what was a hung-over meal for both of us, we went to his friend’s house to watch a movie, and I have to say, the night was nice- no pressure and he was a complete gentleman. It turns out he stiffed me on the tip because he wanted me to remember him, and then he’d have to owe me dinner. Before I even got out of the car, he asked me out again. I agreed.

A different feeling came over me, one I never expected. In that car, at that moment, I was completely comfortable with this person, and felt like I knew him my whole life.

Needless to say, the rest is history because 30 years later, we are still married and sometimes he’s still Mr. Wonderful.

~VM

#firstdate #startingover #thegood