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named Joe that she thought I should meet. I just was never interested in being set up on
yet another blind date. At this time Joe was a roommate to the soon to be married Steve
Vacchieri.
Our paths have crossed on several occasions but our timing was always off. For instance
as Joe was off camping for the weekend I was a fast a sleep in his bed. As he was coming
home to his comfy bed I was just leaving.
Then came the day when I was able to attend the annual Cache Creek Rafting trip. I
packed up my younger sister Lesley and met up with Steve and Raymond for the long
four hour trip to Cache Creek. It must have been two or three in the morning when we
arrived. We quickly put up our tent (well as quick as you can at two in the morning).
Crawled in as quickly fell asleep.
The day light arrived faster than I would have liked. I knew that Joe would be there and I
wanted to play it cool. This was not going to be a set up, as far as I was concerned. I said
good morning to all and was introduced to Joe and his friend Chris (aka Swinger). It was
all over when Joe looked up at me over his sun glasses. All he had to do was reel me in.
Soon we were all traveling down Cache creek on a raft eagerly looking for “The Mother
Rapid”. Along the way there were several stops to eat, rest, play as well as the passing of
several “adult beverages”. Soon after a whole day of playing in the sun and water it was
time to go back to camp. We were all so exhausted but somehow we found the energy to
throw the football around. It was our time to get to know each other better. I was enjoying
the casual conversation when the dinner bell rang. Now I was forced into sharing his time
with the group. As the night progressed on we were all sitting around the camp fire. I was
dying to find a way to have our one on one time again. I looked around and noticed that
my sister was no where in site. And it was REAL dark. I needed to check on Lesley, I
needed to see what she was up to. Hmmm I needed a protector from what ever goes
bump in the night. I remember looking over and innocently mentioned my predicament to
Joe. Unbeknownst to me he knew what my plan was. He saw right through me. He took my
hand in his with a flashlight in the other. We went on our quest to find my seventeen year
old sister. I was hooked.
Well we quickly found Lesley and made our way back to camp. Most other campers were
happily toasted, Swinger being no exception. He started serenading us with the sweet
melody of the “Spooning Sonata”. It was wonderful as well as a bit embarrassing.
The next morning as we were packing up my very best friend Barbara thought that maybe
it would be best if Joe drive me back to the original rendezvous location. It was a great
drive home but what a way to be put on the spot. My humiliation didn’t stop there. When
we got back to the car my oh so graceful younger sister didn’t wait for the important
question, “ Can I get your phone number?” No Lesley when ahead and asked Joe if he
wanted my phone number. It was quite the weekend. Very memorable. It took him four
days to finally call me to ask me out. It was a long four days!
.
