You can get anything at WalMart

Wal-Mart is being talked about a lot lately. Anytime I hear the name, I am reminded of how my husband and I met. Why? Cause I got him at Wal-Mart.

I had just graduated high school 2 months before and was going to meet a guy that I knew for a date. Bob* worked at WalMart in the automotive department and that's where we decided to meet up. Well, I was waiting for him to tidy up around his register when in walked this very hot guy with a dirty smudge on his nose. I knew immediately that I would rather go out with the stranger than Bob, but felt stuck. For some reason, Stranger Andy and I hit it off really well, and talked the whole time I was waiting for Bob. We walked around the car accessories aisle, thoroughly discussed the multitudes of cheap stereos and franky, flirted our asses off. Still, I was committed to my original date. As we were preparing to leave, Bob went to say his goodbyes and put one last item back in the warehouse area. It was then that Andy struck. He slipped his number into my purse and pretended like nothing happened. (I won't go into detail about that fact that he had just given his number to the lady at the counter, Gigi, who was needing help with some car issues.) So, off I went with Bob, a silly grin that had nothing to do with him stretched across my face. The next day, I developed a horrible ear infection and went to the doctor. After coming home, I dug into my purse and pulled out the slip of paper with Andy's home number scribbled on it. The phone rang and rang, when finally his mother picked up. Andy wasn't home. I politely left my name and number and asked her to pass on the message. She did and within 15 minutes, I was chatting with him like we had known each other forever. He cracked me up with his wonderful sense of humor, so when he asked to take me out that night, it was hard to say no. I tried though, cause my ear was hurting. But Andy would not be refused and pretty soon, he had talked me into just going out for a few games of pool and a quick dinner. He came to pick me up, but then couldn't find my house. After he had passed it several times, I waited for him at the curb. We played pool, as planned and went to the Waffle House for a late night dinner. It was the best date ever. Yeah, I know, sounds pathetic, but it wasn't great because of where we went, but the connection we felt. It was amazing. The next morning, I was all hummy smiles and sunshine. My sisters had a grand time teasing me about this "love at first sight" encounter, but I knew it was something real. Andy called me that afternoon and we made plans to see each other again. After that, it wasn't ARE you going to see him, but WHEN are you. We became inseparable. Shortly, thereafter, we had the discussion to make it exclusive (not that either of us had been out with anyone else during that time). Not long after that, came the "I love you"s and the rest is history.

This July, we will celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary and 9th year as a couple. I still remember Andy's face with that grease smudge so long ago and am reminded of how lucky I am to have someone so incredible to share my life with. And all I had to do was get him at Wal-Mart.


* Some names have been changed to protect the innocent.