How We Met by Lucas Hickman

Lucas and Ali at Marc's "Bring Your Own Wig" Party in France May 2009 

In the instant gratification age of internet dating, match finding, social networking and speed dating, I met Alison the old school way.  I bought her a drink at the bar. 

There once was a place called Rififi in the East Village.  Once a month, it hosted a soul music dance party called Subway Soul.  The music was always good but the crowd was unpredictable.  It could be jam packed some nights with well dressed patrons shimmying across a talcum covered wood dance floor to the greatest hits the 60’s had to offer.  It could be a mix of young hipsters showing up to what they thought was a Brit-pop night and be pleasantly surprised by the music that was offered, or a bridge and tunnel crowd that heard that Rififi was the place to be. The night that I met Alison, it was none of the above. The place was dead.
 

I had been frequenting this monthly party for the last couple of years.  It was a good meeting place to start off or end the night depending on the vibe.  I met my friend Phil at Rififi and the place was oddly empty for a Saturday night.  After getting a drink and making rounds about the place looking for familiar faces, it was decided that we should wait a couple more minutes to see if anyone else shows then move on to a more happening venue. As we were BS-ing and passing time Phil tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Don’t look now, but there’s a cute blonde [her hair was blonde at the time] checking you out hard, son.”  I waited a couple of moments and nonchalantly stretched my neck, as guys do, to see what was over my shoulder.  I think I said, “Yeah she’s cute, but she’s probably waiting for someone.”  Phil responded, “Nah man, I think she’s been checking you out for a while.”   Another friend showed up and confirmed Phil’s observation.  While two of them pondered where to go next, I was getting up the nerve to go talk to her. 

Once I was left alone at the bar, I really had no choice.  I wasn’t going to stand there and talk to myself.  I might as well see who this young lady was.  I think the first thing I said was, “Hi, I’m Lucas.  You come to this night often?”  Pretty lame, I know, but I was a little out of practice.  I learned her name was Alison, she lived in Jersey, and her friend bailed on her that night so she drove in on her own and ended up at Rififi because she knew it was a good dance spot.  I bought her a Redstripe, talked for a while, and got her to leave with me and go to another bar to meet up with my friends.  The look on Phil’s face was priceless when we walked in together. 

Later that night, I escorted Alison back to her car - and good thing, since we witnessed a purse snatching on the way. I had mentioned that I was leaving for Europe in a couple of weeks and told her that I would love to see her again before I left.  I told her what a pleasure it was to meet her and asked for her number. [Actually, you said you’d “show me a good time.” haha ~ Alison] In any event, I think I waited the average 3 day grace period and called her for a date. 

We had sushi and talked about our lives.  Alison told me how wonderful Paris was and would email me things to do there.  We discussed how unfortunate it was to meet right before I left for Europe for 6 weeks.  We remained in contact via email throughout my trip and I called her for a date as soon as I got back.  For the last 6 years, Alison went from the “Jersey girl” to “girlfriend” to fiancé, and finally to wife on July 24^th.  I will always remember that fateful night when we met and the adventures we have shared together since then. I wouldn’t trade these experiences for the world.