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Thursday, June 17, 2010

It Happened at Work

Many of you have asked me to tell you the story of how Hubs and I met-----Really, no lie. People asked. You know, like maybe 4 of you anyway.


And the simple answer is actually one of Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop prompts: It happened at work.


I was 24 and had just returned to NC after a year away. My old school had hired me back, though this time teaching 8th grade and since I had a reputation of being a strict teacher, I was given the "problem" block of kids. The vice-principal even flat out told me that I should know idiot-teacher-two-doors-down-from-me-who-shall-remain-nameless-much-like-Voldemort would never be able to handle them. I guess it was supposed to butter me up, though it was also true. Those kids would have eaten her alive. Yes, this is important to my story.


Before you tell me that it's terrible to think that I had the "bad" kids, let me tell you that they were actually good for me, usually- except for the day one came to my class high and then tried to say that he wasn't by taking his shoes off, shaking them upside down, and yelling, "See, I don't have any drugs!"  One had just come back from a 365-day suspension for bringing a gun to school, and three didn't finish the school year because they were in jail. Not even juvenile detention, but tried-as-adults jail. And this was in a very small town. But, after coming off a year of teaching inner-city kids, I would just laugh at them and tell them that I'd taught 2nd graders who were tougher than they were.


We were about two weeks into the school year when one of my girls came running into my classroom, threw her backpack down on my front table and said something to the effect of "Ms. K, I was really bad. I did something horrible. You need to send me to chill-out."


"Chill-out" is basically a time-out room for middle-schoolers and also where the In-School-Suspension(ISS) kids serve their time.


The girl in question- Jessica was her name -OMG my memory isn't gone, just don't ask me her last name- there were 3 Jessicas in my third block, was one of my good kids, so I asked what the heck was going on.


And found out that they'd filled the position of the ISS teacher and he was hot, cute, etc. All my girls echoed this as they filed in to my classroom.


Damnit, I thought. What the hell good is the ISS teacher if my girls want to go to his room?


So, I decided to make an announcement. "Sorry, girls, your punishment will be having to stay here and just have me to look out. If you are good, maybe I'll have you take an assignment down there for me. Boys, I'll still send you, though."


I caught sight of the new teacher that afternoon out by the buses. And meanly whispered to my roommate, "Is that him? He looks like a lost puppy. Like he's going to do any good in chill-out."


But, since his classroom was on my hall and some of my students practically lived in his classroom, we started talking.  Really, my teaching partners who sucked and didn't know how to keep order in their classrooms sent so many kids to his room that if I wanted to see my third block kids, I had to go down to his room.


And so we started talking. And yes, he was adorable and really funny and sweet. Maybe even too sweet- I think the principal told him at one point to go observe me teaching to learn how to be meaner.


But, I was in no way looking for a relationship at that point and I had absolutely no desire to ever date someone that I worked with. In a middle school in a small town? Are you kidding me? All the gossip? No, thanks.


Yet, when he asked me to his birthday party, I still went. Because it was at a restaurant that was five minutes from my house that I liked and I knew I could duck out if I didn't want to be there any more.


I left that party thinking that he was not someone that I would ever date, whether we worked together or not.


Not because there was anything wrong with him- but it was very obvious that we were completely different.  But, I also left thinking that we could be friends.


How we went from that night to being engaged less than a year later and married less than a year after that is a story for another time.


But, there's the answer to how we met: It happened at work.


I just quickly want to mention how much I love the connections from blogging- the comments and the emails yesterday from those of you sharing your stories- it's amazing to find out how many experiences we have in common, even though no one would ever guess.  It means a lot that you shared those things with me.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow to see who is the new BFF: Blog Friend Feature. If you haven't checked out the first one- click the link in the sidebar and leave some love for Tammy.

Labels:

74 Comments:

Blogger Jules AF said...

What's ISS teacher? Did I miss that?

June 17, 2010 at 12:21 AM  
Blogger Oka said...

This sounds like a movie.

June 17, 2010 at 12:23 AM  
Blogger Natalie said...

Sigh!....I love hearing the how we met stories :)

June 17, 2010 at 12:28 AM  
Blogger Cheryl D. said...

It sounds like you liked detention! LOL!

June 17, 2010 at 1:29 AM  
Blogger Cari said...

