On a wintry January day almost 31 years ago, Destiny opened the door, beckoned, and twirled me onto the dance floor with the man of my dreams.
I was clearing my desk at the end of the work day when the crackle of a radio broadcast caught my attention. I walked outside my office and saw our secretary, Mary, listening closely. This was before the Internet, mind you, when we didn’t know what was happening every minute.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Mary, the clucking grandmother type, looked worried. “It’s bad out there,” she said. “Already eight inches of snow, and everything is covered with ice. Accidents everywhere. You didn’t drive, did you?”
Why I didn’t take the train that day, I don’t remember. My car was in a lot several blocks away, and I had a long ride home.
The rush of cold air made me gasp as I exited the building, and I paused under the overhanging eave to assess the conditions. About a dozen pedestrians huddled together seeking protection from the pelting snow and ice.
“I heard they closed the expressway in both directions,” said one.
“Traffic is supposedly at a standstill,” said another.
“The roads are a sheet of ice,” chimed in a third. “I almost killed myself trying to cross the street.”
I half listened, half tried to work out my escape plan. A little voice was telling me something. But that little voice was deeper than mine. I turned to find a total stranger trying to get my attention.
“Do you have far to go?” he asked.
I told him about my car being a few blocks away, and my typical 40 minute drive out to the suburbs. I asked about him.
“I live in West Philly, but when I saw it was snowing I thought I’d take the subway down to Third Street Jazz to check out some new music.”
Is he crazy? I wondered. Who would do that in this kind of weather?
I would soon find out that yes, Pete would do that. And that’s who it was. Pete. My future husband.
With the snow falling all around us, we continued talking. I started to like this funny and good looking guy. When he asked if I wanted to grab a cup of coffee at the Chock Full o’ Nuts across the street, I agreed, and we spent the next hour sharing stories of our lives while the storm raged outside. Turns out we were the same age. We both loved books and sports and worked in the city. I recently got my MBA; he was applying to law school.
We looked out the window. The street wasn’t as crowded, but the storm raged on. For a moment we sat in silence. Is it going to end this way? I wondered. Will I see him again?
He glanced at his watch. “There’s a great restaurant a couple of blocks from here, Warsaw Cafe. Can you stay?”
I hesitated. What are you thinking?? I silently admonished myself. Are you kidding? He’s a perfect stranger! How do you know he isn’t a smooth talking serial killer? I am horrified at your lack of common sense. Tell him no. Right now.
“I’d love to,” I said.
The restaurant was warm and intimate. Over candlelight I told him about a book I had read that he might enjoy, The White Hotel. He asked if I liked Big Five basketball at the Palestra. We compared notes on our favorite players.
As we left the restaurant, the snow was falling softly. He walked me to my car and waited while I unlocked the door.
The snow swirled and danced around us. I fleetingly thought of reaching up to brush away the snowflakes on his hair. I wanted to. But I didn’t.
We exchanged phone numbers and said our goodbyes, and he disappeared around the corner. As I slowly made my way home, I relived every moment of this magical evening. He could be my soul mate, I thought. Will I ever see him again?
Want to read how other women met their significant others? Take a look at the posts my GenFab blogger friends contributed to this blogroll here.
What a memorable evening!
I remember it like it was yesterday.
What cute pictures! You were adorable then and look even better now. Must be years of a good life together. I love snow and winter very much (being from Colorado, it helps) but find it all the more romantic after reading the swirl and dance of this snowstorm. Fun! Stopping in from GenFab..
Oh Barbara, you say the nicest things. :) Thank you!
Talk about meeting cute! This is movie-perfect and I love the way you tell the story. Congratulations on finding the love of your life so early in your life!
Thanks, Marci! I’ve told this story many times over the years.
Great story!
Thanks Jacqueline!
Perfect example of good timing and the serendipity of meeting someone. What a beautiful couple you were – and are.
