How I met Mr. BillyBobcat

[MrsBillyBobcat]

It was Friday, April 15th, "tax day", just like today. I left work late that night. I was a manager at Pearle Vision and I often stayed late to make the glasses. I drove to the Post Office to mail my tax return, then headed to Gratiot Avenue to make a few passes before calling it a night. Driving was (and still is) my favorite way to "wind down". As I was heading south near 14 Mile, a silver Grand Prix 2+2 caught my eye as it turned onto Gratiot. When the car came up along-side mine, I glanced over at the guy driving it (little did I know at the time that I was starring into the eyes of my future husband!). A couple miles down the road, we ended up stopped next to each other at the light. When I looked over at him, he said "nice car!" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif (I was driving a Buick Grand National), to which I replied "thank you". He then blurted out a pick-up line that not only caught me by surprise, but really got my attention! He said "if you ever need any work done, I work at Welburn Buick".

When the light changed, he entered a turn-around and headed north. Still a little stunned from what just happened, I thought to myself "WOW! He seems like a nice guy". Then I thought "what am I doing! I need to find that guy!" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif I turned around at the very next turn-around and headed north, looking for him as I drove. Just when I was about to give up, I passed by a bunch of cars, and there he was stopped at the light. I pulled up next to him and we began talking. He invited me back to his house (just off Gratiot) where we dropped off my car and went back out in his. We ended up driving around and talking (really!) until about 3 am. We found out that we had a lot in common, especially our love of cars. He asked for my phone number, but also let me know that he would be home working on his car that weekend if I wanted to stop by. So that Sunday, I took the T-tops off and headed out to Gratiot to see if I could find his house. I did, and he was in the garage. He was in the engine compartment (literally) of his ’62 Catalina. He had the motor out of it at the time. We chatted for a while, and went out to lunch.

We began dating after that, and were married a year and a half later at his church, which just happened to be on Gratiot. When the pastor mentioned (much to our surprise) that we met "on Gratiot as we passed each other" during our ceremony, everyone chuckled. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif We left the church and cruised Gratiot in a 1960 Cadillac Limo followed by a procession of classic Pontiacs.

In 1999, we opened an automotive collectible store on Gratiot just south of 14 Mile, almost exactly where I first saw Bill’s face. When I was writing out the deposit check to the landlord, I realized it was Valentine’s Day, and exactly 10 years ago when Bill asked me to marry him while out cruising Gratiot. That’s right, we met, got engaged, got married and opened a store all on the SAME street!

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg133/carcrazyqt/0b5b905f.jpg


Some side notes…

GRATIOT (pronounced "gra-sh*t" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif) is a cruise strip similar to Woodward.

Bill bought me a diamond pendant one week after we met. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

The letters in the word "GRATIOT" can be unscrambled to spell "GTO" & "RITA"

After all these years, I realize my instincts were right that night, Bill is a "nice guy". http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[Charley Lillard]

getting way to mushy here......

[ORIGLS6]

[ QUOTE ]
That’s right, we met, got engaged, got married and opened a store all on the SAME street!

[/ QUOTE ]

You need to get out more Rita. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[MrsBillyBobcat]

[ QUOTE ]
getting way to mushy here......

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Would you like me to tell you about some of the other "invitations" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif that I got while driving that car? (the ones I did not accept http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif) http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[mockingbird812]

Good stuff Rita. Don't pay no never mind to those other lugs. They're too proud to admit they like the mushy stuff http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif . I do.


Thanks! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[MrsBillyBobcat]

Thanks Sam! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I can hear Bill now... "did ya have to post that mush shot?" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif


Here's a couple pics you guys will appreciate more:

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg133/carcrazyqt/6389d0bc.jpg

Silly Billy just before the wedding


http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg133/carcrazyqt/47170b94.jpg

The procession cars

[JoeG]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
That’s right, we met, got engaged, got married and opened a store all on the SAME street!

[/ QUOTE ]

I think I saw this scene in "The Truman Show" with Jim Carey....... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif......Just funin'...You guys enjoy your day...

[njsteve]

At least someone has fond memories of tax day! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

Great story. Congrats on the anniversary! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Motion Camaro]

<font color="blue">Beautiful story.
Exactly opposite of how my wife &amp; I got together. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif </font>

[CC Rider]

I thought it was a cool story! Thanks for sharing. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

The pics were real cool too.

[m22mike]

He said "if you ever need any work done, I work at Welburn Buick"..... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

Very cool story Rita, thanks for sharing. Sam is correct, not to mushy.
So...what about those other offers... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

Mike http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Xplantdad]

Great story Rita! Awesome pics as well... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[SS427]

[ QUOTE ]
.......I pulled up next to him and we began talking. He invited me back to his house........

