I know the exact second I fell in love with Chuck. We were sitting on the roof of the house I used to own. (He was a roofer, so I could never have gotten to know him if I had remained on the ground.) We had been talking sporadically all week, but on this day we talked for 4 hours about everything under the sun including his pending divorce. It was one of those classic getting-to-know-you conversations where everything is fascinating because you have yet to hear each other’s stories. And oh my God, but Chuck could tell some stories! I was really intrigued by this man.
But the tipping point, for me, was the gorilla suit story. He and his wife had been starting a business, one that required her skills to succeed, but he wanted to help it be a success, too. So he bought a gorilla suit. He wore this black, heavy, hairy suit for hours at a time in the blazing Florida sun while holding a sign for the business. He did that day in and day out, and it did help them build up a customer base.
I looked at him and thought, “This is a man of quality.” “This is a man who doesn’t mind making a fool of himself for the greater good of his family.” “This guy is determined. He doesn’t give up. He gives everything he has for the people he cares about.”
And just like that I fell in love.
But my roof was officially done and the sun was starting to set. He got up to leave, and I thought, “If he climbs down that ladder, he’s going to walk out of my life and I’ll never see him again.” So right there on that roof, I kissed him, not even knowing if he was as attracted to me as I was to him. And I felt it in my knees.
We were together, on again and off again, but together, for the rest of his life. And I will miss him for the rest of mine.
There he is. The man of my dreams.
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