Aww What a cute story! Thanks for sharing :)

June 17, 2010 at 1:58 AM  
Blogger Vanessa said...

I *love* this! And because it's late and I should be in bed, I'll ask you if sometimes you play third block student and he plays ISS teacher???? Hahahah!

June 17, 2010 at 2:22 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

How cute! I agree this could be a movie!

June 17, 2010 at 2:33 AM  
Blogger KristinFilut said...

I heart cute teachers. I also heart cute "how we met" stories. Thanks for sharing.

June 17, 2010 at 2:54 AM  
Blogger Tracie Nall said...

So sweet! I love hearing "how we met" stories. Yours could make a nice book or movie.

June 17, 2010 at 2:57 AM  
Blogger Cheryl said...

I love that the girls wanted to be in ISS! I'm pretending I'm that young again and fantasizing. Hope you don't mind.

June 17, 2010 at 6:18 AM  
Blogger Rebecca said...

Oooooh...you bad girl...mixing business with pleasure! Bad girl...I'm sending you to the chill-out room!

June 17, 2010 at 7:09 AM  
Blogger Sorta Southern Single Mom said...

Great Story...hmm...if I ever get a job (feeling a bit anxious here), maybe I'll meet my next husband at work...but then I teach elementary school, so probably not! :)

June 17, 2010 at 7:17 AM  
Blogger Ma What's 4 dinner said...

So cute. Met mine at work too (of course I did because of our parallel lives and all) but I was slinging drinks in a bar, and he walked in one night...sigh...

Love you! I gotta get in on this writing workshop things.

Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner?
www.mawhats4dinner.com

June 17, 2010 at 7:31 AM  
Blogger Jenny said...

I love a good love story connection...so how did he propose?

June 17, 2010 at 7:38 AM  
Blogger Christina said...

I love this story! I just started following you, and I'm so glad I did!

June 17, 2010 at 7:54 AM  
Blogger Katie's Dailies said...

Our civics teacher in 9th grade was really,really, REALLY cute and not one single girl that I knew of EVER cut his class. We hung on his every word.

Cute teachers + tween/teen age girls=full attendance.

Loved this story!

June 17, 2010 at 8:32 AM  
Blogger Jenners said...

Visiting from Mama Kats ...

This sounds like the start of a movie or something ... kind of like "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" meets "Dangerous Minds" meets ... something about a hot teacher. : )

June 17, 2010 at 8:43 AM  
Blogger LisaDay said...

Great story. It is frightening you had second graders that were tougher than the eighth graders.

LisaDay

June 17, 2010 at 8:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love this story. I met my hubby at work too. Yep snagged mine at a dairy mart :) I worked with his mom and he came in all the time.

June 17, 2010 at 9:01 AM  
Blogger Everly said...

I love this story, I can't wait to hear the rest..

(whatwoudldjendo.com)

June 17, 2010 at 9:06 AM  
Blogger Kmama said...

It's so funny that you find love when you're not looking. The same for me. WHen I fell in love with my now hubs, my roommates said, "But you don't want a boyfriend." LOL

June 17, 2010 at 9:10 AM  
Blogger Stereos and Souffles said...

I met mine at work too.

June 17, 2010 at 9:14 AM  
Blogger MommyLovesStilettos said...

I love it! What an awesome story :)

June 17, 2010 at 9:17 AM  
Blogger The Random Blogette said...

I met my hubs at work too! I did a whole series of blog postings about our love story a few months ago. I thought he was an ass at first, but then he grew on me! Can't wait to read more!

June 17, 2010 at 9:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think it is funny he was to watch you to learn how to be mean LOL

June 17, 2010 at 9:34 AM  
Blogger Tina L. Hook said...

Very cute. I guess puppies make for good husbands after all.

Stopping by from Mama Kat's.

June 17, 2010 at 9:35 AM  
Blogger Jenn said...

Such a sweet story! I started out denying my connection to Husband too ... the rest is history!

June 17, 2010 at 9:47 AM  
Blogger Julia Ladewski said...

what a cute story!!! "it happened at work" to me too... not meeting my hubs, but another little thing! ;)

June 17, 2010 at 9:50 AM  
Blogger Andrea said...

