The One? Or One and Done?

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we asked our coworkers a couple of questions about romance.

One question was about The One. Tell us how you knew your spouse or significant other was just that. The other question was about One And Done. Tell us about your WORST blind date.

Some of our responses will make you say “awww.”  Some will make you say “ewww.” At least one of our daters got a little dose of “instant karma” – he didn’t quite make a clean getaway. And a couple of these might even make you say “what the …?”

Without further ado, we present the TJM Valentine’s Day Special. Enjoy our tales of the Good, the Bad and the Just Plain Weird.

 How Did You Know Your Spouse/Significant Other Was “The One”?

Shannon Moore:

Josh and I have the cliché of being the high school couple that’s still together.  I’m honestly not sure there was one specific moment that we knew we were “the ones” for each other. But I can certainly say with a smile and laugh that Josh worked harder to get me to date him than most I would imagine put an effort in.

All in all, it took about three years of relentless asking. I finally caved junior year.  I guess it was him throwing paper balls and erasers at me in our art class that finally sealed the deal.  Even after all that, the poor guy, upon asking me to marry him, I still told him “no” about four or five times in one sitting. I didn’t believe he actually asked my dad’s permission first.

Lena Ruotolo:

Chance and I have been together 13 years this year, which is a pretty long time. There was this one time that he dived underneath a table that I happened to be sitting at, and when I asked what he was doing, he said, “I’m a ninja.” And it was just so silly and so fun that my 15-year-old brain just kind of knew,  “Oh, I like this one.” And it’s a cute, funny story of how we met, and how I knew I wanted to see where it could go, but it’s not THE moment.

I think that being “the one” is a series of moments, not just a singular point in time. It’s a choice we make every single day. And honestly, it’s a new moment every single day. It’s in all of our high school dances and college graduations; and in laughing through the silly drama that happens when you date as teenagers and holding each other’s hands through the grief that inevitably strikes as adults; and in pandemic karaoke sessions in our living room, and arguing over directions in the car.

I knew I’d like him when he was just a cute guy trying to impress me, but knowing that I wanted to keep him yesterday was different than today. Today, I wanted to keep him because he made a really cute face when I was stressed. And I’m excited to know what’s going to make me say that he’s “the one” tomorrow.

Rick Cundiff:

It was our second date. We went to the beach in Fort Myers. I wasn’t expecting it to turn into anything because I was moving 1,000 miles north in three days.The date lasted 11 hours. It ended with a 4 a.m. kiss in a parking lot. I woke up the next morning and knew I was going to marry her..

You could say it worked out. Heatherann and I have been married 29 years.

One And Done:  Tell Us About Your Worst Blind Dates

(Editor’s Note: We’re omitting last names here, and in one case, any name. Reasons will be obvious.)

Justin:

Dinner didn’t go well. Red flags everywhere. When it was time to leave, I told her I’d go get my motorcycle parked down the block and pick her up.

My plan was to time the traffic light and ride right on past her as she stood outside the restaurant.

The light changed. I zipped past her – about 7 feet. She started to yell at me.

The chain popped off….

 Rick:

My worst blind date happened on a New Year’s Eve. My college roommate asked me to go with him and his fiancée to her little home town, about two hours away from where we lived. He drove.

They set me up with her sister. FiFi. No, she wasn’t a poodle, despite the name. Poodles are friendlier.

And did I mention my “friend” told me on the way there, “Oh, by the way, (Fiancée’s) family can’t stand me, and have threatened my life”? He wasn’t joking.

Fun way to ring in the new year.

P.S. – Friend and fiancée later married. Her family didn’t attend the wedding. It didn’t last.

Anonymous TJM Staff Member:

I was home on leave from the military and my sister decided to set me up on a blind date. She had seen a picture of her at one of her client’s houses and said she was very pretty.

When I met her, I discovered my sister must have been looking at a glamour shot. There was no attraction.

We went on our date and she ordered a Caesar salad. While she was eating. she had gotten some dressing and Parmesan cheese on her face. I made her aware and she attempted to wipe it off. It was still there, and so I told her and she tried again and got it off. But with the next bite, sure enough it was back.

On the way home it was kind of late, and we stopped for coffee and donuts. She got a powdered donut, and here we were back to having it all over her face. Needless to say, we did not go out again.

Heidi:

So, we started talking online.  He was a chiropractor and we had plans to meet up at Houston’s on the water in Fort Lauderdale. I love their salads! So I get there at the appointed time, 7 p.m., and get seated and I wait. And wait. And wait. So by quarter to 8, I’m like “whatever,” and order dinner. I assumed he was a no-show, and I wasn’t going to let him ruin my evening.

As I am finishing up, 8:45 p.m., he shows up. Client ran late. Phone died. Blah blah blah.  He sits down and orders a tea. I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. I finish my meal and listen to him self-obsess over how he wants to move to Colorado and become a sushi chef. That he was just out there, and this is where he feels his life is taking him.  GAG!

He then proceeds to order a meal. 10:30 p.m., it arrives. Will this night ever end? How do I ask for my own check? He should pay for the meal after making me wait, but that means I have to wait until he finishes the meal and suffer through his conceited, self-absorbed tirades.  At 11 p.m., he finishes.

He asks will I walk down to the dock and look at the boats with him?  Fine, what can it hurt? At least this is almost over.  Twenty minutes there as he tries to kiss my neck, etc.  Skin crawling off of me at this point.  “Well, its been an interesting night.  I gotta get home.”

He walks me to the valet stand.  He then asks “Your place or mine?”  What? On a first date? Is he crazy?  OMG, I think he is crazy!  I give the valet $10 and tell him to delay getting that dude his car so he doesn’t follow me.  #worstnightever