This Is My Man

This is my man, the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. I'm really not sure why after these photos. This man makes me laugh. I've decided that it's time that I tell you all how we met and how we got together.

In 1993, I was working for the state as a social worker in a unique position working with kids aging out of the foster care system. The state had a conference in "E"-town. I went not knowing anyone else who was attending the two day conference. At the end of the first day, I had befriended two of the women who were also at the conference, Barb and Carmen. There was a pretty lame wine and cheese party and as Barb and I were talking, Carmen approached us. Barb told her that if she didn't want us to talk about her, she better plan on going out with us that night. It was a go.

Barb, Carmen and I went for dinner and then shopping. Lots of girl talk and talk about sex and men and you know...everything that complete strangers can talk about after a couple of beers. Later in the evening, we were off to a country bar where we had the pleasure of participating in Karaoke night. Barb suggested a performance of "Leader of the Pack". Barb took the lead and Carmen and I played the back up singers with a dance routine worked out in the bathroom. What a hoot!

After our performance, a total cowboy came up to us and asked for one of us to sing a duet with him. We all passed. He was a pretty good singer and came back to mill around our table. Later in the evening, he asked me to dance--no problem. Then he kept asking and hanging around. I had my own cowboy for the evening. As the night came to a close, he asked us to go to another bar with him. He told Barb and Carmen to follow him, because I was riding with him. Off we went. I know, I know, not a smart move but 15 years ago, you just didn't think anything would happen to you. (Barb said later, everyone in the bar knew Cowboy, so if anything did happen, she would have retraced our steps).

Barb and Carmen never show up at the other bar. I quickly found out that Cowboy was a little reckless. He took out his golf clubs, teed up a ball in the crack of the sidewalk and hit the ball toward the police station. What??? (I didn't like golf at that time so I just thought he was crazy). Cowboy was exciting and fun. He was also pretty hot. Damn he looked good in Wrangler's, still does. We were having a good time. We left there and drove around the town and then off to breakfast at some all night joint. Great conversation, lots of laughs, etc. but then again, I had several beers that night. On our way back to the hotel where I was staying, he commented that I needed to be quiet not to wake up my roommate. No roommate--his comment, then I'm coming in.

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