Well, between Migraine headaches, nasty colds, and out of town work - Matt and I have not had a Valentine's Day Date. And needless to say - it won't quite be the same ... since I am literally carrying around a basketball the weight of a bowling ball. But, I read an "our love story" on someone's blog and thought that maybe I would do the same.
In the fall of 1998, I headed out to Cincinnati for college. My first few weeks there I met a girl who seemed a lot like me - down to earth, loved God, enjoyed sports, and a "real" person. By real - I mean someone who hasn't been pampered in life - couldn't afford all the latest fashions - knows how to work hard for what you have.... she seemed a lot like me. We hit it off pretty well and after one semester became roommates. Summer was looming just around the corner and my roomie needed somewhere to crash. I offered for her to come to my house for the summer - I knew I had an awesome family/church that would totally welcome her - and I figured I might be able to get her a summer job where I was planning on working. That all came to be. Then, another school year came and flew by. My roommate was graduating with her A.A. so her family came out for the celebration.
Sitting in a chapel service with "a friend" (who will never let me forget this comment), I saw my roomie's three younger brothers. And me - never a guy chaser or boy crazy or anything similar - made an innocent statement, "Wow, she has some good looking brothers." (And the rest is history... but I'll share if you are interested.)
Throughout the summer, I called my former roomie (who had an apartment in Cincinnati) and .... several times ended up talking to her brother who had moved to Cincinnati. He seemed like a down to earth guy. They really were "innocent" phone calls. I wasn't on a "hunt." Okay - I confess... I did send him a postcard that just seemed to fit his personality. Woo hoo - my big flirtatious move. ;-) It was a picture of a corn field and the text read, "A corny postcard from NY." lol. Oh yeah. That gets lots of points.
It was never anything big or showy. But, a deep friendship just slowly blossomed. We hung out in groups - lots of rollerblading. One funny memory we have is when I gave him a ride to Wal-mart. (Just the two of us... not sure how that happened?! snicker. snicker.) He wanted to buy some new rollerblades. At the register, he was going to write a check but, didn't have a second form of I.D. (I felt really humiliated for him.) And this is the kicker - he asked ME if I had any money. Couldn't help him out because I didn't have my wallet. Needless to say, we left the store without any rollerblades. ha ha.
The only other event the stands out on my mind, prior to "officially" dating, is a labor day picnic/party. I don't remember a lot of the party - except that we kept catching each others' eyes & grinning - he may have winked a time or two. ;-) A friend asked me what was going on and commented that we were flirting a lot. ??What?? I was so innocent.
I guess after hanging out for a month and 1/2, we started dating. It was sweet and laid back. We were best friends who just had a little spark. While I was sick one time, he bought me some juice. And on lid he wrote "I-Y-Q." I think that little play on words, just sealed the deal for me. I thought it was so clever. And those have become 3 special letters in our lives.
............ getting late now........ stay tuned for Part II.... a wedding, the sickness, and a proposal.... yes. in that order.