Not what you'd expect.

I don't like valentines day very much for obvious reasons, so I'm posting this account of something that happened to me a couple of weeks ago, because it brings a smile to my face everytime I think about it. Enjoy:



Ok, so it’s a Friday, and I have taken the day off from work to volunteer for the annual Make-A-Wish radiothon. Since I don’t have to be at Sam’s gas station until 11:50, I sleep until 8:30 or so, then get a weather report from my Dad before I get dressed. It has been raining but it is supposed to clear up and be a sunny 60 degrees, so I put on a long-sleeved t-shirt, another t-shirt, and a hoodie before I head to Sam’s thinking I’d rather be hot than cold this time of year.

Well, when I get out to the van, I notice it is colder than I thought, but no matter, it’s supposed to clear up. Pulling up to the check-in site, I see the volunteers who have all been there a while are shivering and pulling their jackets around tighter. My Dad offers to give me his coat before he lets me out, but I’m having none of that. In case ya haven’t noticed, I’m a tough girl. With determination (and I think looking back, a lack of good sense) I check in, getting my bucket for donations and motoring towards the gas pumps trying to ignore that cold breeze.

This is the first time I’ve volunteered for an event like this, so I’m a little nervous, but I see some friendly faces at the first row of pumps, so that’s where I decide to work. Besides 2 ladies from St. Vincent’s, I am greeted by a local celebrity whom I will refer to as DB (if you email me, I’ll tell you who this really is - some of you already know - but I’m trying to consider his privacy here – is that silly?). DB introduces himself, asks my name, shakes my hand, chats with me and the girls a while, and walks on to the next row of pumps, leaving us to do the job we’re here for; collecting donations for MAW. Man, is it cold. It can’t be more than 45 and that wind is harsh, but I’m trying to block that from my mind and approach all the vehicles I can, and soon my bucket starts to fill.

Here comes DB again. “Aren’t you cold?” he says. Me, “naw, I’m good.” “How ‘bout if I move my car up here so it’ll at least block you from the wind?” He insists, and at this point, I’m glad for the relief. The car is moved and it really does help. DB smiles as he walks by again, obviously glad to have helped, and I say thanks again. Now I’m sitting beside DB’s blazer until I see another car approach, then I do my duty, and return to my spot behind the car only after I’ve gotten more for my bucket.

I’ve been here an hour now, and it is really cold, and what doesn’t help is that the other 2 volunteer’s shifts are over so I’m working this row alone, so there is nothing to distract me from my numb fingers. Oh wait, here comes DB. He really is turning out to be a nice guy. First, he wants to know where I went to school and where I work, what I do, and after learning I’m a graphic artist he then tells me that he has something to show me, and goes into his Blazer and pulls out a business card that he designed and won an ADDY for. OK, I’m impressed. I know Art Directors who would sell their first born for an ADDY, yet DB doesn’t seem to be bragging, just proud. He gives me the card and says he wants to see some of my work sometime so I should email him, then he says, “you really look cold” and proceeds to take his jacket off and put it around my shoulders, all the while I’m insisting I’m fine (LIAR!) and he offers to wrap a red sweater he has in the infamous Blazer around my legs, but I have to draw the line here, though I can tell he’s disappointed. Did I mention DB is really handsome?

New volunteer’s arrive (though not at my station) and DB is off to greet them, and I continue to fill my bucket which has more than $60 already. DB’s jacket starts to fall from my shoulders, and the next time he approaches he asks if I did that on purpose or if it was falling, and quickly wraps it around me tightly when I answer. This time we have a nice conversation about my siblings, advances in technology and medicine and how they have helped me and my brother in respect to MD, movies, theaters, popcorn… it’s just so hard to believe this handsome, jock, celebrity is talking to me!

At about 2:30, I ask DB what time it is, and after telling me, he wants to know how long I’m here for, but doesn’t like my answer. “You are not staying until 4:00” he says, “you’re too cold!” He then asks if I am going to call and ask my dad to pick me up early, or if he is. I say I will, but ask him to help me get my phone (I couldn’t get to my phone because of the tightly wrapped jacket and frozen fingers), to which he says, “can I call?” and I can tell by the twinkle in his eye that he will enjoy calling so I give him my number, and this is what I hear on my end, “ Mrs. Vaughn, you don’t know me, but I’m here with your daughter, and she is beautiful, and sharp, and intelligent, and really cold. I don’t think she knew it was this cold out, ‘cause she didn’t dress appropriately, and I gave her my jacket, but I’m running out of clothes to give her, so could you send your husband to come get her? I’ve enjoyed talking to her and you’ve raised her well, but it’s just too cold for her…” UNBELIEVABLE.

So now we’re chatting and my dad pulls up, and off DB goes toward my dad with hand out stretched, saying what a trooper I am, and as I follow, he offers to let me keep the jacket, but I say no thanks, and he says to email him some samples sometime.



It was just so nice to have a little positive single male attention for once, and DB was SO nice and considerate that I smiled all weekend. In addition, I did email him the samples, along with a thank you for his kindness, and he was just as nice in his reply (a FULL PAGE) and gave me his phone number and said I should call him next time I’m dining in his area!

Of course I will probably never cross paths with DB again, but what fun it has been to think about those conversations we had that day!