Becoming the Bananas: TAT

My husband says I fell in love with him because he told me to "F*ck off and die" (jokingly, he says now) while we were working together one night. Neither of us can remember what lead to this comment, but it was followed by my stomping to the bathroom and locking the door in (false) anger.

Driving to hunt for snow on Mt. Hood

We were both 20 and working at a Carl's Jr. It doesn't seem to be the way many great romances would start, but you would be amazed at how many amazing couples got their start at CJs. He was already working there as a Shift Leader when I started; we were both dating other people off and on. He asked me for girl advice a few times, I was horrified when a guy left a fake flower on my car at work (if you happen to read this, sorry!), and we both laughed over the story of the blind date who brought me marzipan instead of chocolates. After a while we were both single, and one night my best friend invited him to her NYE party (she knew I had a crush). By the time he got off work and showed up I was a shameful 14 shots in. 14 straight shots of vodka. I promptly got his best friend trashed, puked, and then went to bed before I could even talk to him.

We started hanging out more and more including a night where we had to run away from MetroWatch (infamous security patrol around here that likes to ruin young people's fun) and then go back for our friend who hid in the trees. There was also an epic evening with him and his best friend where we stayed up until 5 AM playing Halo. Well, the guys played and I talked on the microphone pretending to be them.

 

Spencer's 21st Birthday

 

Finally, my friends had had enough! They told me "Make a move, or shut up! We are tired of hearing you talk about him!" Ok, ok, ok, they were much nicer than that. One did threaten to tell him for me. I sent him a text message (because I am the queen of the chicken shits) and then promptly freaked out. 3 hours later he finally called me, and I was so mortified at this point I didn't answer my phone. His voicemail sounded like "Heeey, I just got your text. I was, uh, in class. So yeah. Well... I like you too. Call me back." He swears it was smooth and awesome, but it was full of stumbles and adorable (which is way better in my book).

A few nights later we went out to eat after work (once again, like 1 AM or something) and he was holding my hand and asking me about things that upset me in a relationship. I was so, so confused. We walked out to the parking lot and he spontaneously grabbed my hand, pulled me close, and kissed me. It was so romantic, under the stars. Best first kiss ever. Last first kiss, ever!

My birthday in 2008

The next day his best friend came up to me at work (he worked there too) and said "Hey, I heard you and Spencer are going out." I said "Uh, what? No we aren't. We just kissed. He has to ask." A few nights later he asked me over for dinner (which he made me himself!) and when he cleared my plate there was a note underneath asking me to be his girlfriend. I still have it saved in a box somewhere.

And the rest is fantastic history. And future. And forever (with lots of geekiness in between).