The Girl in the Hat
User Story
By Wayne Arthurson
Even though I was born in Edmonton and lived here for a few years as a kid, I grew up in Calgary. And though I dated a number of girls while living in Calgary, I never found "that girl, the soulmate," that everyone looks for and hopes to find. In late 1991, I got a job in Edmonton. My first thought (and one shared by many Calgarians if and when they have to move to Edmonton) was, "Okay, I'll move to Edmonton, but I'll only stay here a couple years at the most." However, within 6 weeks of arriving, my sister invited me to a party. The same night, my roommate invited me to a local bar (Fast Eddies) to meet his new girlfriend.
To fulfill my familial obligation I first went to my sister's. The party was boring. I made my excuses, and met my friend and his new girl. I barely noticed them because from across the room, I saw this beautiful woman who was wearing a fashionable hat, a rare sight in a place such as Fast Eddies. I knew I had to go up and talk to someone who wears hats in meat market bars, but I was a little shy.
However, my friend's new girl started up a conversation with this woman and I made my move. The girl in the hat and I danced a few times, had some laughs and I got her number. I was so smitten that instead of waiting the required 3 days to call her, I phoned her the next day. She was out. But she was so impressed that I called her so soon, she called back the day after. Our first date occurred New Year's Day 1992. It lasted 8 hours, 5 at the old Mama's Pizza on Whyte and the rest at the old Sweetwater Cafe on 109th. Two months later, I told her I loved her and she said she loved me. 5 months after that, we were engaged. It took only 6 weeks of living in Edmonton to find my soulmate. I still love Calgary but Edmonton is my home. It's where love lives, ‘cause this August we will celebrate our 16th anniversary.
