It's Happening!

Heather's Story: Our paths crossed one fateful day in March 2012, while I was working at Chicago Sam's. Bruce was coming in to celebrate a friend's birthday, and he just happened to be sat in my section. Thinking he was pretty cute, I flirted away the night with him, I found him easy to talk to and he made me laugh most of the night. As he was getting ready to leave, he handed me a blue balloon. On this balloon was his phone number, asking to hang out sometime. As I was walking back to the staff room to put the balloon in safe keeping, I was smiling about how creative this was as I got tons of stares. How could I not text him after that! Since then, we have texted or communicated in someway almost every day since. Our relationship was built on laughs, games and communication. From the very beginning of our relationship, I have felt a trust with Bruce that is hard to explain. We can, and do, talk about everything that is going on for us or in our relationship, and that has only made us stronger. We have a love for our pets (Sara and Piper), making nachos, driving around, celebrating life, relaxing and so much more. After 7 years, he asked me to marry him and I could not be more excited to continue our adventure in life together. Bruce's Story: The night started off when I arrived to my friends birthday celebration a little bit early at Chicago Sams. The plan was simple. Get together, eat abundantly, drink even more abundantly, take awesome pictures and have a blast while celebrating! The night started off well, I found out that a cute blonde with radiant blue eyes was going to be our waitress. As the night progressed I found it easy to flirt with her, easy to make small talk, went along with our bar-life antics and she laughed at my jokes…that alone was a sign that I needed to talk more to this girl. Towards the end of the night, I wanted to get her number or at least give her mine. The opportunity presented itself when my buddy decided that he would drunkenly steal some balloons off a nearby marketing sign. He wandered back in to the bar and said “Here, this is for you.” The moment was hysterical because…well, where does anyone find helium balloons at 1am? Whether is was the 8th shot of tequila or my creative and imaginative spirit, I wrote my name and number on the balloon and presented it to her when she came by again. People around us and her coworkers stared as she had to now walk back to the server station with a blue balloon in her hands. The giant smile and look on her face was worth any awkwardness that may have been there. The night ended at 2am, we left the restaurant and on my way out I said that she should seriously call or text me soon. Around 3am, I got a text from an unknown number…it was Heather, sending me the first of many thousands of texts that would soon become part of our coming-together story. We’ve made every effort to talk or text every day since. Throughout the years she’s become someone I can trust, lean on and talk to about nearly every aspect of my life. We love a good car-party on the way to any event or destination, Sunday-Funday, getting outside with our dog Sara, or watching the cat chase bugs or butterflies in the yard (before she kills them and tries to eat them.) Our relationship is built on being open, loving first and not letting tough moments define our deeper commitment.