Monday, March 23, 2009

Proposal 2.0-The Headless Meeting

Marcy asked me to participate in Proposal 2.0. What a perfect opportunity to tell the real story of how Headless Dad and I met!

Back in '96 I was working for Romano's Macaroni Grill and had transferred from a store in Tennessee back to Denver. I had been settling in for about 6 months, getting used to being home again, reconnecting with old friends and starting to date again. I was on the traveling development team and they were beginning to open stores in California. I was assigned to a team and off I went!

Our training consisted of a week's training of staff before the restaurant opened, then we supervised the staff after opening. Opening day each server trainer was assigned to two stations and we had to watch each table and make sure everything was ok.

Headless Dad was a single dad and had had a rough day, so when he picked up Headless Girl at daycare they came into the Grill. Oddly enough, expecting burgers on the menu.

They were seated in one of my sections and we began to chat and color on the table cloth. HG made it perfectly clear that her mom didn't live close, and even asked me to take her to the rest room. (She was 6. Clearly at the age that the wonders of the men's room had lost their charm.) I even wrote my name all upside-down and fancy-like to impress her, just like I would have any child. When I asked her name, she said "Guess!" Since she was so precocious, I replied, "Well, when you say it like that, I have no idea." (The name that popped into my head was, lets say, Mary.) Then, when she replied "Mary!" I about had a heart attack. I had not connected with a child like that in years, and to have guessed her name, (it's actually an uncommon name,) was kind of freaking me out. I had chatted with Headless Dad throughout their dinner, noticing his easy-going manner, politeness, and warm smile.

Soon, they had finished their meal and were standing to go. I went over to say goodbye and HG tugged on her father's shirt and said, "Daddy, get her phone number and take her out on a date!"

Well, we all know how the story ends, right? Or this wouldn't be the tale that I would be telling. We were married one year and one day after that night in Macaroni Grill.

Head back over to The Glamorous Life and follow the trail to a REAL proposal!

Headless Mom

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

A great story!
Thanks for being part of history!

the BLAH BLAH BLAHger said...

Oh how fabulous! I love a good happily ever after!

foolery said...

HG sounds like every bright, wise, precocious child I've ever seen in a movie. That's it -- your first meeting was like a movie! Except no one goes potty in movies.

Wonderful story. :)

headless girl :] said...

its all my fault :]

Keetha Broyles said...

I LOVE this story!! HG, you are a genius!!!!!

Tracey said...

My first date with Richard was at Macaroni grill!

Amazing Greis said...

Holy cow! What a great story! Why don't great stories like that happen to me. I'm going to be single FOREVER!

Anonymous said...

Oh, that is too sweet!

J said...

Awwwwe!!! =)

Anonymous said...

I guess when you know....you know :) It was sweet to hear about your beginning

kyooty said...

what a great story

Anonymous said...

What a great story! And HG, you're matchmaking skills are absolutely brilliant!

Texasholly said...

OMG. that is a great story. i got chills!

Genie said...

That's a great story! Many more happy headless years for you both!

Don Mills Diva said...

Wow - that is an awesome story - what a little match maker!

headless girl :] said...

if anyone wants to hire me..im open...i do charge though...soooo you might want to keep that in consideration..


oh..and im 18 now..not the cute (clueless) 6 year old i was then...so results may vary

Steph said...

I love the story!!!! I also am completely in amazement that you actually guessed her name!!!

HG - I sure hope she doesn't still take you to the potty! :) What a sweetie you are, and a good matchmaker at that!!!!