I have been asked on many occasions... with my adorable (now) husband Devin a life-long east coaster, and my feet firmly planted amidst the palm trees of Los Angeles.... How in the world did we even meet?? Well - grab some coffee (or caw-fee, as Devin might say) and buckle in.
January 28, 2008
I had jetted off to Vegas for a couple days, on a last minute invitation, to meet up with a dear friend of mine from Dallas (my hometown). I was definitely ready to get out of LA for a couple of days, so this would be a perfect getaway. A quick Monday - Wednesday trip to Sin City? What trouble could I possibly get into?
Devin had traveled from Brooklyn to Vegas for work - - for what I like to call, a "geek convention." Little did he know what a geek he would find (that's me, see). So, as the fates would have it, on January 28, 2008. . . We both found ourselves in the same place, at the same time, in a bar - - actually, iBar. It even sounds geeky, right?
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| the scene of the crime... iBar at the Rio in glittering Las Vegas |
Being a proper southern girl, I decided after a few minutes (and a few swigs) that it was only right that I go over and thank this generous (and possibly incredibly handsome) young man in person. How else was I going to see how cute he actually was - those bars are dark in Vegas, kids! I bounce over and introduce myself - and the giggling and hair flipping began! Now, Devin will tell you that much of this was done while I was sitting on his lap - but I believe he is embellishing just a bit . . . and those surveillance cameras have been wiped clean by this point... so it is my word against his - yay!
We each had dinner reservations to keep, so we elected to reconvene for drinks later that evening. We met, and imbibed cocktails at some bar that was very high up and offered amazing views of the strip. I am pretty sure there was some additional giggling and hair flipping (mostly by Devin - I was playing it cool), and after very likely one (or three?) too many cocktails, we called it an evening.
With vague, unconfirmed plans to meet the next night - I went about the day Tuesday with no particular goals. The friend I was visiting was working on a project, so I was left to relax and wander around (which means shop) . . . gambling has no appeal to me and I find casinos marginally depressing. I had a lovely day to myself, and managed to check the ol' phone for messages every once in a while. You know, JUST in case. After a while I decided, you know what, we had fun - it is what it is... I mean - this IS Vegas and this Devin guy lives in NEW YORK. Even if we DID like each other - how would THAT ever work out?
<cue fate - or something> Late afternoon, as I walk into the lobby of the hotel . . . that guy (you know, Devin) almost walks right into me. RUH ROH. Here goes the butterflies and giggling all over again (definitely mine). We confirmed plans for later, and I went to my room to hussy up.
We met at some non-descript hotel bar (I honestly couldn't tell you a thing about it besides, "they had bar stools and Grey Goose" ). The next thing we know - five hours have gone by. FIVE. HOURS. We were both leaving Vegas the next day for our respective coasts, so we said our goodnight with a sort of "I'm not really sure what this is or what just happened - but hey, nice to meet you" tone.
Within a couple of days of settling back into our routines, the phone calls started. Every day. For hours. I'm not even sure what we talked about - - but clearly we covered just about everything. Thank God, Buddha, Allah, and Oprah for free unlimited long distance calls - had this been the early 90's, we couldn't have even afforded to like each other.
March 2008
We met in Vegas January 28 - by March, a visit to one coast or the other was inevitable. I had not been to New York in a couple of years, so I made the leap. I scheduled a long weekend, with an emergency plan at the ready in case I needed to high tail it out of there. I mean, a LOT of things look good from thousands of miles away (right, Devin??). It was entirely possible there were heads in the freezer - or WORSE, what if he liked Nickleback!?? Well, the trip was a success... no emergency plan needed, but NOW what?
I return to LA, the calls / texts / emails / cards continued, and by May - it was sort of 'what are we doing, exactly?' I mean, we were having a great time getting to know each other, but the logistics were definitely beginning to play a larger part in the story. I found myself planning a week-long trip to NYC for the end of the month.
May 2008
Heeeere comes May . . . mind you, we have only known each other four months at this point, and have only seen each other TWICE in person, when I touch down at ol' JFK. AGAIN - with the butterflies, the giggling, and the hair flipping (both of us). I surprise Devin with box seats to a Yankees game (their last season in the old stadium - where Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Babe Ruth played!!). Devin surprises ME with a 12 hour day into night - night into morning Memorial Day party, where I am greeted and secretly judged by his in-town family and about 100 (ONE HUNDRED) of his closest friends. ONE HUNDRED.
Towards the end of the trip (and possibly after a couple or seven beers), Devin asked, "Why don't you just move here?" and I am thinking, "Ummm, well - because I've only seen you in person three times... I don't really know anyone in NYC... I have no job in NYC... where is the beach in NYC... boy, that would be one expensive move... I would have to be crazy to move coast to coast... " I mean, get on the plane, Ashlee - you have to go home.
June 2008
So I'm back in LA... and before I know it (and before I've talked myself out of it), I have submitted my resignation and started packing up my worldly belongings for what may be the most exciting or the most disastrous chapter of my life. Within 30 days, I am IN New York... specifically IN Brooklyn... and more specifically IN Devin's apartment. What are "baby steps?" Now, full disclosure, I DID leave most of my things in storage in LA. I mean, I may be crazy, but I'm not... C R A Z Y. I shipped a few boxes of things to New York to get me there and settled. I bought a one way ticket and was on my way (I've never been so thankful for cocktails on flights).
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| concrete junnnngle where dreams are maaaade of . . . Photo by Pedro Lastra |
Luckily, my boss in LA was both encouraging and supportive - so much so that she connected me with a recruiter in NYC prior to my departure. I landed on a Sunday afternoon, and had my first interview on Monday. I figured the sooner the better to start interviewing, and was fully prepared for the process of securing gainful employment to take a couple of months (well, mentally prepared not financially). My first week, I had three interviews and by the following week, three offers. What!? I mean, yes I'm adorable, but I fully believe the universe conspired to support me in my "jump and the net will appear" experiment.
After the great fortune of selecting the job I wanted, I jumped right into my NYC life. Right into my version of "Sex and the City" (just without the dating and the never-ending supply of Jimmy Choo's... come to think of it, it wasn't that much like it). I was senior management for a luxury hotel in Manhattan - specifically managing the group business for a 500+ suite hotel (think movie premieres, press junkets, bands on tour, the upfronts etc). I'll leave it at that for the moment -- a few of those tales may appear in future posts.
November 2010
We take a trip to Puerto Rico and Vieques for my birthday (and general relaxation), little did I know, Devin had an ulterior (and sparkly) motive. After a couple of days unwinding in the sun and sampling many frozen mojitos (aye dios mio!), we wandered down to the moonlit beach one night after dinner and before I know it, there is Prince Devin... on his knee. I wish I could lovingly recite what i know was an eloquent and touching proposal - but honestly I was so excited and shocked that I just ran in circles like a Pomeranian, until I realized I should hurry up and answer before he changed his mind.
January 28, 2012
And on January 28, 2012, four years to the day after we exchanged numbers in Vegas, we exchanged vows in San Juan, PR. CRAZY, right!?!!?? Sure, this is a bit more "my side" of the story, but Devin is busy just now and has thereby forfeited his editorial input. As you might have guessed (and is, I believe, law when anything occurs in or around Vegas) some details, dates, names, number of cocktails and the like - may have been altered or omitted to protect the innocent.
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"they had barstools and Grey Goose"
ReplyDeleteWhat else is needed to be called a bar?????
EXACTLY!! i mean, that pretty much covers it as far as i'm concerned. ;o)
ReplyDelete