 | Through the course of this story you will realize that we have two special individuals that we must credit for bringing us together:
Walt Szeluga
and
Donna Jasmin
In 2004, Walt Szeluga helped Joe get a job offer at Alsco, where his brother worked. Three years later, I enter the picture. I will discover years later that upon meeting me, Joe did not like me initially. I believe his exact words were "She looks mean, and I don't think she has what it takes to last at Alsco." In Joe's defense, most people think I'm mean when they meet me, so it was a pretty fair assessment. Upon meeting Joe, I kept confusing him with David Dion another manager at Alsco. It took me a few months before I could tell the difference between the two of them.
Fast forward another year. In 2008, I broke up with my then live-in boyfriend on March 16th. The next day I reported to work, but was obviously distraught. The Office Manager, Donna Jasmin, decided to get me out of the office a bit to get my mind off things. We went over to the Elm Street location of Alsco, and as I was venting to her about my break up, we happen to walk by Joe sitting in the Service Office. Donna then coyly mentions that "Joe was a keeper, and if I didn't ask him out soon, she would."
I didn't think much of her comment at the time because I have always had a rule about dating people I work with. Four hours later, I was dreading returning home to what would no doubt be an awkward evening. I thought back to what Donna had said earlier, and I decided not to break my rule necessarily, but to bend it a bit. I decided to ask Joe out to dinner so I didn't have to go home until late. He said no, and an awkward evening pursued.
Later that week, Joe asked for a raincheck on the offer to go to dinner. I figure I didn't have much to lose, so I decided one dinner at BJ's wouldn't kill anyone.
Seven months later, we moved in together, and he has been making me dinner ever since.
Travel Tip #2: Mexico is south of U.S.A. If your airplane heads north, you're going the wrong way. |
