When a Girl Meets a Boy in a Bar

The rest is history

Returning after a week-long trip to New York City for Y2K, I was ready to get back to my routine. New Year’s Eve of 2000 was a night to remember and I was lucky enough to spend it with my best friend in NYC. But, we had a week of late-night partying, so I was exhausted.

I was back at work when I get a phone call from my friend Leslie.

“Michele, a bunch of us are going to Club Rubber tomorrow night down in Orange County. Do you want to come with us?”

Oh, the infamous Club Rubber. We’d all been talking about going for a while. You might be thinking, “Club Rubber? That just sounds atrocious.”

The reason they called it Club Rubber is because it was encouraged to wear the skimpiest, rubberiest pieces of clothing, even for the guys.

Think lots of spandex, lycra, and faux leather.

They brought Las Vegas to Costa Mesa, California. It was all the rage.

So, of course, I had to say yes. I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

A few of my friends and I got all gussied up to hit the town. Honestly, I can’t remember what I did end up wearing but I’m sure it wasn’t that scandalous. I was a wild girl, but dressing slutty wasn’t my jam.

We pile into Leslie’s car and head down the 405 freeway from LA to Orange County. 45 minutes later we arrived at the Galaxy Theatre, which was the home to Club Rubber during the late 90s and early 2000s.

We stand in the line that wraps around the building, giddy with excitement to actually see what it looks like inside. It was all a mystery besides a few pictures we caught glimpses of.

There were no smartphones yet!

Inside it was just like we imagined. It was a real club full of dancers, fog machines, and a lot of skin showing, even from the men! Most were shirtless. It was hot inside!

We danced and drank, made new friends as usual, and made trips to the bathroom in groups because that’s what girls do. What we were really doing was thinking we were enhancing the evening.

It started to feel claustrophobic in this small, sweaty club and a friend was paging us to come to meet them at a bar nearby.

We were antsy and ready to move on, and I can’t remember who drove us there, but I’m sure that was a bad decision. Back in those days, I never drove anywhere because I wanted to party harder than everyone else, of course!

By this time, I am pretty tipsy, happy, and obnoxious, but we all were. We went from Club Rubber to a tame little sports bar in the next town over.

We walked into the bar with the same mentality we had at the club, I think we made a scene and stood out.

I’m rolling my eyes at my younger self now.

What do we want to do when we get to a bar? Head right to get a drink, obviously. I flag down the bartender and order my drink, while I see this guy out of the corner of my eye at the end of the bar.

He’s cute, I think to myself.

Because I was such an extrovert when I drank, I grabbed my Long Island iced tea (you know I needed the strongest drink they serve), and I headed down to the end of the bar.

Alone, and full of liquid courage, I tap this cute man on the shoulder, and blurt out…

You’re cute!

He looks at me shocked.

Oh, so are you!

He turned to me, leaving out his two friends, and we talked for over an hour. Our life stories spilled out, and we began talking about our jobs.

I was infatuated with the fact that he was into Computer Science and worked in IT because I was dabbling in some programming during my free time.

I continued to get drunk and had to use the bathroom. I guess I wrote my number down for him and fluttered off to the bathroom. On the way, I got sidetracked by some friends and we spent an extra-long time talking in the bathroom.

When I went back to the bar, he was gone. I was so sad and upset, completely forgetting that I gave him my number.

Sulking all the way home and the buzz of the night finally wearing off, I accepted the fact that I would never see this guy again. The man of my dreams was gone in an instant.

A few days later, when I was hanging out on the computer, my dad comes in with the cordless phone and says, “There’s some guy with a deep voice asking for you.”

I pick up the phone, “Hello?”

Indeed his voice was so deep, “Hi, Michele? This is Mark.”

“Mark?” I was oblivious and that whole Club Rubber/bar night was fuzzy and I am really bad at remembering names. Hell, I could barely remember what he looked like!

“Remember we met at The Slaughter House the other night?”

“OMG, Mark!! How did you get my number?”

“Umm, you gave it to me!”

“Oh (laughing), oh yeah I am so glad you called. I never thought I would see you again!”

“Can I take you out this weekend?”

“I would love that. I do live kinda far from you.”

He explained that he didn’t care and that he would come to pick me up for dinner that Friday night. I gave him my address and was squealing with excitement when I hung up the phone. I ran and told my mom all about it.

I was very nervous, and went shopping and bought a new outfit for the big night. I had no idea where we were going or what we would do, but I just kept thinking that I didn’t even remember what he looked like!!

Please don’t be weird!

Thankfully, when I opened the front door, he was as cute as can be and boy was he tall. He is 6’2 and I was 5’4 at the time. I’ve already lost an inch in my old age now!

We had the best night, the conversation flowed, we made out for hours, and when he dropped me off, we both didn’t want to say goodnight. We already made plans for the following weekend, and I said I would drive down to see him.

I came into the house and exclaimed to my mom and dad, “I am going to marry him!”

And, 3 years later, I did!

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Thanks for reading!

Much love, Michele