[/ QUOTE ]

That was his second pick up line of the night but it obviously worked. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Great story Rita and congrats on the anniversary of the meeting of your husband. May there be many, many more! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[KMOTION]

Hey Rita,

I still have pictures from your wedding reception with Billy dancing with a Tiger Tail attached to his Tux. Yes, it was my fault, I brought the tail! Lots of memories! Thanks for sharing how you guys got together, don't think I ever heard the story.

By the way, We have our airline tickets for the Dream Cruise this year, finally! We're planning on stopping and seeing you guys earlier in the week.

Take care... 66GTO Jim and Lory

[gb70]

Great story with a happy ending!

[markjohnson]

That's a very nice story and thank you for taking the time to share it. I really enjoyed reading it. I wish a quality, un-selfish woman would follow and chase me down! They say 90% of the happiness in your life is based upon the person you choose to spend your life with. I'm more envious of the relationship you and your husband share with each other than ANY car on this great site. I'll tell 'ya......you can have the most awesome car or car collection in the world......but if you don't have anybody to SHARE these things with......then they don't mean anything!

[gb70]

[ QUOTE ]
That's a very nice story and thank you for taking the time to share it. I really enjoyed reading it. I wish a quality, un-selfish woman would follow and chase me down! They say 90% of the happiness in your life is based upon the person you choose to spend your life with. I'm more envious of the relationship you and your husband share with each other than ANY car on this great site. I'll tell 'ya......you can have the most awesome car or car collection in the world......but if you don't have anybody to SHARE these things with......then they don't mean anything!

[/ QUOTE ]


So true! So true!

[kwhizz]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

Ken http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[bowtielover]

Nice story!
I guess I`m lucky, my better half is into cars also! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[csx289]

Great story, Rita. If Charley keeps busting your chops I'll post the story of how I met him http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The Judge "Silly Billy" is under the hood of is still one of my favorites, I shoulda never sold that one!

So, the big question, is Bill allowed out cruising alone or do you have to chaperone knowing his m.o ? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Colin

[MrsBillyBobcat]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey Rita,

I still have pictures from your wedding reception with Billy dancing with a Tiger Tail attached to his Tux. Yes, it was my fault, I brought the tail! Lots of memories! Thanks for sharing how you guys got together, don't think I ever heard the story.

By the way, We have our airline tickets for the Dream Cruise this year, finally! We're planning on stopping and seeing you guys earlier in the week.

Take care... 66GTO Jim and Lory

[/ QUOTE ]

Jim &amp; Lory,

WOW! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif What a surprise! When I wrote this last night, I would have never envisioned someone who was at our wedding would be reading it. I didn't know you were the one who brought the tail. Thanks! That was funny watching Bill dance with it on! I also didn't realize that you never knew how we met, but then again, most of my family didn't know either until they read about it in the newspaper. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Looking forward to seeing you both this summer! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Schonyenko2]

Very cool story Rita. Now aren't you glad you weren't drivin a VW bug. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[SS427]

[ QUOTE ]
Great story, Rita. If Charley keeps busting your chops I'll post the story of how I met him http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Colin

[/ QUOTE ]

I sure hope your story is a lot different than Rita's!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[csx289]

Actually, it is eerily similar - except Charley was driving an Isetta and asked if I had a tow strap. And, I didn't take him up on the invitation to his house to "look at car magazines." Hey, he was wearing velcro shoes, a bad sign if you ask me. I hear he later met Gags on the same stretch of road
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Bill Pritchard]

Great story, Rita.....thanks for posting!

[Dog427435]

[b]No one can say car guy's aren't romantic!!


Great story Rita!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

(Lets keep Charlie's stories on the QT!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif)

[mssl72]

Sniff... there just... sniff... aren't enough tissues... sniff... in the house! I need a hug.

[Roof]

Rita, I loved this story and the pics are great! There were cars involved in the story of how Earl and I met also- a 67 and a 69 Chevelle to be exact. Linda

[x Baldwin Motion]

[ QUOTE ]
Actually, it is eerily similar - except Charley was driving an Isetta and asked if I had a tow strap. And, I didn't take him up on the invitation to his house to "look at car magazines." Hey, he was wearing velcro shoes, a bad sign if you ask me. I hear he later met Gags on the same stretch of road
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I knew it !! Damn I knew it all the time!!! Those velcro shoes were a dead give a way! ( not that there's anything wrong with that!)

[KMOTION]

[ QUOTE ]
Jm &amp; Lory,

WOW! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif What a surprise! When I wrote this last night, I would have never envisioned someone who was at our wedding would be reading it. I didn't know you were the one who brought the tail. Thanks! That was funny watching Bill dance with it on! I also didn't realize that you never knew how we met, but then again, most of my family didn't know either until they read about it in the newspaper. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Looking forward to seeing you both this summer! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey Rita,

Great to hear from you. Responded to your PM. Pix will be sent as soon as I find them and get them scanned. Tell Billy we said HI and we can't wait till Dream Cruise week. Maybe you guys can take us cruising in your Convertible... Take care. Jim

[bruno17]

Great story Rita!! Congratulations to a wonderful couple