It Started on Newbury St.

So you want to know where the web site http://www.itstartedonnewbury.com came from?  Well, most people would not believe how we met. Fortunately, we have several people who actually witnessed what happened (and thus the origin of the web site name)!  Below is a quick version (one written by David and the other by Anna) for you to get the feel.  It’s a feeling that’s still lasting for us!

setting the stage

It was a beautiful sunny day on August 10th, 2006.  David was just sitting home and looking for something to do.  Fortunately, one of his best friends, (and cousin) Alex usually wasn’t very good at remembering his wife’s birthday. This led Tracey (his wife) to make plans with friends that night assuming Alex wouldn’t be there. (As it turned out, not only did he remember, but he tried to come home early)… Upon his arrival home, she was headed out, and he was left with nothing to do.  So Tracey suggested he call “Cousin Dave” and go have some fun.  And that’s how it began for David.

dave’s story!

Alex and Dave were having a great time eating and drinking at Charlie’s Bar outside on Newbury St.  They were fortunate enough to have been placed at the best seats in the house, right at the first table in front on the sidewalk… This strategic seating would prove invaluable…

A pretty girl named Kat Chen strolled across the street and walked right up to Alex and David.  What transpired is based on information gathered from all parties that witnessed the event… The most important person missing, however, was ANNA!

Kat: Hey, Are you single (looking at Dave)
Dave: (looking befuddled) What? (looks around stupefied) Who?  Me?
Kat:  Are you married?
Alex: Are you talking to Me or Him?
Kat:  (Points at DAVE) Him
Alex: Oh.
Kat: Well?
Dave: (still astounded at the events over the past 10 seconds) Ah, no… I’m not.  Married.  I’m single.. (clearly not a smooth talker...)
Kat: OK, well, my friend thinks you’re cute so you should give her a call.
Dave: Are you talking to me or him?
Kat: (clearly getting frustrated) You.  Listen, you should call her.
Dave: OK
Kat, Dave, Alex: (Awkward moment of silence on a busy Newbury St.)
Kat: Here’s her number
Dave: (finally starting to figure out what is going on here) Wait a second, I have a question.
Kat: What?
Dave:  Is she good looking?
Kat: Am I good looking?
Dave: Yes
Kat: Well then she’s good looking.
Dave: Good enough for me, what’s her number!

Dave and Alex then debate heavily over whether or not to call this mysterious girl.

Dave: Should I really call this girl?
Alex:  What do you have to lose?  Worst case scenario, you will have a great story to tell all of us.
Dave: I guess, but do you think she’s hot?
Alex:  I bet she is.
Dave: Hmmm....  OK.  I’ll call her.
Alex:  Remember to wait 3 days.  Or she’ll never call you back.
Dave:  3 days it is.

Needless to say, I didn’t listen to Alex and called the next day… The rest, as they say, is history....

anna’s story! (straight out of her diary)

August 10, 2006

Something pretty crazy happened tonight and if anything were to ever come of it, I’d think it was the most romantic story I had ever heard…

On my way to Newbury Street to meet up with Jessie for dinner at Sonsie, completely by chance, I ran into Kat while parking my car on Boylston.  Kat decided to accompany me to Sonsie so we could chat before she headed home to Marlborough Street. 

She was telling me a story I honestly don’t remember as we rounded the corner and proceeded up Newbury on the shady side.  Then I saw him.  He was sitting outside with another guy behind the iron fencing facing out towards the street at Charlie’s café drinking a beer. 

He was quite handsome-dark skinned with deep, dark eyes, thin but not skinny, fantastic smile.  He wore a pink Oxford shirt. 

Our conversation went something like this:
I interrupted Kat and blurted out, “Wow, that guy is really cute.”
She got irked that I wasn’t paying attention to her.  “You never pay attention to me.  Ok, well yeah, he is soooo your type.  Go talk to him.”

I was horrified by this idea and refused.  She made fun of me and because I wasn’t brave enough to approach him and we returned to our conversation and walked to Sonsie.  We got to Sonsie and I joined Jessie for dinner and Kat left to go home. 

About an hour into drinks and appetizers, I received a phone call from Kat.  It seems she was walking past Charlie’s when the same guys stopped her to ask if she was “with the girl in the brown skirt.” That was ME!  She talked to them for a short while and then decided to give “him” my phone number.  Amazing!  It must be fate!  Is it love at first sight?  Well, maybe I’m getting a little ahead of myself…