If you know me (Celina), you know I LOVE our meeting story and you have probably been the recipient of my telling of it. But if you needed a refresher or just haven't been lucky enough to hear it yet. Here you go:

On September 20, 2014 I went on a tinder date. For those that haven’t had to experience dating in the last decade- tinder is an app on your phone that can find you people to date.

It’s pretty terrible but an ego boost when you’re feeling lowly enough for a phone dating app.

I knew when my date walked in it wasn’t a match. First of all, he lied about his height. Ya just don’t do that. Second, his face was a bit different than the all left-profile pics his tinder profile displayed. And, let’s be honest, a key point in dating is the mutual adoration of each other’s faces.

Oh, well. I’m all about making new friends so I was down for dinner and drinks and conversation.

We ended up at a bar in Montrose. Poison Girl. (A tiny, blink-and-you'll-miss it, hole in the wall and if you live in Houston, haven't been, and dig dive bars, well, this is your sign.) I had been there before but since I lived in the ‘burbs it wasn’t somewhere I frequented. At some point the bartender flipped the lights up and said, “Anyone want a dying kitten?”

What?

So I said, “Well, how “dying” is it?” To which she replied, “Well, it isn’t dead yet but it will be if nobody takes it.”

So, with that, I thought if I didn’t keep it, my crazy cat lady mother would and raised my hand.

I see this guy walking around the bar to me. He’s holding a box and by the time he made it around to me I thought to myself, “Oh, he’s cute.”

He presented the box o’kitten and we got to talking about where the heck he got this tiny baby. He told me about being at work that night (he was bartending), walking across the street to get smokes, and hearing faint mews. He asked the convenience store clerk about the noise and the guy replied that he’s been hearing it for a couple weeks but didn’t know where it was coming from. The guy continued to tell me that he and another couple started to look for the origination of the mews. They eventually found the litter of kittens in an A/C vent. After trying to rescue them all, they could only get to two kittens. He told me he went back to work and thought that was that.

He ended up back over to the store and the couple had taken one kitten while the other kitten sat on top of a cooler. He knew that wasn’t the way so he took kitty home.

He got home and realized it was 10pm on a Saturday and what the heck was he gonna do with this kitten? To the bar he went. (At the time, Sebastian lived in walking distance to Poison Girl and would frequently nightcap.)

He offered to pay for vet bills and expenses and I told him, “Oh, no, I’m taking over this kitty, it’s fine.” At first, I thought to myself, “I should Facebook request this guy to keep him updated on the kitty” but then quickly thought, “he doesn’t know me and doesn’t want to see pictures of my 8 year old every day.”

So, I asked for his number.

“Sebastian.” (So cute)

No intentions. Really. Just honestly wanting to update this guy on the kitty.

At some point, I went to the restroom. When I got back, my ‘date’ went to the restroom as well. Sebastian apologized for “ruining my tinder date.” I quickly reassured him that that was unnecessary. That the date was over before it started. He replied, “Well, if it doesn’t work out for you, I’ll take you on a date.”

*swoon*

I smiled. Probably even giggled. Pretty sure I gently smacked him on the shoulder and said, “Aw, well I do think you are pretty cute.”

Apparently, while I was in the restroom, Sebastian asked my date how long we’d been together so my date informed him that it was actually our first meeting.

We went our separate ways that night. My date was super jealous of Sebastian and was probably pretty irritated that my attention was a little on him and a lot on a baby kitten. (Oh, well)

I updated Sebastian periodically on the kitty. It was real trying to be a mama cat to a two week old needy thing. Eventually, that next Friday (we met on a Saturday), Sebastian and I were talking about the kitten when I just randomly asked what he did for a living.

We’ve been texting ever since.

He is my unicorn. He courted me and spoiled me and was so patient with me even though I “didn’t have time” for a boyfriend. He raised the dating bar so high.

That’s the gist of “our meeting story.” We’ve added on nearly ten more years, two more babies, a house, and looking forward to a lifetime of story to add.

I love "stories" and ours is my favorite. 🖤