How I Met My Husband

I’ll never forget the day I met my husband. It was three years ago today- April 17, 2009. I was 22 years old, living in Valdosta, Georgia, working two jobs--- a TV reporter by day and a cocktail waitress by night. In a given week, I would clock in over 70 hours between writing stories and waiting on tables.

Live on WCTV.

Waitressing.

Valdosta- the city I called home for 1.5 years.

By no means was I looking for love---I was absorbed with paying my bills and focused on finding a job that would get me as far away as possible from the post-college life I wasn’t exactly enjoying.

And then one Friday evening, between leaving one job and heading to the other, I got a text from my roommate… “Hey, I’m at the pool and there are two really cute guys here. Stop by and say hi before you leave!”

Turns out, she had been sunbathing alone at our apartment complex’s pool when some guy wearing red, white and blue swim trunks walked over and graciously offered her a beer out of his toolbox filled with ice.

The pool at The Links Apartments.

Rushing to make it to my second job on time, I didn’t really want to stop by the pool and socialize when I obviously couldn’t stay and sunbathe myself. But something changed my mind and I decided to drive over and say hello.

Pulling into the parking space, I could see my friend sitting across from two men---one dark and muscular and the other smaller with reddish hair. I could tell she was flirting and I braced myself for the inevitable introduction.

“Hey Kim! Over here! This is Kevin and this is Shawn. They live here, too!”

At that moment, I felt a bit embarrassed. There I was, fully clothed in a formal black uniform, draped in a knee-length apron while there they were, laying around, lounging in their beach wear sipping on brewskis. But then, my eyes landed on Kevin and I was immediately smitten.

He was tall with dark brown hair and these gorgeous blue-green eyes. His body was toned, his teeth perfect, and his smile contagious.

To be honest, I don’t remember any part of our two-minute conversation, but I do remember leaving that pool with only one thing on my mind… him.

I worked the next five hours, thinking about the handsome man at the pool. Then just before my shift ended, I opened my phone to a text from my friend. Apparently, Kevin and his roommate were throwing a barbecue and I was invited.

At first I didn’t want to go. I had just spent the past 14 hours working and I was exhausted. But as I was pulling into our gated community, I caught a glimpse of my friend waving from an apartment balcony to come inside.

Within minutes, Kevin and I were chatting and flirting and I knew he was different than any guy I had ever met before. I could tell he was respectful, sweet, charming, and genuine. And to add icing to the cake, I found him very attractive.

Little did I know that he would be the man I’d soon fall madly in love with and eventually call my husband. Looking back, I am so grateful for that day. It was a chance encounter that changed the course of my life and today, I couldn’t be happier.

About two weeks after we met (April 2009).