How We Met

I’ve decided I want to record how/when I met the people that have meant the most to me in my life. This should be interesting…

Bobby Simonson – Best friend from 4th grade on: We had moved into Wingate South neighborhood and were already enrolled in school. I met a guy named Tony who let me sit on the bus with him. I was sick one day and missed a day of school. The day I returned there was a new kid on the bus. I asked if I could sit with him and his response was “I’m saving this seat for Tony.” Seems Tony befriended the new kids on the bus. Don’t know what ever happened to him, but Bobby and I became great friends. We rarely talk now, unfortunately. Our lives just took different paths.

Tassie Wieder – Now my wife: Out of our group of friends (Bobby, Ted, etc…), I was the oldest so I got my license first. One Friday night, someone got some beer and thought it would be fun to drink it. I don’t drink so I was the designated driver. I dropped the guys off in a field and they drank the beer. I then picked them up and we were trying to decide what to do. Bobby said “let’s go see Tassie.” I did not know who she was, but she worked at TCBY, so we all agreed. When we got there it was close to closing time, and they had just mopped the floors. In walk a bunch of drunk guys with muddy feet. They began “ice skating” across the wet floor, Bobby pulled the door off the freezer, and Ted somehow managed to lock himself in the bathroom. The handle on the door, however, was the kind you only had to push down to unlock. UGH!! We finally left (I’m sure the TCBY people were happy!). The next morning, REALLY early, I get a phone call from an employee at TCBY (Tassie) asking if my friends had some money with them when they left. Seems TCBY was missing some cash, and they thought my friends might have it. Well, they didn’t, and it was found, and Tassie and I started dating. We’ve been married for almost 18 years now and have 4 kids. I’d say it all worked out just fine!

Brad DeWitt – Best friend in Junior High: I was sitting in class when in come 2 guys. The little one was being chased by the big one. The big one was Ryan (I forget his last name) and the little one was Brad. Not sure how we became friends, but we hit it off. We started spending TONS of time together. I’d spend the night at his house every weekend (his Mom was WAY more easy-going than my parents and would do ANYTHING Brad asked), we’d go roller skating at Fun-Plex (now Mr. Biggs…was Phat City for a while), and spend time at the mall or at the movies. He introduced me to The Smiths, Circle Jerks, Joy Division, The Dead Kennedys, and other great music. We were definitely two peas in a pod. Bobby didn’t like him, though. During one sleepover, we’d gotten some pizza (always Domino’s). Bobby fell asleep first. Brad put some pizza down his underwear and threw his pants out the window. Gee, wonder why they did not get along! During the summer before 9th grade, his Mom & her boyfriend (Willie) moved down to Colorado Springs. I went down there one time, but it was too far to go often. Then he moved back to Arizona to live with his dad. I only saw him once more after that….I often wonder how my life would have been different had he not moved. I miss him.

Robert Smith (Yeah, like the Cure singer!) – Great friend and co-worker: Met him at Arby’s. He’d started there after getting fired from his dish washing job at the Mexican restaurant in the mall parking lot. Was a member of my wedding party. When we moved from Colorado, I never heard from him again. Tassie has seen him once though managing a Black Eyed Pea.

Andy McLeran – Brother-in-law: Was Rob’s friend and got a job at Arby’s. Was just this short midget of a guy. Teeny-tiny. He’d always eat salads. We got into some goofy wrestling match in the hallways at Arby’s and I’d body slammed him. Don’t know why, but it sure was funny. Rob, Andy, & I got into WAY too much trouble at Arby’s. We used to have one person get in the trunk of Rob’s car, then we’d drive around and they’d have to figure out where we were. Good Times!