My *WW* post is the same thing today! ;) It Happened At Work, and I met my hubby is the end of the story. With some history, or whatever you want to call it, of my romantic life through the office. :P Sounds like you guys were a match made in the perfect place! Love it!

June 17, 2010 at 9:51 AM  
Blogger Sassy Salsa girl said...

Great story! That'll be a fun one to tell your kids :D

June 17, 2010 at 9:54 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

How we meet stories are my favorite!! You have a pretty good one:)

June 17, 2010 at 10:13 AM  
Blogger VandyJ said...

Cool story--when do we get the rest of the story? Inquiring minds want to know--OK so I want to know but still.

June 17, 2010 at 10:15 AM  
Blogger Sara said...

AWWWW. So CUTE. I always wored retail, and there really aren't a lot of available guys (that date women) in retail. So the off duty police officers that worked there were always setting me up. I dated 3 cops in a row (different districts though, cause that makes it better) before I gave them up completely. But man, there is somethign about that uniform. It's a good thing you were the "mean" teacher though!!!

June 17, 2010 at 10:18 AM  
Blogger Joann Mannix said...

Shell, as always, great story.

You know what I love about your writing? The fact that you build your story and I'm dying to know what's going to happen next. You might want to think about that and what I've been saying to you. Storytelling is an art and you either have it or you don't. You have it.

June 17, 2010 at 10:28 AM  
Blogger Sara said...

I liked this story!

Did your husband ever learn to be meaner?$

June 17, 2010 at 10:28 AM  
Blogger Kearsie said...

I met my Hubs and within five minutes I knew I was going to marry this guy. Even though he sounded like a hick. And 9 months later, we married. It was very Wham Bam Thank you ma'am. I wouldn't recommend it, but it worked. And now, 12 years later, I love to tell our story, too.

June 17, 2010 at 10:52 AM  
Blogger MommaKiss said...

you make me smile. Like, a lot.

June 17, 2010 at 11:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love this Shell. It is for the movies...sigh

June 17, 2010 at 11:23 AM  
Blogger Pebz ★ said...

awww how sweet!


Hey we both met our hubby's at work! That's awesome! =)

June 17, 2010 at 11:30 AM  
Blogger Babes Mami said...

What a cute story and funny! I met my husband and thought oh no ma'am I will never date that man and ended up where we are now. You never know who is the one you will be with!

June 17, 2010 at 11:34 AM  
Blogger Jen said...

Oh, this is such a cute story! I can't wait to hear how you became engaged and got married!

June 17, 2010 at 11:49 AM  
Blogger shortmama said...

I feel like I just watched a season finale cliffhanger! You have to tell the rest of your story sometime!

June 17, 2010 at 12:09 PM  
Blogger Wilmary S. said...

What a great story!!! ;)

June 17, 2010 at 12:15 PM  
Blogger Maureen said...

Awww I love these kind of stories :D

June 17, 2010 at 12:36 PM  
Blogger Sarah said...

What a heartwarming and endearing story! I especially liked the part where the principal sent him down to your room to learn how to be meaner :)

June 17, 2010 at 1:24 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I sounds like you found the right person to "chill out" with.

June 17, 2010 at 2:11 PM  
Blogger Jessica said...

You know what I always love about hearing stories like this? That person ALWAYS seems to walk into your life when you're least expecting it!

Dearest and I met and although I was really into him at first, the more we hung around I though, "Oh no! There's NO WAY I could date this guy!" And, I definitely wasn't looking for a boyfriend. WAH-LAH!

June 17, 2010 at 2:12 PM  
Blogger Daisygirl said...

Fabulous story! I love that you met at work and didn't think you would be interested in him at first....that is so awesome!

June 17, 2010 at 2:13 PM  
Blogger Kisha said...

Aw, that story is of the sweetness! My husband is much, much nicer than I am, too. I think it makes for a nice balance:)

June 17, 2010 at 2:14 PM  
Blogger AiringMyLaundry said...

Fabulous story :) Aww. I have a big goofy grin on my face now.

June 17, 2010 at 2:29 PM  
Blogger Joy@TPMG said...

What a great story! Awww. I can't wait to hear "the rest of the story".

June 17, 2010 at 2:36 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Awwww...love the "how we met" stories! Teaching middle school would be so tough! Do you miss it?
thanks for sharing. I saw your little BTW message on the bottom too, and I'm thankful you do PYHO. It's been my therapy the last two weeks. :)

June 17, 2010 at 2:48 PM  
Blogger Salt said...

