Eric Thomas

So I always think it's a combination, right? So it is. It is a rock bottom, but- This is a blessing because rock bottom turned into go to church with my boy, right? And go to church with my boy turned into I started dating this girl. Right? And I fall in love with this girl, you know? And this girl becomes almost like my first coach, you know? And she's saying to me, man, I'll never forget.

She called me to her home. She's like, my mom's not here. I'm like, praise God. She's like, can you come to the house? I was like, well, sure.

She called me to her home. She's like, my mom's not here. I'm like, praise God. She's like, can you come to the house? I was like, well, sure.

We're like, finally, this church girl. And finally, you know, so it's like, y'all come to the house now. This was payphone day. I get to the house. And she comes outside, and I'm confused, like, why are you coming outside? And she's like, I want to talk to you. I was like, OK, we could talk, but can we talk inside? In the bedroom. You know, and so she's like, no, no, I'm serious.

We're like, finally, this church girl. And finally, you know, so it's like, y'all come to the house now. This was payphone day. I get to the house. And she comes outside, and I'm confused, like, why are you coming outside? And she's like, I want to talk to you. I was like, OK, we could talk, but can we talk inside? In the bedroom. You know, and so she's like, no, no, I'm serious.

I'm like, I'm serious. She said, do you love me? And I was like, whoa. Like, we kids. I'm like 17, almost 18. Like, do I love you? Like, I don't have no other girlfriends, if that's what you're asking me, but I don't, do you love, she said, no, no, no, do you love me? Like, is this serious? And I was like, yeah, it's serious. She said, well, I just got my acceptance letter and she showed me.

I'm like, I'm serious. She said, do you love me? And I was like, whoa. Like, we kids. I'm like 17, almost 18. Like, do I love you? Like, I don't have no other girlfriends, if that's what you're asking me, but I don't, do you love, she said, no, no, no, do you love me? Like, is this serious? And I was like, yeah, it's serious. She said, well, I just got my acceptance letter and she showed me.

And she said, when I go to college, if you don't come up, come with me, I'm breaking up with you. And so it was twofold. It was, I was robbed. But this relationship was like hope. Like, when I was with Dee Dee, it was almost like I wasn't homeless for that time frame that we were together. Wow. You know, we were in church together. You know, I got a job because she made me get a job.

And she said, when I go to college, if you don't come up, come with me, I'm breaking up with you. And so it was twofold. It was, I was robbed. But this relationship was like hope. Like, when I was with Dee Dee, it was almost like I wasn't homeless for that time frame that we were together. Wow. You know, we were in church together. You know, I got a job because she made me get a job.

It was just, you know, we would do stuff together, concerts. We would do stuff together as kids. We were downtown Detroit. It's a restaurant called Nikki's, right? Greek town. So we were in Greek town on the weekends. Like, I was living life. And I was like, whoa, she's elevating your life. I'm like, bro, you rock bottom. And the only life you have in your life is saying they gone.

It was just, you know, we would do stuff together, concerts. We would do stuff together as kids. We were downtown Detroit. It's a restaurant called Nikki's, right? Greek town. So we were in Greek town on the weekends. Like, I was living life. And I was like, whoa, she's elevating your life. I'm like, bro, you rock bottom. And the only life you have in your life is saying they gone.

And they're not, look bro, I'm just being real. I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but I'm not stupid. She's not gonna go away and get a degree and come back looking for a homeless kid four years from now. It's not going to happen. No. You know, and so it was rock bottom. She saw greatness in you. Oh, bruh. But you had to do the work. I had to do the work. And I did the work.

And they're not, look bro, I'm just being real. I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but I'm not stupid. She's not gonna go away and get a degree and come back looking for a homeless kid four years from now. It's not going to happen. No. You know, and so it was rock bottom. She saw greatness in you. Oh, bruh. But you had to do the work. I had to do the work. And I did the work.

I went to night school. I got the GED. I followed her to Oakwood. And we've been married over 34 years.

I went to night school. I got the GED. I followed her to Oakwood. And we've been married over 34 years.

You feel me? And so it was like, it was a combination of rock bottom and hope. And when you put those two together, it was like I had something to wake up to, something to look forward to. So I'm going to be real. That's why it took me 12 years to get a 40 degree, because I never went to college for college. I went to college for Dee Dee.

You feel me? And so it was like, it was a combination of rock bottom and hope. And when you put those two together, it was like I had something to wake up to, something to look forward to. So I'm going to be real. That's why it took me 12 years to get a 40 degree, because I never went to college for college. I went to college for Dee Dee.

That's why I went to college. And so once I got to college and we got married, I was like, yo, I got what I wanted. And she was like, OK, we're going to have to do this again. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I can't be with you if you don't finish what you start.

That's why I went to college. And so once I got to college and we got married, I was like, yo, I got what I wanted. And she was like, OK, we're going to have to do this again. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I can't be with you if you don't finish what you start.

So then I had to go ahead and do this business again. Wow.