March 12, 1995

16 years ago I went on a spring break missions trip to Mexico with a group from Northwestern my freshman year of college.  At the last minute this other freshman student decided to go on the trip as well (I will call this other student Jerry to protect his innocence.)  I had seen Jerry around campus here and there but didn't know him;  I think I had met him in front of 'Riley' with my roommate one time.  Anyway, so our team was working at an orphanage in Mexico for the week.  I remember this guy Jerry was pretty crazy;  I distinctly remember him driving his wheelbarrow full of rocks pretty crazily and it was always tipping.  On Wednesday of that week a bunch of us were playing cards after dinner which we often did.  At some point everyone decided to go to bed except Jerry and I.  I got to know him a little that night, then we went to bed as well.  The next morning another girl on our missions trip came up to me and said, "I had the strangest dream about you last night.  I dreamed that you were in love with someone on this trip!"  We laughed and joked about what an odd dream that was.

A week later I saw Jerry in the bookstore at Northwestern and we chatted for a few minutes, something about needing to pick up our pictures from the trip (back then you actually had to take film in to get it "developed.")  We started hanging out a little, playing cards (speed) in the end lounges of the dorm.  On March 12 I got a phone call on a Sunday afternoon that went something like this, "Do you want to go to dinner tonight?  Can you drive?"  :)  I then proceeded to take a Sunday nap (which my roommate always gave me a hard time about.)  That night I drove Jerry and I in my Mercury Topaz to Chili's in Roseville where we had our first date.  He couldn't believe that I ordered Chicken Caesar Salad without the Caesar (I don't like salad dressings.)  We talked that night and were amazed at how much we had in common (couldn't have been farther from the truth.)  We were falling in love . . . 

Fast forward 16 years.  Married for almost 11 years, 2 kids, house in the suburbs.  And hubby (ok, so his real name is Jeremy) was just awarded the American Family Agent of the Month for the Twin Cities.  So proud of you, honey!

FEBRUARY AGENT OF THE MONTH

JEREMY BRANDT

DISTRICT 073

2,025 ALL AMERICAN POINTS

And Chili's is still one of our favorite restaurants.  :)