How I Found a Husband

Moving to Kansas for a new job meant new adventures to be had. I moved here to work for Alef’s Harley-Davidson as a Chrome Consultant. Motorcycles were my passion and life, and I would get out to ride any chance I had. I had been here three weeks; my only friends were my coworkers. We usually had a Wednesday night ride to Cy’s Hoof and Horn restaurant for half-priced burgers and then on the weekends we would get together at someone’s house, or go to the local Wichita Wranglers baseball game. While I enjoyed the company of my coworkers, I was ready to meet some new people outside of work. I sat in my apartment one day, contemplating what I should do, and how I should meet someone new.

It was 2006, and Myspace was the current popular social media tool. I was casually searching through profiles of people local to me. I knew I specifically wanted to meet someone that also rode a motorcycle so we would have that in common. I also wanted to learn the roads better and find some good areas to ride. GPS on a cell phone was non-existent and a car GPS wouldn’t exactly plug into my Harley. I did not want to go out riding on my own and find myself in the middle of wheat fields lost with no idea how to get home. So I found myself on the profile of this guy with a picture of him standing in front of a Yamaha R6. He looked respectable and friendly, and he had pictures of himself with his son, but said he was divorced. I really wasn’t interested in dating at all; I truly just wanted a friend. 

This was Trey's profile picture

I decided to send him a message and see if he responded. My message stated, “Hi, you don’t know me, but I’m new to the area and I ride a Sportster. I’m looking to meet someone who rides, who can show me the area and the roads. If you’re ever up to get together let me know. Don’t worry I promise I’m not a crazy stalker chick.” Looking back at that message, I am surprised he answered me. Stating that I was not crazy, kind of made me sound crazy, like I needed to reiterate the fact. He invited me out to the bar the next evening, since he was going out with some friends, but I already had plans with coworkers and could not go. So he invited me out to a ride on Sunday morning called Cassoday. I later learned this was a popular ride on the first Sunday of every month. That sounded good to me, so we made plans for him to call me Sunday morning and we would find a place to meet. I was pretty excited to finally get out of this apartment, go for a ride, and meet someone that I didn’t work with.

I was up bright and early Sunday morning. I did a light amount of makeup, not that it really mattered. Once we were riding, most of it would wear off. My standard riding look, was my hair parted down the middle, and then braided on each side, and a bandana on the top of my head. Anything to avoid brushing out major knots later. I grabbed a pair of jeans, a tee shirt, my favorite O’Neil hoody, and my Harley Boots. I hung out and waited for a phone call, only that call didn’t come. I waited, and waited, and waited a little more. I felt like I was back in high school waiting for a boy to call on a Friday night. The wait was killing me. By about noon, I decided I was tired of waiting on a call, I was a big girl and I could call a guy. I mean I had already made the first move by messaging him, so why not call. At this point though, I was pretty sure I was being stood up. I picked up the phone and dialed. The phone rang and rang, I know it was only a few seconds, but it felt like eternity. To my relief, he finally answered, and as it turned out he was still sleeping. Once I later got to know Trey I was shocked that he even invited me to go to Cassoday. He worked second shift, and waking up before 11:00am, was not something he would normally do. He invited me down to his place to meet up, and then to go riding from there. His friend Art was also coming down, he figured that it would be easiest for me to find his house if I first met up with Art and followed him.

Taken in FL almost two years before I met Trey

He gave me Art’s phone number and said to call him and arrange a place to meet. I remotely remember the conversation that followed, it was one of the oddest conversations that I have ever had. 

Art: Hello

Me: Hi, you don’t know me, but Trey Riley gave me your phone number and told me to call you. (Silence followed that statement) I’m supposed to meet up with you and follow you down to Trey’s.

Art: (There was a long pause) Okay, sure. Do you know where …… is?

Me: Nope

Art: Do you know where …… is?

Me: Nope, I know where Alef’s Harley-Davidson is and that is about it. 

