The Day We Met

What better way to begin our anniversary celebrations to going back to the day it all began.

There was a time in my life that I was very good at journal writing. This was a time way before children hence I had all kinds of time on my hands. Even if I didn’t think I did at the time. In preparation for this post I turned to those journals to help me remember those days. Because, let’s face it, that time before children also was a time I could remember stuff. Those days seem to be falling farther and farther behind me.

Back to meeting The Husband. Let me set the stage.

I had spent the two previous years at a small two-year college. While I did have some lows most of my time there was full of friends, laughter and happy times. For the most part I dated lots of different guys. Although in my first year I did have one semi-serious relationship. Our status stayed “semi” because of me and I eventually broke it off. Not feeling ready to pursue it further. During my second year I continued to date although towards the end started spending more and more time with the same group of guys. Although one of that group did seem interested in me he never acted on it. We’ll call him Gerald. We’ll see a little more of him later.

That summer, before heading the the next grand adventure to a school that was more than twice as large as the one I left, I had a sense that things, big things, would be happening in my life I just didn’t know what any of them were. It was a very confusing time and I had a hard time making sense of a lot of things. I usually liked to plan and prepare for what’s ahead but I found it near impossible. It was also around this time I learned that the guy I dated back in my first year of college was now married. It was as if doors were closing left and right around me and I wasn’t sure where the next one was waiting open for me.

Once I got to school things became more overwhelming and more confusing. A week or so after school began was September 11, 2001. And all the sudden things were not only confusing in my own little world but everywhere around me as well.

Meanwhile I was continuing to spend time with Gerald and his friends. He would come over just to hang out. It was as if he was just hovering. He never asked me out but became annoyed when I went out with someone else. I was beginning to feel like I needed to let go of the idea of him when I realized he wasn’t willing to fight for me.

Then one night in September, a Sunday, I felt like I should sit down and write in my journal. Here is a little peek into that entry:

I’m to the point where I don’t know what to think about anything. My mind is blank… I’m tired of dating. I’m tired of not knowing where I stand. I’m tired of the emotions associated with the male gender. I’m beyond frustrated. I’m just tired of it all.

As I finished up my thoughts that evening there was a knock at the door. I didn’t get up to answer I just yelled to come in.

There was David.

Although I didn’t know who he was. And he didn’t know who I was. Although he knew my name and was looking for me. When I told him that I was who he was looking for the look on his face was priceless.

He was happy I was me. And at that moment I was happy to be me, too.