Chad's Version

In January of 1995, a couple of friends and I decided to venture to up to a gay club called Za's in Green Bay, WI.  After recently coming out I felt it was time to get a taste of the "gay life."  After driving to parking near Za's and locking my car, I soon realized I had left my keys in the car.  We proceeded to Za's and asked to use the phone - it just so happened that the phone downstairs wasn't working.  They wouldn't allow me to use the phone upstairs because the bar was open, and I was only 18.  The bartender downstairs recommended I use a nearby payphone, so my friends and I proceeded to find it.  The only place nearby that appeared to have a phone was another bar.  We walked towards this bar and noticed the place was filled with men - only men.  Upon entering, I got a whistle, and realized it was another gay bar.  We used the phone and called trusty AAA.  We waited in front of the bar for the tow truck to arrive.  We had only been waiting for a short time before one of the bartenders approached us and mentioned that we couldn't stay because we were all under 21.  So back outdoors we headed, in the freezing Northern Wisconsin outdoors.  Mind you it was about -20 degrees with the wind chill, and my friend Wendy had left her coat in the locked car.  After standing outside for sometime, we were cold and needed to get warmth.  We decided we would look nearby, so that we wouldn't miss the tow truck.  The only alternative was  Adult bookstore next to the bar.  Finally, after what seemed like forever - the tow truck arrived, and the driver unlocked it.

Now we were finally ready to go back to Za's.  What a culture shock!  I was very intrigued by the interesting array of people - from hairy leather daddies (looking for young ones in the 'dry bar') to flamboyant queens, to jock and pretty boys.  Speaking of pretty boys - there was one dancing on the stage area of the dance floor.  Man was he a hottie!  He was the most attractive man I had seen.  Of course I was much too shy to introduce myself, for fear of rejection..  My friend Valerie prompted me several times to go up to the guy and introduce myself, but alas, I wouldn't.  Apparently she then took it upon herself to introduce the guy to me, because as soon as I walked off the dance floor, Valerie and this beautiful guy approached.  He said, "Hi Chad, I'm Andy."  We talked briefly, as my pulse was racing as I became more nervous.  Then, another guy approached me and said his friend was interested in me.  I didn't  think Andy was interested in me  (I figured because Valerie brought him to me), and I was overwhelmed with the surroundings.  So I decided to follow the other guy to meet his friend.  Regrettably, I walked away from Andy as he was also being distracted by one of his friends.

Over the course of the next few months, I became a Za's regular, going every Sunday.  I continued until it was time to go away to college.  Over this eight month period, I had dated a couple of guys with little to no success, ever in search to find Andy once again.  I moved to Milwaukee in late August to start school.   Of course during school - I never found anyone that I truly "clicked" with.

I came home for Christmas break that year.  Shortly after, in the beginning of January in 1996, my parents took our family on vacation to Florida.  We had a great time, but I really was looking forward to being back in Northern Wisconsin to go to Za's and catch up with friends I hadn't seen since going away to school.  When we returned, the first night we got back (a Sunday), I went to Za's with my friends.

Cut to Za's, Sunday, January 7th, 1996.  I arrived at Za's with my friends.  After catching up on old times, we decided to go dance.  While dancing, I looked up and saw this guy dancing on stage.  He looked as if he just got out of the office.  He had dress pants, a button-down shirt and tie on, and was extremely attractive.  I asked my friend Shantai who he was because she had been talking and dancing with him.  She told me his name was Andy, and that he had been married and had a son.  This couldn't be the same Andy I had met almost a year ago to the day!?!  I kept dancing and all of a sudden heard my name being called, so I turned around.  Andy came up to me and asked me if I remembered him.  Sure enough, it was the same Andy I met last year!!

He asked me to dance with him on stage - so I did.  We talked and danced until closing.  Of course at closing time, the employees make a mad rush to clear the building to avoid any trouble with the local law enforcement.  During this rush, we couldn't find a pen and paper to exchange phone numbers - but Andy told me to ask Shantai for his number, that she had it.

The whole next week, I couldn't get a hold of Shantai.  Time was running out.  Winter break was ending, and I was due to head back to school the following Monday night (Martin Luther King's Jr.'s B-day.)  So, as the weekend came, I decided I would make a final Sunday trip up to Za's.

Sunday, January 14th - Za's.  I had been at Za's for a couple of hours, when finally, Andy walked in.  I made sure to get his phone number right away!  During the night, the DJ played one of Madonna's ballads, and we were finally able to slow dance. GOD was I NERVOUS.  I kept trembling the whole time and was entirely tense.  Not to mention that I was also so excited, that there was more of me than before we had started. (If you know what I mean.)  Anyway, as the night wound down to an end, Andy mentioned that he had been on vacation this week, but he had the next day off, before returning to work.  We talked about possibly going to lunch the next day.

The next day, I called Andy and he picked me up for lunch at the Olive Garden.  We talked for hours and I was so excited, that I hardly ate anything.  After our extended lunch, Andy drove me back to my parents house.  But, because I had time to spare before I drove back to school, we went back to his place.  We talked some more, and watched some TV.  That's when it happened - the best kiss of my life.  After a couple of hours - I finally had Andy take me back, so that I could drive back to school.

The first week I was at school, we talked on the phone a few times.  We had talked about him coming down to see me at school.  Although I thought it was too soon, my excitement  got the best of me - and Andy came down to visit that following weekend.  We then were together nearly every weekend after that.

We have been together ever since.