Art: Oh okay, perfect. I work across the street from there. So lets just meet there in 30 minutes.
I hung up the phone and wondered, “Did I really just call some random person to meet up with them?“

Art and I 2007 - He is still a great family friend and known as Uncle Art to my son. 

Was I insane going to meet complete strangers? Perhaps. I kept telling myself that I was on my own bike and I could get away to safety if anything happened or if they turned out to be crazy. I met up with Art at Alef’s and was very happy to see that he at least looked normal and didn’t appear to be a psycho. We headed down to Trey’s. Only it turned out we weren’t going to Trey’s like I thought. We were meeting at his grandmother’s house.

I walked in behind Art and quickly discovered a house full of people. Not only did I meet Trey for the first time, I met his grandmother and grandfather, his son (who was 9 at the time), his brother, his brother’s girlfriend, her sister and her mom, and some of his brother’s friends. It was a little overwhelming. I just kept telling myself, friends and riding, or boredom at my apartment alone. And I couldn’t exactly leave now. That would just be really weird.

Trey, Art, and I headed out on a long afternoon ride, me on my little 883 Sportster, Trey on his Yamaha R6 and Art on a Ducati Sport 1000. I was definitely a little out of place, but I really didn’t mind. I was finally getting to see more Kansas. We took some long back roads through Derby, Udall, and Winfield. I remember for the first time really getting a look at where I lived now. It was certainly a change of scenery from Louisiana. Flat roads, wheat fields, and the colors already beginning to show signs of fall were all around me. I was excited for the new start in life and discovering where I lived. Riding for me was like meditation. I would zone out and just ride, soaking in the air and sun, but not thinking about a thing. Today for the most part was not any different, although every now and then, I would find myself smiling at my situation. I did not know many people who would have had the guts to find a random person on the Internet to make friends with. Art would often times take off ahead since his bike had quite a bit more power. But Trey always stayed just ahead of me, making sure that I didn’t get left behind. It was the little gestures like this, which showed me what a gentleman he could be.

After a good afternoon of riding, we headed back to his grandmother’s, where his brother was grilling hamburgers. I got a chance to start to get to know everyone else too. Being a Military Brat growing up, meant that meeting new people and jumping into a conversation with strangers was pretty easy for me. Everyone else just immediately begin treating me like family too. It was if I had always been there. Trey and I ate and got a chance to talk and get to know each other some. I kept telling myself that I was not looking for a boyfriend. I had recently got out of a relationship and I really only wanted a friend, I surely didn’t need to complicate life with a boyfriend. But the more I talked to Trey, the more I realized I really liked him and would want to get to know him even more.

We followed up dinner with a trip into town to go to the movies with everyone. I’ll always remember Talladega Nights as being a movie that holds some sentimental value. We sat there watching the movie with quite a few of his friends. I decided that whatever happened after this day, I would just roll with it. I had made the first move, if I got a friend out this, or something more, I would be happy either way. The armrest sat between us, and every now and then his hand would accidently brush across mine. I couldn’t help but to smile and think that perhaps this would be something more. All too soon it seemed, the movie ended and we stood in the parking lot talking as all of his friends headed home. By the time everyone left except Trey, I noticed that I had no idea where I was and how to get home. I was really looking forward to learning my way around this town and no longer feeling lost. I told Trey where I lived, and thankfully he knew how to get me back there. So he led the way and I followed. Smiling while riding a motorcycle is not a good idea, unless you like bugs in your teeth. But I was smiling on the inside the whole way. Once back home we hung out for a little while longer and talked. It was probably close to 1am before he left, but not before making plans to get breakfast in the morning. He rode off, and I went to bed. I lay there thinking; I knew I needed to get some sleep since I had a breakfast date, but my mind would not shut off. It was going 100 mph. The one thought that kept coming back over and over, was “Is he the one.” I am not sure how long I was awake, but at some point I finally dozed off to sleep, and as the saying goes: “The rest is history.”

A favorite from our wedding 8-09-08