Let me tell you a story.
I was working for Pacific Norwest Bell at 501 W 2nd Ave in Spokane WA. Bob had just moved back to Spokane. He also worked for PNB and there were a ton of people I worked with were telling me about this guy. I was hearing a lot of nice things about him. One Saturday I was working and a supervisor, Steve Styren, was telling me all about Bob.... My mind was spinning by the end of the day. Words like "family oriented" "good worker" "dedicated" "fun" "Christian" were used to describe him. Was I interested in meeting him? HECK YES! I was introduce to Bob on the following Monday.
Now, Bob's version goes a little different. Bob claims Steve said, "Let's go into the "Maintenance Center at 501" (In English ... We’re going to the office) I want to introduce you to someone. Bob wasn't too sure about this, but had no choice, Steve was his boss.
I was introduced to Bob and my thoughts were "Wow, if he is everything they say he is, I am game for getting to know him"
Bob's thoughts were "If any woman was interested in a guy with 2 teenage sons to raise she must be crazy and if she was crazy why would I want to marry her?"
I took every opportunity I could to answer the phone if I thought he was calling in to get some more work to do. The other girls would sit and laugh, because I was the fastest phone answerer… Making their job a lot easier.
I felt like I needed a 2x4 to get his attention. I was thrilled when he first asked me out. We met at a place called Dewy Cheatham & Howe. By this time in life I had decided that drinking wasn’t fun, and Bob wasn’t much of a drinker either. BUT it was the “thing to do”. After our one drink was gone I felt funny just sitting there when the waitress came by for the 10th time to see if we wanted another drink and we kept saying no. So I made the excuse that better get home and start packing for my trip to Europe.
Bob’s claims this is what he heard. “I need to go home and wash my hair”. He knew I wasn’t leaving for Europe for another 3 weeks.
But it was true. If you know me very well, you know I believe that planning the trip is ¾ of the fun. Heck, we aren’t going on our cruise to Alaska until Aug 2 and I have already been making lists of what to pack.
Bob and I talked often but he never asked me out again. My roommate was going to throw me a bon'-voyage party. I had invited one of the fellows I was dating… my roommate invited Bob… to surprise me. The night of the party she told me she invited Bob…. PANIC! I had 2 guys coming to the party. The one fellow I was dating was the jealous type and I didn’t think it would be smart to un-invite him so what stupid thing did I do?…. I called Bob (I thought he would understand). (DUMB MOVE)
I went to Europe. I sent Bob numerous postcards to his home. Do you want to know what he thought?
Oh Mary must have sent post cards to all the guys on the crew to their home.
Like, yeah the rest of the guys on his crew were either married or NOT dating material.
After I returned from Europe we talked often and went out a few times, but always took the boys with us. I really liked that. Bob was not only dating me, but another girl. But that was OK, I was still dating a bunch of different guy. Until one day… My friend and I were sitting home with no dates, bored to death. The phone rings and it was Bob. He had a friend come in from out of town. Do I have a friend I could call and we could double date? (I looked at my friend, covered the mouth piece on the phone and TOLD her she would go out with Bob’s friend.)
Bob’s take on this …. He was getting ready to go on a retreat.. he was thinking of asking Nancy, one of his girlfriends, to marry him. (I foiled that plan!!) But….. His friend calls and tells Bob that he is in town for the weekend, does he have a girlfriend with a friend? Bob thinks, Nancy doesn’t have any good looking friends… so he calls Mary…
We double dated and had a great time. I am now encouraged. However, we went out now and then, but not enough for my liking. My thoughts were “What is it going to take to get this guy interested in me? A 2x4 wasn’t working… so I got out a 4x4 and hit him upside the head with it. …. This is what took place next…
“Hey Bob, I am in charge of the Company Christmas Party and I don’t have a date, would you be interested in going with me?”
Well, ummmm, yea, I guess so.
Then I panicked… what am I going to where? I was nonstop planning and trying to find the “right dress, the right shoes, how I should were my hair, should I get it cut, oh dear, oh my, oh dear…. I called my friend Cheryl. Sure, she had a dress I could borrow. Ok, take a breath Mary, breath.
We began to date pretty steady. We included the boys in all but that Christmas Party Date. I was falling for all 3 of these guys. Then one snowy Sunday Bob picked me up to go to church. Mike and Rich were in the back seat of his rather small, sporty, Toyota. When we went over a bump Mike hit his chin with his knee. “Dad, we need to get a bigger car” Bob, being Bob, started thinking out loud. “If I trade my car in for a van and traded Mary’s car in for a pick-up…”
WAIT just a minute, are you trading my car in??? Oh, well I was thinking if we got married we could…..So are you asking me to marry you?
Well, yes, I am working this Saturday, how about the following Saturday Day Valentine’s Day? …. No, I work that Saturday. How about your birthday March 1? OK the date is set…. On to church we went. After we talked to the pastor he said we couldn’t get married until the 15th. We need to do some pre marital counseling first.
So, on March 15, 1986 I became Mrs. Robert E. Phillips. Since that day, my life has been filled with blessings. I became a stepmother to 2 wonderful boys. Rich was 10 going to soon turn 11 and Mike just turned 14. Now I am a grandmother. Four beautiful granddaughters, Emma, Gabrielle, Adriana and Kate. Three very handsome grandsons, Jay, Luke, Seth. And one very special angel, Baby Rose, in haven.
