According to Brian!
Becky and I first officially met about three years ago, but we have been around each other since we were little kids. Having grown up in neighboring towns, we attended the same church, St. Helen’s, and got involved in many similar activities. Although we spent numerous hours in the same room, we never were introduced to each other.
November 29, 2000 – I was heading home from Boston for Thanksgiving, and was looking forward to seeing my family and meeting up with my friends from the neighborhood. Chief Social Strategist, John Ruvolo had decided that, although there were several local watering holes that we could choose from, all the “important” people would be at Charlie Brown’s. We entered the local bar at around 9:30 and the expected graduating class of 1994, 1995, 1996, etc. were nowhere to be found. Getting a drink was not a problem as the awaiting crowd was only about 15 deep. Disappointed with the turnout, Ruvolo immediately started to work the crowd. He spotted some familiar faces across the bar and quickly worked himself into their conversation. I spotted some people that I knew, but nobody I was extremely friendly with. I did, however, notice Becky – a girl I knew of, but wasn’t friendly with.
Several pints of “liquid courage” later, I found myself in conversation with Becky and her friends. Becky seemed to be upset about something, so I inquired as to what was bothering her. She started talking about her boyfriend and I immediately went to the bar for another beer….. OK, that didn’t happen. She was talking about how she was upset with the way her relationship was going with her current boyfriend. I really felt bad for her and knew I needed to cheer her up. So, I decided to make fun of her boyfriend. With the help of my friend Tom, we managed to point out some negative aspects of her current relationship. I soon forgot about her boyfriend and Becky and I ended up talking the rest of the night. It was great!!! Closing time came and reality set in – I just spent the night with an amazing girl and it was over just like that. Even worse, was the fact that I would be heading back to Boston in three days. Becky was nice enough to drive me and my drunken friends home – what a catch, I know. We said goodnight, exchanged friendly words and that was it.
You live next to someone your whole life, attend the same church, have similar friends’ and don’t get to meet until you move 250 miles away. Now that’s ironic.
I kept thinking about Becky on my trip back to Boston, wondering what might have been had I lived in NJ. In our talk that night @ Charlie Brown’s, we discovered that we were both employed by Merrill Lynch. She worked in NYC and I, of course, was in Boston. After days of contemplation, I finally decided to look up Becky’s name on the company directory and send her an email. We exchanged emails, but nothing progressed. Four months later, Becky emailed me telling me she had decided to leave Merrill Lynch to go to graduate school and that she broke up with her boyfriend. She told me to give her a call if I was ever back in the area. Ironically, I was heading into New York that weekend to visit my buddy Brian (Brock) from college and I asked her to meet in the city. She agreed … and I’ve been extremely happy ever since.
Looking back, it doesn’t seem to make sense. Why Charlie Brown’s?? and how convenient that we were employed by the same company?? And why November 29, 2000 and not sooner, when it seemed more appropriate??
Chalk a victory up to fate!!! And thank God for that.
According to Becky!
Almost 3 years ago on the night before Thanksgiving a few people decided to go for a few drinks at Charlie Brown's in Scotch Plains. Little did I know that I would meet my future husband that night. When I arrived at the bar there were a bunch of people from Westfield including John Ruvolo who introduced me to Tom and Brian. After a few drinks I started complaining about my boyfriend and Brian said some "not too nice" things about him, we continued talking throughout the night and went on our separate ways.
When I came into work on that Monday after Thanksgiving I had gotten an email from Brian apologizing for bad-mouthing my boyfriend - I remember thinking what a nice guy and started to get butterflies in my stomach. I wrote him back to thank him and we did not see or talk to each other until 3 months later.
After breaking up with my boyfriend and a few emails back and forth I found out Brian was coming to New York the weekend of Feb.17, 2001. We decided to get together and meet at Broch's apartment and then go out from there. I was so excited to see him again!! We had a wonderful time that night and have been inseparable ever since.... even after 1 1/2 years of trips for both of us back and forth between NJ and MA.
