Byron & Charla - How It All Began
Byron and Charla both worked in the nonprofit field, Byron as a Senior Program Director for the East Bay Community Foundation and Charla worked for OCCUR, a small Oakland based nonprofit organization.
One fine day in November 2019, Byron came to the OCCUR office to meet with the Executive Director. The ED asked Charla to greet Byron at the door and escort him to the conference room while he prepared for their meeting.
When Charla arrived at the door, she looked at Byron and was instantly attracted to him!! She thought he was a handsome man with the most beautiful and warm smile she had ever seen.
Charla actually stood there for a few moments awkwardly introducing herself and vigorously shaking his hand as if she was thanking him for saving her life or something! Finally, Byron nicely but deliberately withdrew his hand and said, "Hi. Can I come in?" True his reaction was not the thunderbolt she experienced, but at least he didn't leave on some pretense, so that was good.
Charla escorted Byron to the conference room and asked him several times if he would like a cup of water, coffee, pastries or assorted teas (which by the way she didn't have any of those things onsite) Byron smiled and very politely thanked her, but declined. This was of course great! She had only had water, but no cups anyway. It was just Charla's feeble attempt to gain Byron's interest, but his thoughts were clearly elsewhere and on business.
Charla went back into her office and asked her co-worker, Davina to make an excuse to go check Byron out and tell her what she thought him. Davina stepped out of the office and then returned. She said "He looked at me and smiled", "He has a really nice smile and a nice face. You should go for it!"
Charla had heard of Byron over the years as he was well known as a funder, but never saw pictures of him or learned much about him. She began to pace back and forth in her office trying to think of ways she could best connect with him again at least professionally, but the Executive Director always handled those type of interactions with funders. Just as she finally thought of one more reason to speak to him while he was still onsite, when she stepped out of her office, the ED was coming back and Byron was gone.
From time to time emails and event flyers circulated within the nonprofit community occasionally mentioning Byron but no opportunity presented itself for Charla to make contact. Afterall, at their first meeting, he didn't exactly do a back flip when he saw her. So a girl had to maintain some pride, right?!
After awhile Charla began to loose hope and interest and moved on with her life. Then COVID hit in early 2020 and all lives were turned upside down with homebound restrictions, virus fighting preparedness and countless victims struggling to get well. Nobody was trying to meet anyone new much less touch anybody.
In 2021, everyone began to learn more about COVID. Minimizing the infection occurrences began to appear more manageable with wearing masks and accepting the mandatory vaccines. Eventually, people started connecting with each other again. Most took to the internet to pre-meet other interested in various types of relationships.
Charla was one of those singles who joined Match.com in January 2021 in search of a special type of man she had asked God for many times in her life. She went on a few dates with various suitors and all were nice, but just not right for her.
Then the incredible happened on the evening of April 20th 2021, Charla received a notification from Match.com from a man who referred to himself as "BJ". She checked her account and saw the interest notification and associated pictures of BJ but, DIDN'T RECOGNIZE that this was the same man she met at work in 2019! Even as they looked over each other's pictures, neither of them realized that they had already met 2 years prior! Charla responded to the notification and they scheduled time to chat on the phone.
Their initial conversation was fun and light generally talking about their various interests and then BJ said his full name! Charla repeated his name two or three times and said "Wait! why do I know that name? Have we met before?" Byron said "I don't think so, what do you do?" Charla was hesitant at first because she didn't want a new suitor to know where she worked, but she had to figure out why his name was so familiar! So she gave in the information.
Now, these people are senior citizens, so cut them some slack! People after 60 years of living can't remember what happened last week, much less 2 years prior! Anyway...Byron and Charla soon realized that they had met each other back in 2019!
Charla was so excited at this crazy wild re-connection. They decided to have their first date on April 26th 2021 and went for a long walk through Chabot Park in Oakland. Charla thought it was a marvelous idea! When Byron came to pick her up she was looking fine too, just a knock out! Her hair was long and luxurious, outfit clinging to the curves, but not too tight. lightly perfumed and her makeup - flawless!
However, after walking those up-hill trails in what seemed like the hottest day of the century, Charla began to noticeably change. She was almost completely out of breath from walking uphill and trying to talk at the same time! Due to her perfuse sweating, her hair had drawn up about 5 inches shorter from when he came to pick her up, her makeup had completely melted off and the sweat mixed with her perfume was attracting insects!
Mr. Johnson, on the other hand was still completely composed exuding his cool and sweet manners. He never mentioned a word about Charla's obvious colossal transformation. He just continued a pleasant conversation while holding her moist hand. Wow! She wondered, "Doesn't he see I am not the same person who got in the car with him?!"
Then! She stopped for a moment and wiped the sweat from her eyelids and looked into his eyes as he spoke. She suddenly realized that Byron Johnson was the man for her and that their relationship was meant to be! After this, Byron told Charla she didn't have to wear makeup for him, or dress perfectly and that it was Okay to sweat--a little. He simply liked her just the way she was.
