Mike in the Philippines {on the left}
One night {October 24th, 2013 to be exact}, my bowling league team was in desperate need of a sub. We're just going to skip past the fact that I was an official member of a bowling team for over two years and that is the only "sport" I've ever played. Anyway, our team has had to look for subs before, but it had never been this difficult to find someone to fill in! Everyone had work, midterms to study for, dates, or just wasn't feeling good. SERIOUSLY?? DO PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTAND THE PURE BEAUTY OF THE SPORT THAT IS BOWLING?! I digress. Well, I had been denied by a friend for the 8th time that night via text when I decided to go on facebook. I am NEVER on facebook chat, but I decided to turn it on to try my hand at being denied through another form of technology.
Michael Gadberry had a little green dot next to his name. He was "online."
In all caps, I asked the unsuspecting boy to please please please come bowling with our team. I even used the hashtag "desperationtimez." Who am I?? Apparently he thought I was just pathetic enough and agreed to come play that night.
We had an awkward "nice to see you again" hug at the bowling alley to start out the evening. I later found out that Michael does not enjoy hugs or touch from just any old Joe. Oops. Regardless, we all had a pretty great time! He was quiet, yet funny and chill. I immediately was interested in him, whereas he thought, "Hmmm...Rachelle's a'ight." He texted me the next morning, teasing me about a Justin Bieber song I recommended {I <3 Mistletoe} and we were in constant communication via text and snapchat for the next three weeks.
On November 16th, I asked Michael to borrow his Sports Pass to get into a BYU basketball game. He agreed and I went to the game with one of my best friends, Lottie. For some reason, I decided it was a good idea to leave my sleepover with Lottie at 12:01am that night to return the pass to him. He came out of his apartment to retrieve it, and sat outside my car window talking to me for a few minutes. We live in Utah, so it was approximately -38 degrees outside, making this chat quite the sacrifice. He brought up our whole J. Biebs debate, and I told him he must not have listened to the right song. I offered to let him borrow my copy of J. Bieb's Christmas album {I honestly don't know why I have it, but I kind of love it!}, and he retorted that he wouldn't be caught dead with that in his possession. The only answer was to come inside my car and listen to it there. Smooth move, Michael Gadberry, smooth move.
After listening to JB, and agreeing to disagree about the singer, we continued to talk in my car til the wee hours of the night. Nothing but talking, and I loved every single minute of it. He left my car eventually, and I went back to my sleepover. Lottie can attest to how twitter-pated and giddy I was upon my return. I maybe got three hours of sleep that night because I simply kept replaying our long chat and wondering what might come of it.
I wish I could go back in time to tell little twenty-one year old Rachelle to close her eyes and get some sleep that night because there's no point in fantasizing about what might happen with Michael. What happens in reality, young Rachelle, is so so much better. Also. Know that you will become a huge cheese ball. Just go with it.
--
Moral of the story? Go bowling. It could change your life.
Note: I'm not standing next to my main squeeze for the sake of color coordination of the shirts.
I realize this looks like a topsy-turvy date, but it was from when we became bowling league champions last year.
Bow down to us.
