Back to where it all began

We were back in Ottawa again yesterday, first for a morning visit with my mom and older sister. After that, we were supposed to meet up with a guy to sell a little 12V Bosch drill that we used to travel with in the motorhome. But stupid me, we got half way to Ottawa when I realized that I hadn't put it in the car! Dummy. I hate when I do things like that.

So I managed to contact the guy and we are dropping it off on Saturday since we have to go back into Ottawa again anyhow to renew the little red car rental contract after the first month.

After that, we drove out to the east end to pick up a couple of used tires for the woodsplitter. Used 13" tires aren't that easy to find anymore. No new cars come with them anymore. But, I found a couple of older ones for $25 a piece that will do.

Next up, we were heading west again back towards Galetta when Ruth said she wouldn't mind stopping at a grocery store that sometimes has gluten free bread available. We took a detour through the neighbourhood that I grew up in, and when we exited that area we came out at the spot where it all began...

This is where it all began.

Ruth and I met on March 5th, 1983 when she was working as a stylist at First Choice Haircutters. We were both 21 years old.

I had been working long hours at an auto body repair shop, and it was a Saturday. I got off work and headed out to get a haircut. The shop was closing soon, and the receptionist said I was too late. But I begged her because I really needed a haircut! She went to check with the stylists, and the nice one named Ruth volunteered to stay and do the cut.

During the cut, we were making typical small talk, and at one point she asked what I was doing that evening. I said that I was really tired from working too much, and was just going to relax. I asked her the same question, and she said that she was supposed to be going to a house party but her ride had cancelled out. The small talk continued, and eventually the haircut was complete.

I was still living in my parents basement, in our house located only five minutes away. During that five minutes, I formulated a bold plan! I would get home and call that nice girl back and ask her out. After all, you don't know if you don't ask!

I looked up the phone number in the telephone book (remember those?) and dialed (yes, literally) the number. I figured the receptionist would answer, and I would have a moment to gather my thoughts while she went and got Ruth. But Ruth herself answered the phone! With my heart pounding, I told her who it was, and I said "since you aren't doing anything this evening, and either am I, maybe we should do something together."

And she agreed!

We ended up going to see a movie first. We tried to get into Tootsie, but it was sold out so our second choice was The Sting II. The original movie The Sting was a good movie. Part II? Not so much!

After the movie, we went to the Golden Palace, a popular Chinese Food restaurant that still operates today. We had egg rolls and won ton soup.

We had a great time together, and said goodnight. We did not see each other on the Sunday, but by Monday I think we saw each other every day for quite a while after that! 

Our first picture together, March 12, 1983.

A funny statistic... when we first met, we each weighed 145 lbs! Now, Ruth is about 130 and I am about 168.

And the rest is history. We married in the following May 1984, and had our children in 1986 and 1988.

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