Hope you enjoyed beginning of this very true and funny love story! Stay tuned for our next chapter! If you've learned anything from this story, clearly we proved the best things in life are worth the wait.
One fine day in November 2019, Byron came to the OCCUR office to meet with the Executive Director. The ED asked Charla to greet Byron at the door and escort him to the conference room while he prepared for their meeting.
When Charla arrived at the door, she looked at Byron and was instantly attracted to him!! She thought he was a handsome man with the most beautiful and warm smile she had ever seen.
Charla actually stood there for a few moments awkwardly introducing herself and vigorously shaking his hand as if she was thanking him for saving her life or something! Finally, Byron nicely but deliberately withdrew his hand and said, "Hi. Can I come in?" True his reaction was not the thunderbolt she experienced, but at least he didn't leave on some pretense, so that was good.
Charla escorted Byron to the conference room and asked him several times if he would like a cup of water, coffee, pastries or assorted teas (which by the way she didn't have any of those things onsite) Byron smiled and very politely thanked her, but declined. This was of course great! She had only had water, but no cups anyway. It was just Charla's feeble attempt to gain Byron's interest, but his thoughts were clearly elsewhere and on business.
Charla went back into her office and asked her co-worker, Davina to make an excuse to go check Byron out and tell her what she thought him. Davina stepped out of the office and then returned. She said "He looked at me and smiled", "He has a really nice smile and a nice face. You should go for it!"
Charla had heard of Byron over the years as he was well known as a funder, but never saw pictures of him or learned much about him. She began to pace back and forth in her office trying to think of ways she could best connect with him again at least professionally, but the Executive Director always handled those type of interactions with funders. Just as she finally thought of one more reason to speak to him while he was still onsite, when she stepped out of her office, the ED was coming back and Byron was gone.
From time to time emails and event flyers circulated within the nonprofit community occasionally mentioning Byron but no opportunity presented itself for Charla to make contact. Afterall, at their first meeting, he didn't exactly do a back flip when he saw her. So a girl had to maintain some pride, right?!
After awhile Charla began to loose hope and interest and moved on with her life. Then COVID hit in early 2020 and all lives were turned upside down with homebound restrictions, virus fighting preparedness and countless victims struggling to get well. Nobody was trying to meet anyone new much less touch anybody.
In 2021, everyone began to learn more about COVID. Minimizing the infection occurrences began to appear more manageable with wearing masks and accepting the mandatory vaccines. Eventually, people started connecting with each other again. Most took to the internet to pre-meet other interested in various types of relationships.
Charla was one of those singles who joined Match.com in January 2021 in search of a special type of man she had asked God for many times in her life. She went on a few dates with various suitors and all were nice, but just not right for her.
Then the incredible happened on the evening of April 20th 2021, Charla received a notification from Match.com from a man who referred to himself as "BJ". She checked her account and saw the interest notification and associated pictures of BJ but, DIDN'T RECOGNIZE that this was the same man she met at work in 2019! Even as they looked over each other's pictures, neither of them realized that they had already met 2 years prior! Charla responded to the notification and they scheduled time to chat on the phone.
Their initial conversation was fun and light generally talking about their various interests and then BJ said his full name! Charla repeated his name two or three times and said "Wait! why do I know that name? Have we met before?" Byron said "I don't think so, what do you do?" Charla was hesitant at first because she didn't want a new suitor to know where she worked, but she had to figure out why his name was so familiar! So she gave in the information.
Now, these people are senior citizens, so cut them some slack! People after 60 years of living can't remember what happened last week, much less 2 years prior! Anyway...Byron and Charla soon realized that they had met each other back in 2019!
Charla was so excited at this crazy wild re-connection. They decided to have their first date on April 26th 2021 and went for a long walk through Chabot Park in Oakland. Charla thought it was a marvelous idea! When Byron came to pick her up she was looking fine too, just a knock out! Her hair was long and luxurious, outfit clinging to the curves, but not too tight. lightly perfumed and her makeup - flawless!
However, after walking those up-hill trails in what seemed like the hottest day of the century, Charla began to noticeably change. She was almost completely out of breath from walking uphill and trying to talk at the same time! Due to her perfuse sweating, her hair had drawn up about 5 inches shorter from when he came to pick her up, her makeup had completely melted off and the sweat mixed with her perfume was attracting insects!
Mr. Johnson, on the other hand was still completely composed exuding his cool and sweet manners. He never mentioned a word about Charla's obvious colossal transformation. He just continued a pleasant conversation while holding her moist hand. Wow! She wondered, "Doesn't he see I am not the same person who got in the car with him?!"
Then! She stopped for a moment and wiped the sweat from her eyelids and looked into his eyes as he spoke. She suddenly realized that Byron Johnson was the man for her and that their relationship was meant to be! After this, Byron told Charla she didn't have to wear makeup for him, or dress perfectly and that it was Okay to sweat--a little. He simply liked her just the way she was.
Hope you enjoyed beginning of this very true and funny love story! Stay tuned for our next chapter! If you've learned anything from this story, clearly we proved the best things in life are worth the wait.