You are so sweet. Timing is everything, as you said in your post. :)
Beautiful, Helene! I love how your instincts overrode your “common sense”–that’s how I’ve made many of my best life choices! I think sometimes we know on a very deep level what the right answer is; we just need to be willing to listen.
Karen
Thanks, Karen! Good thing I was young and foolish. :)
Love the “then and now” photos! Cute then, beautiful now! :)
You are too kind, Vikki!
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What a beautiful story.
Thanks for commenting, Melissa!
I love this story. Sometimes, it definitely pays to take a risk with someone.
Thanks, Joy! I don’t always make the right decisions, but this was one of them.
Love this story!
Thanks Lani! Hard to believe it was so long ago when I remember it so vividly.
Oh, I love this story Helene! (And having lived in West Philly for 2 years, and elsewhere in the burbs before that… I can practically step right back there – including in that pelting ice and snow!)
This is indeed the ideal “meet-cute” in the best possible way!
Aww thanks BLW. If you’re familiar with the area you’ll know where my workplace was: the corner of Broad and Chestnut.
[…] How I Met My Husband – Books Is Wonderful […]
Wow, a very romantic story told beautifully!!
Thank you, Haralee!
I LOVE THIS STORY!! and the two of you :) Dad is such a white knight!
Love you, honey!
…The White Knight from West Philly. sounds like a page turner to me :)
[…] How I Met My Husband – Books Is Wonderful […]
Great story, Helene. I can imagine this night (and the storm) perfectly. So romantic.
Thanks, Amanda! It was nerve wracking trying to navigate those icy streets, but yes, it was romantic.
So MAGICAL! What a beautiful telling! But inquiring minds want to know
about the berries!!!!
Haha! That’s another post. ;)
Well, if I had a story like THAT, I might actually like snow!
Lovely photos.
Thanks, Lori! I’m not a fan of snow myself, but it sure did set the scene that night.
Great story, and I LOVE the pictures!
Thanks Lois! We had forgotten how young we looked as newlyweds.
Helene that’s so romantic! Wonderful story.
Thanks so much, Linda! I always enjoy telling it.
Sometimes you have to jump in, feet first, eyes wide open!
What a great story…filled with luck…and love!
You were a smart lady to say yes!
Thanks, Bonnie, there was quite a bit of luck involved!
Just like a movie! Love the pictures!
Thanks Connie! Now you’ve got me thinking who I would cast as Pete and me.
Real fun story. If I could write like you, I would write ours too.
We met one day and the next day he told me “you know you and I are getting married”. We did 10 months later.
Arina
I love stories like that, Arina! I bet you could write a book about your life with Don.
Helene, I don’t just love the story; I also LOVE the comments, too–especially the one from your daughter. So sweet!!
Thanks, Darryle, it’s been so much fun to read everyone’s stories!
meant to be….. And the two of you look just the same! :)
Awww Daphne … Now I know who to call when I need a pep talk!
What a magical story!
Thanks, Jane! It was memorable, absolutely.
That was just magical!!
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
Thanks Kathy!
Right out of a romance novel. And I loved your pictures!
Thanks, Barbara! It was fun sharing my story.
Oh, my gosh, Helene! That’s like a movie! I can picture the whole thing.
(And I envy the snow !) Magical and romantic.
Awww thanks, Susan! The snow definitely set the scene.
How serendipitous, Helene. I got the chills reading that great story! Could you imagine your daughter doing that today? Sad that we’ve had to become so overly cautious.
You’re right, Mindy. It’s a different world now.
Good for you for seizing the moment!
Thanks, Julie! Turned out my instincts were right. ;)
Helene, just read the above on the Huffington Post. What a wonderful story!
Thank you so much! I appreciate your taking the time to comment.
love this – so romantic! my story of how i met mine is on my post ‘love at first byte’…
Thank you! Always love reading “how we met” stories.
me too – yours was great! It’s nice to hear of lovely things arising out of perhaps not-so-great circumstances