June 1974.
I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. The first in our entire family with a four year college degree. My mom and dad were at the graduation ceremony. My dad was bursting with pride. I felt it too.
He was beaming the morning I headed out on my first day at my new job. It was with a medium-sized company that designed, built, and started up custom industrial chemical feed systems for industrial companies, power plants, chemical plants, and refineries.
The first couple of weeks were boring. I sat in a cubical and read technical stuff. Then they teamed me up with a Field Service engineer, Jim, to get some 'hands on' experience in how things worked and starting up the equipment, once it had been installed on site.
The company provided water treatment equipment all over the US. So, travel, and the ability to stay 'on site' for a week, or two were a requirement. Hence, most of the Field Service Engineers were young and single. Most didn't have girlfriends either. So evenings were spent in local bars.
Prior to going out with Jim, for the first time, I spent two weeks with an electrical engineer during the check-out phase of the control panels. It was all 'Greek' to me, like a foreign language. Back in the mid-seventies, there were no 'Programmable Controllers' everything was hard-wired: relays, pushbuttons, timers, etc. If the electrical engineer messed up, even after going through a checkout, the Field Service Engineer would have to troubleshoot. Find the problem, and then rewire the panel, in the field, with an anxious client breathing down his neck.
I watched Jim tweak valves and instruments to get the correct water flow rates and alarm settings. He taught me, some more, on how to read electrical schematics.
It was fun. I was still staying at my parents. So, my meals and everything were paid for while was ''on the road''. That lasted for about a month. Then they brought me into the office and started me working on simple semi-standard projects. Projects where the customer ordered a 'standard' piece of equipment, but, with some small changes. I started looking for an apartment, for one thing that was closer. And for another, I just wanted to be on my own.
One of the other Mechanical Engineers was about my age, Bob. Bob had started about 6 months before I did. He was the only other engineer working there with a mechanical engineering degree. For Bob, they never sent out with a Field Service Engineer. I think, with me, it was something they thought would help me later on. All the others had come up through the 'Design' group. Bob was still living at home, and was desperately looking to move out.
We had a few lunches together. Met up after work for a few beers. Found out that we hit it off pretty well. We each had found a roommate.
We found a townhouse. Neither of us had any furniture. Luckily, friends of my parents, had a living room set that was in decent shape. My parents gave me my bed and dresser, as there was no need for them to keep it. If I was to come home for, say, the weekend, I could sleep on the pull-out futon on the enclosed porch.
Bob and I had fun during the week. We'd hit some bars; played pool and got to know some of the regulars. Picking up girls, for one-night stands; that was something neither of us were into. It just wasn't us. Although, we did have the chance to flirt with a few, in friendly games of pool. And maybe dance to some tune we found on the juke box. It was all in fun. He didn't have a girlfriend and wasn't looking for one. However, he was interested in one of the secretaries in sales, just to get together. A girlfriend for me, was the last thing on my mind. However; finding a girl that just wanted to get together and occasionally fuck, would work out for me perfectly. It would be a new experience. Oh well. One can dream, can't they?
The months were going by. I was beginning to work on some more involved projects, still simple with little 'real' engineering; but, it was more interesting that just changing titles blocks on 'semi-standard' orders. It gave me more chances to interact with other departments in the company: Sales, Purchasing, and the shop.
Purchasing had three 'buyers', two had been there a long time, and worked on the more specialized equipment. One was a 'junior' buyer, who handled more 'standard' purchases, her name was Jeannie.
Jeannie was about my age. She was about 5'-8" tall, 125 to 130 pounds, straight chestnut brown hair that was past her shoulders, and deep brown eyes. And then there was that chest. Probably a nice full "C". Jeannie was not 'petite'; but, she wasn't overweight, or anything, just a nice solid girl/woman. She never wore tight, or revealing blouses, just casual 'business-type' tops and slacks that showed her firm bottom. There are some girls that would be described as: cute, beautiful, pretty, or average. I would say that Jeannie was "average-pretty". She had a warm outgoing personality, but, not overly.
I never thought of myself as a 'flirt'. I guess, more of an 'easy-to-get-along-with' type. Jeannie and I worked well together. Always in a friendly 'business' manner. We did joke with each other and, maybe a little 'company gossip', but that was about it. I did find out, from some my engineer buddies, that Jeannie had been recently divorced, after only 3 years. Didn't get any details, beyond that. And, I didn't care.
The company was having a Christmas party the second week in December, for spouses and dates. The guys asked if I was going. They said it was really a lot of fun. Usually, at a private members-only Country Club with an open bar and really good food. The guys in Purchasing were soliciting door prizes from our vendors, and that there were generally a lot of really nice prizes, more than half went home with something.
I didn't have anybody in mind I could ask, and I really didn't want to go alone. Bob was going to ask the girl in sales, Becky, that he had been interested in.
One night, when we were out for pizza, beer, and pool, we talked about the Christmas Party, he asked 'why didn't I ask Jeannie?'.
I hadn't really thought about it. I guess I didn't look at her as someone that would be interested in doing stuff together, away from the office. I told him I would think about it. A few days later he encouraged me again. I think he had 'insider' information from Becky, as she and Jeannie were friends.
I thought about, and figured 'why not?'. Sounded like casual fun. Better than not going and definitely better than going alone. So, I did.
The next day, Thursday, I was in Jeannie's cubical.
"Jeannie, can I ask you something?"
"Umm. Sure."
"It's not work-related. Well, kind of not work-related."
"OK."
Taking a deep breath.
"Are you planning on going to the Christmas Party?"
She kind of gave a quizzical look, "Hadn't really planned on it. Nobody to take. And I don't really want to go by myself. Why?"
Her eyes and face had a soft and relaxed expression. It was something I had never really noticed before. Maybe it was something that was always there, and me, being the dense male, never noticed.
"Well, would you like to go, with me?"
There was only a slight moment, before, a bright smile appeared and then, "I'd love to."
............................................
Being at a private County Club, the attire for the evening was 'coat and tie' for the guys. Nice dresses for the ladies.
She lived in a single one-bedroom house in a decent part of town, across from a large city park. When she opened the door, I think my breathing stopped.
I had never seen Jeannie in a dress, or anything beyond the usual slacks and button-down blouses.
She had been to the beauty salon. Her hair had been done up to sit in soft waves on top and sides. Normally, Jeannie didn't wear a lot of makeup, just some lip gloss and maybe eyeliner. Tonight, her thin chestnut eyebrows were detailed. Each eyelash defined. Her eyes outlined, so that those dark brown eyes shined like polished gem stones, with a little eye shadow she was exquisite.
The dress was a dark blue that was open at the neck with modest scooped neckline down to just above her breasts that sat high on her chest. Each delicious mound clearly defined. No cleavage showing, just smooth white skin. The dress hugged her waist, showing a flat tummy, which ended just above her knees. Those smooth solid calves, held my gaze, as their shape was accentuated by the modest heels that she wore.
"My god, Jeannie. You're beautiful."
That brought a huge smile.
"Thank you. And you're not too bad looking yourself."
