They Met When Her Boss Chews Him Out
How did Cathy and Howard meet?
It was July of 2007. They met at the test kitchen at McDonald’s in Oak Brook.
The topic of the meeting was for Cathy’s boss, Dorothy, to yell at Howard and the VP of Operations at Tyson Chicken regarding the development of Chicken Selects for McDonald’s.
The two men — Howard and his boss — fly from Arkansas to Oak Brook on one day’s notice. It’s 90 minutes — 130 miles — just to get to the airport in Arkansas.
They get to the meeting. Cathy is there, on time. Dorothy is not.
Cathy feels like she looks “crappy” in a lab coat — she had been measuring and weighing Chicken Selects all day. Howard had just gotten back from a cross-country motorcycle trip — he has a beard and Tyson khaki’s. HER 1st impression — she thought he worked at Jiffy Lube. HIS 1st impression — thought she looked fantastic.
As she takes Howard and his boss down to the conference room, she tells them that Dorothy will not be there — she hurt her back. So, Howard and his boss get chewed out via SPEAKERPHONE. And for that, they flew into Chicago.
Cathy says to Howard, “It’s like I’ve met you before. He responds, “Hmmmmpf.” He just wants to hop an airplane and get home.
2 weeks later, they meet “at a place called Hope” — Hope, Arkansas. It’s July. It’s hot — 115 degrees. Dorothy drags Cathy there. Howard comes in late. She ignores him.
2 months later. He waves up to her from the lobby. SHE says she did not see him — she IS on the 3rd floor. HE thinks she is ignoring him. He shares a choice word about her to a colleague.
A month later. It’s Nugget Certification. They both eat — well, chew and spit — 40 nuggets for 2 days. It’s “disgusting”. He comes in after everyone else is seated.
The woman running the show makes him sit in front — at the same table as Cathy.
These two interact — they have similar palates, tasting things the same way.
Cathy asks Howard, “So, what are you doing this evening?” He says, “We’re going for cocktails at our hotel — because it’s free.” He thinks she is inviting herself. He makes it official by asking her. Although she was NOT a guest at the hotel — she drank for free. He asks if she wants to go to dinner. She suggests they go to Baisai Thai. She is full — from those 40 nuggets.
The next day, she joins them for free cocktails, again. They go for sushi — no chicken — with 8 others. Dinner is free for her — Howard expenses it. She has never laughed so hard in her life. They find out they have a lot in common. The evening ends — with an exchange of phone numbers.
For months, they talk — on the phone and at meetings.
New Year’s Eve 2008 (into 2009). They are at his apartment across the river from New York City They have their first kiss. They’ve been dating ever since.
How did Howard propose to Cathy?
She knows it’s coming — they had looked at rings — but not when.
He tells her he has never been to Sears Tower. “I don’t want to go downtown,” she says. “Too bad, I want to go to Sears Tower.” They get there. He finds out it costs $15 to go up to the observation deck. He hesitates. “How much?! For an elevator ride?!” He is mad he has to pay for parking. Cathy says, “Just give them the money.”
He takes a long time to figure out where to propose. He is nervous. She does NOT notice. It is kind of foggy.
Eventually, he gets down on one knee. “Get up!”, she says. “What are you doing?” She thinks he dropped something. He has the ring in his hand — hidden. “You make me the happiest man in the world.” His voice is quivering.“Will you marry me?” She says “Yes.” THEN, he opens up his hand, shows her the ring and puts on her. That he had a ring — and such a nice one — was a surprise to her, considering his earlier comments about parking and the ‘elevator ride’.
Rev. Phil told this story to the couple’s guests at their wedding at Grotto’s in Oak Brook. Dorothy, the boss, was there. All the guests, including her, roared with laughter. The reception was at Grotto’s, too. The food was very good, the service even better.
Tags: Chicken Select, cost of parking, McDonald's, Sears Tower, Tyson
Stories About Couples | Rev. Phil Landers | 
October 30, 2009 7:41 AM
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By Ronak, November 25, 2009 @ 6:27 AM
That’s really very yummy . . . .