Love Story

As I was working away on the Save-The-Date cards for our wedding this fall, I thought back to how Miguel and I met. Then I figured, it's on my mind so I should write it down. Our love story is quite interesting really......

A little over three years ago, I was working as a Kitchen Manager at a bowling alley in Fort Collins, CO (one of the best jobs ever). I had racked up some paid time off and was heading to Florida to visit a close friend, something I tried to do annually. Two days before my departure I ended a long-distance relationship and was ready for a vacation!

As I was sitting in the St. Louis airport waiting for my connecting flight, I searched for a way to pass the time. I settled on something called 'The Love Game' on my T-Mobile cell phone (through t-zones, which allows users to download songs, play games, search the web, etc). I naively answered a series of questions assuming I would be given a cheesy 'lovability rating' (like those old, quarter, fortune teller type machines from childhood- i.e. you place your index finger on this spot and your given a score on a scale of how lovable you are). Now, I said naively because after completing the quiz, all I got was a screen name and profile. Whatever that meant.

Moments later, my phone started spazzing out with the sounds of multiple text messages being received at once. I looked at the inbox to find that people were trying to contact me through this new 'profile' I had somehow created. Approximately 99% of these people were hoping for some dirty talk and approached me through this 'love game' with ill-intent. Being me, I instantly freaked out. 'What had I done? Shoot, how the hell do I stop this nonsense? Can these creeps find me? Why are strangers asking for my cup size and what I like in bed? Crap? Do I have to cancel my cell service?'

And then, the light at the end of the tunnel arrived, a decent message had been received with a simple "Hi! How are you?". I thought, maybe this person can help me and responded, "Hi, I'm ok. You?" This spurred a quick conversation and as my flight number was being called for boarding, I sent a simple "Help me get out of this game, my phone is exploding with sleezeballs" then shut off my phone and hopped on the plane to my final destination.

When I arrived in Florida I was greeted by my good pal and I told her the crazy story about making a silly mistake on my mobile device while bored in St. Louis. We laughed and then I looked at my phone, which I had turned back on after landing. I had a lot of messages. While scrolling through, I saw that the polite individual from earlier had sent a reply to my inquiry. I thanked him for his help in canceling my 'profile' and then I did something I never thought I would, I asked him for his number and said I would like to continue our new text friendship while I was on vacation (my friend had to work the entire time and I was going to be exploring Florida on my own during the day).

A text was received with this person's phone number and what I can assume was an enthusiastic response to my request (always so hard to tell through text). As the days went by, my new friend, Miguel, and I continued to send messages to each other with light flirtation. I mean , I just left a relationship and there is no way I am meeting a new man on my phone! I saw it as a way to pass time while relaxing and it made me forget the man I left. He made me laugh, smile and blush and it felt good!

On about day 3 of this crazy idea, we had a chat that went something like this:

Mig: Where do you live?
Me: Colorado, you?
Mig: Me too! Where?
Me: No way! Fort Collins, you?
Mig: Me too! Where do you work?
Me: At the bowling alley.
Mig: Chipper's Lanes? Which one?
Me: Yes! The North one.
(This is where I stepped back and freaked out! What are the odds this guy is really from FC? Well, he has to be, he knows the bowling alley. Seriously, what is going on? How is this possible? I ran to tell my friend. She was as shocked as I was. NO Way!!! I wanted to know more so.....)
Mig: Seriously? I'm there right now. What is your job here?
Me: I'm a Kitchen Manager. You can't be there!! I don't believe you!
Mig: I'm sitting at the bar with my friend, Bryan is our bartender and Dustin is working the front desk.
Me: (Drop phone, squeal a little, heart racing, pick up phone- HE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH- I worked with Bryan almost everyday and Dustin was one of my roommates) How is this possible?

I then proceeded to call Bryan and ask him if this Miguel person was sitting at the bar. Bryan laughed and said 'yes, he is. He was just asking about you." This is too crazy, I thought.

Mig: I don't know. When do you usually work?
Me: Friday-Tuesday, 9-5ish
Mig: I come in here almost everyday after work. I get off at 5.
Me: So we must just miss each other all the time.
Mig: I guess so. Want to meet?
Me: Sure. I bowl in a tournament when I get back. Maybe after that?
Mig: Ok. Just let me know. Nice talking to you!
Me: Wow! You too....

When I returned to Colorado, I was nervous to do anything! I was scared to go to work for fear that my text friend would be there. 'This was so unlike me! I was on vacation, it was supposed to be temporary. Shoot, he lives where I live, he drinks where I work, how can I possibly avoid this? I can't. Ok, I am going to meet him, but I will cut it short. It was fun, but this is real life, not vacation.' I sent him a text that I was back in Fort Collins.

During my bowling tournament, I received a few text asking when we could meet. I said that the next night would be good because I had to work in the morning. Then he said he had a friend who was bowling in the same tournament I was. I asked his friends name and he replied, 'Phil, his shirt says Chavez on the back'. I glanced to my left and there bowling on the lane next to me was, Phil Chavez. Holy what!??? Seriously, I cannot believe this is actually happening.

After a quick loss our team was out and I went home to freak out. The next day, Miguel and I decided on a place to meet and I gathered a few friends to escort me. I took Bryan, the bartender (because he knew Miguel) and a few others. I wasn't about to meet a strange man by myself. Unfortunately (for him), I didn't tell Miguel I was bringing people and he came alone.

There he was, my knight in shining armor, except a little more thug and a lot less armor. He was gorgeous and he was there to meet me! We hit it off instantly and have been together ever since! Over our time together we have shared many stories and realizations that we have been crossing one another's life path for a very long time. We know a lot of the same people, hung out in the same places, etc). Its crazy to think it took me leaving Fort Collins to find the man of my dreams there!