When I moved to Atlanta in 2004 I started working at one of the top retailers in the country, known to some as the Bulls-eye Boutique. About 3 months into my new job, our store went through a major remodel. A lot of the construction was being done overnight, which required additional personnel support from other stores in our district. At the start of my weekly closing shift, I was made aware that someone from the McDonough, GA store would be coming to work overnight and I would need to let that person into the store.

I worked my shift as usual, and right at closing I see a guy standing at the door smiling from ear to ear. After a long closing shift, my initial thought was, who is this happy  about working overnight.  Our interaction was minimal, I locked him in the store and left him to work his shift. That was the end of that interaction...... or so I thought. 

Maybe a month or two went by and I was told that someone would be transferring to our store to fill an open position in Assets protection. I was told his name was Dennis. I didn't put it together that he was the smiley face guy I had briefly met a few months back. 

Once "The new guy" started, I quickly learned that he was funny.. Of course, no one thought he was as funny as he believed himself to be. There weren't many relate-able co-workers at the store so it was good to have some comic relief during shifts. 

After a while, I started noticing that every time I was at work..... Dennis was at work... every time I had a closing shift... Dennis had a closing shift.... now, I don't claim to be the smartest person in the world.. but I'm pretty sure he was smitten.(FYI.. Dennis made his own schedule, so you be the judge) 

Although I am pretty sure he was in love with me back in 2005, he happily took on the role of being a great friend.  We became friends back then and he is still my friend today.  I always knew he was a good guy, but he really "stepped up" when I had surgery in 2013.  It wasn't because he came to visit me in the hospital, but he made sure that my parents were OK while I was in the hospital.. he made sure they had meals each day and he also kept my friends in the loop about my progress during and after surgery.  I really appreciated that and thought he may be worth keeping around (haha).