OMG! You have to tell us more about this! What a great story!

I had no idea that you were an inner city school teacher. One of my friends is also. I have no idea how she does it and have so much respect for anyone that takes on that kind of challenge!

June 17, 2010 at 2:57 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

What a great story :) I love it! He sounds like a great guy! Have you taught him how to be meaner yet?

June 17, 2010 at 3:24 PM  
Blogger Karen Mortensen said...

What a great story. That cracked me up that the girl wanted to go there.
I want to hear more about how you were mean in the classroom. I need to learn that. My kids like me too much.

June 17, 2010 at 3:27 PM  
Blogger One Photo said...

I think it is very true that when you go looking hard for true love you will rarely find it and I also think it is true that true love often comes along when you least expect it.

Lovely post - I feel a mini-series coming on with the rest of the story to be told!

June 17, 2010 at 3:31 PM  
Blogger Cheryl said...

Aww.. what a story! I love that you thought he was too sweet..

June 17, 2010 at 5:04 PM  
Blogger Ally said...

I always love the "met at work" stories. That's so sweet. Life is like that, things happen when you don't expect them too.

June 17, 2010 at 6:44 PM  
Blogger Tammy said...

How sweet! I would never have thought you met teaching...knowing what he does now. That is cool though.

Can't wait to see who is the BFF tomorrow. (Don't tell me), I want it to be a surprise! :)

June 17, 2010 at 7:05 PM  
Blogger Liz Mays said...

I really never would have figured you for the "mean" teacher!

I love your story!!!

June 17, 2010 at 7:18 PM  
Blogger Emmy said...

Oh I so want to know the rest of the story now! Sounds like you were an awesome mean teacher.

June 17, 2010 at 7:44 PM  
Blogger Lourie said...

I am with the other commenters...can't wait to read the rest of the story...or the part anyway.

June 17, 2010 at 7:52 PM  
Blogger Lisa said...

That's sounding like a Nicholas Sparks romance. LOL!
Loved it!!

June 17, 2010 at 8:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Have you sold this story to a movie studio yet? If not, you should! Such a sweet story of right place at the right time. And who knew you were such a bad ass? Not me!

June 17, 2010 at 8:26 PM  
Blogger Michelle (hometc) said...

I spent some time in ISS, what horrible memories those are. My butt would be so sore at the end of the day! :( Stopping by from SITS

June 17, 2010 at 9:48 PM  
Blogger B said...

Thanks for sharing this. I can't wait to learn more! :)

June 17, 2010 at 10:27 PM  
Blogger The Drama Mama said...

Awww! I love it. I especially love the kind like mine where a second date is not something that you are planning. Haha. Thanks for sharing your story.

June 17, 2010 at 10:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cute story! Can't wait to hear more about you guys! I love that we were both teachers!

June 17, 2010 at 10:47 PM  
Blogger Liz said...

The story is sweet and funny, but I wanted to mention that I'm really impressed with you handling those kids!! Especially telling them you had 2nd graders who were tougher. :) My friend, Kat, who I wrote about today works for the Chicago Public Schools, and is sent to some ghetto places. She will do PT on kids who were shot, etc. It takes the right person, and thank goodness for people like you!

June 17, 2010 at 10:57 PM  
Blogger Adrienne said...

I love these kinds of tales =) I heart meeting the one you love it is fab

June 17, 2010 at 11:10 PM  
Blogger Michelle @Flying Giggles said...

What a sweet story, yes, could totally be a movie!

June 17, 2010 at 11:12 PM  
Blogger Simoney said...

Cool story, told so well, Shell!
I enjoyed meeting Tammy last week and we have hooked up now! (on each others blogroll) so thanks for the intro, she is awesome :)
xx

June 17, 2010 at 11:17 PM  
Blogger Sarah said...

I love the "how we met" stories. They are so interesting to me...I love to hear how people "found" their significant other!!! What a great story, thanks for sharing!!!

June 19, 2010 at 12:35 AM  
Blogger Roxane said...

That is such a cute story! Who knew kids behaving badly could lead to two people meeting and falling in love? Great post.

I'm going to go steal your button now.

June 20, 2010 at 5:49 AM  

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