Tom and I, like all couples have a personal journey that we have taken together. This our story of how we met and how in those very first few hours of getting to know each other I KNEW he would be an AMAZING father.

On May 26, 2006 I went to see my favorite reggae band (Steele Pulse) perform at the House of Blues in Atlantic City. I listened, watched and danced with joy while the opening band of talented and very lively Philly musicians performed on the stage. Little did I know that was the first time I laid eyes on my future husband and father of our Sweet Baby Angel Face.

My dear friend who joined me, Jess (also a live music  enthusiast) became friends with a few members of that interesting Hip-Hop band and learned that they were neighbors back in Philly. Naturally, a few weeks later (6/26/06) she requested my wingman services to hang with a few “guys from that band”. At that time in my life I would happily be a wingman for any of my friends…….. not with a band…I’m not a groupie I steadily declared.

She literally convinced me to meet her and her new friends at McMenamin’s Tavern in Mt. Airy.

The tavern was a bit dark and full of chatter, a mixed demographic happy hour crowd packed the room. It was a typical bar scene, Jess and her new friends were playing darts. I was introduced to quite a few people, most not in the band…they must be regulars I thought.

There was a handsome man in a red plaid shirt playing darts “looking for good energy”!! Wellll, I literally gave it to him by putting this invisible energy in his hand and he instantly threw a BULLSEYE!   It was truly a surreal moment and difficult to put into words.

After hitting a bullseye, we immediately sat down next to each other at the bar, me with a flower in my hair and him with his “social worker joe” plaid shirt.  I knew I was safe, there was no way this clean-cut professional man was in the 13 piece hip-hop band I saw a month ago. I was not going to be a groupie by speaking with him.

I quickly learned that I was wrong in my assumption that this clean-cut guy could not possibly be a member of that progressive band. He was in fact the guitar player!

Not only was he an artistic man but a full time social worker and a student working on his Master’s Degree. He shared with me his zest for life, past heart breaks, his desire to move to Colorado for a fresh start and the amazing journey he had while living  there studying at Naropa, the only Buddhist University in the states. I was very intrigued by his fascination for people and their connection to one another.

He shared with me that he would still be in Colorado had his sister not given birth with her first baby and his first nephew, this was something he did not want to miss.

He spoke so lovingly about his sister and his nephew that my maternal instinct noticed his spark immediately. I instantly knew this man would make a fantastic father, this was exactly the type of person I wanted to have a relationship with.

He gave me his number and I triumphantly told him I would call him sometime next week……..I called him one hour later. That night is when my life truly became certain, I was to marry this loving, kind, compassionate, intelligent and talented man!! He was everything I was looking for in a future husband and importantly a partner to have a family with!

What happened over the next ten years is in fact 18 blog posts worth of material. When I say you you’ll laugh you’ll cry, I mean it. It has been quite a ride full of love, laughter, tears, uncertainty, certainty and most importantly constant understanding. We have always had a very healthy understanding and respect of each other and the other’s needs.

One of my biggest needs has been to be a mother, it is something so inherent in me there are no words to describe the desire.

On December 4, 2016 my wish came true, Tom became the father than I knew he was destined to be.

It has been an absolute joy watching Tom blossom into the role of fatherhood.

You see, Tom is a natural caregiver with a heart as big and bright as the sun. There are so many words I could use to describe his innate fathering ability, but as they say “a picture is worth a thousand words”, I’ll share a few of my favorite moments with you.

Dearest Tom, thank you for giving me the best gift I have ever received and thank you for trusting my intuition that you would be a wonderful father. Our little boy is so lucky to have such a true example of what it is to be compassionate, kind and loving.

Happy Father’s Day to you and all Dad’s out there!

We surely couldn’t do it the way we do, without you!

 


Who would have thought that after all of that, Tom would have TWO groupies! WE LOVE YOU!

Thanks again Jess!!

How do you plan on spending Father’s Day and celebrating the special guy in your life? Or have a how we met story?? I’d love to hear that as well, do leave a comment below!