We grew up together... kinda

In 2nd grade, I became friends with Henry Hanke. A chubby, smart-mouthed, red-head who loved video games and pizza. Everyday after school I'd go over to his house to play Street Fighter and eat a ton of Golden Crust Pizza. Henry instantly became my best friend - his home was my 2nd home all throughout my childhood. As years passed, I would meet his entire family. Eventually meeting a "Baby Ann".

Today, I am 32 years old and Ann is 27. I'll let you do the math in terms of how old we were back then. Needless to say, we didn't really talk to each other as kids. We may have made eye contact with each other at a birthday party, but that's about it.

I made a coed soccer team.

In 2008, my friends and I were really into soccer for some reason.

"Man, we should put a team together!" says a buddy of mine.
"Hell yeah we should." I replied.

So I put together a team for a summer recreational league at a Chicago Park District. I should mention that I barely ever played soccer but that's not important. What's important is that I didn't have enough females to play for my team. I asked my fellow teammates to do some recruiting.

Henry mentions, "My cousin, Ann, can play." 
I haven't seen Ann since childhood.
"Yeah, bring her along." I say.

Ann and I meet again at the first soccer game.

I had a pre-birthday dinner with a bunch friends at La Scarola. I invited Ann, thinking she wouldn't come - but, I had a crush on her, so I figured, why not? 

Ann actually showed up. By herself (late of course). I thought it was so great that she showed up to a dinner full of strangers by herself... for me. I was sitting at one end of the table; I pulled up a chair next to her and had one of the best birthday dinners ever. At the end of dinner I walked her to her car while holding her hand (Yeah, I know, "awww" or "ew"). We talked for a while and made plans to hang out for my birthday the next day. She got in her car and drove away. I later realized that I didn't even say bye to my friends after dinner. I quickly called them and apologized.

"You like her, don't you." asked my friends. They were right.

The next day, the plan was to hang out with some friends. However, I actually didn't tell anybody about hanging out except Ann. See what I did there? Ann showed up to my house, and it was just her and I. The funny part of the story goes like this: I wanted to impress Ann by taking her for a ride on my motorcycle (cool guy, right?) but, when she showed up she was in a dress. Meaning she couldn't ride on my motorcycle. So we got in my car instead - a baby blue, Toyota Rav4. I went from cool guy to soccer mom, real quick.

I took her to Violet Hour in Wicker Park and we have our first date. The rest is history.