(Sort-of) Young love

I almost forgot to send out a “happy anniversary” to the Hubby.

Not our wedding anniversary, but the, “we’ve been together for a really long time, haven’t we?” anniversary.

What feels like a lifetime ago, I was one of two people in the creative services department of a smallish company. Our department had one office with two cubicles in it. It was a HUGE office, so we couldn’t complain… And my office mate and I got along well. When I interviewed for the job, we realized we had gone to high school together and had friends in common. (We didn’t break into, “It’s a Small World,” at this point, much to my disappointment, but Jenny was always more reserved than I.)

Jenny and I created user manuals for our products, newsletters, ads, took pictures, created presentations for the training sessions, etc. We worked with everyone in the company, depending on what was needed. She did more of the graphic layouts and I did more of the writing, but we frequently shared those duties… It was a lot of technical writing and design, with some fun and creative thrown in. Really, it is a nice little company, and the Hubby still works there.

Nine years ago, in January, I received a phone call from a guy in another department – in fact, in one of our other buildings. I had seen this guy around before, when I had been over in the other building. My claim to fame with him was when I got lost in our big warehouse-type plant, and couldn’t remember which door I came in. This guy with a cocky grin laughed at me, but directed me to the exit.

That was close to a six months prior to this phone call.

He was calling to ask me if I could help design some invites/signs for a surprise party he was helping to throw. His best friend also worked for the company, and would be celebrating a birthday soon. They wanted to get the word out to many of the coworkers.

After some discussion, I agreed to help. He asked if I wanted to go to the party and here is where the story differs, depending on to whom you are talking. He claims he specified it was kind-of a date. I think he just asked if I wanted to go, and figuring as it was for a coworker (and again, requests to help at work-related events, even fun ones, by taking pictures and such, were not unusual), I wasn’t so certain. I said I would think about it.

When I got off the phone, my office mate, Jenny, asked what that phone call had been about. I gave her a funny and confused look and said, “I think I was just asked on a date, but I’m not sure.”

So, being the dork I was, I had to call him back to ask him to clarify his invite. Yes, he wanted to go out on a date. He would be okay meeting at the party, rather than picking me up. I agreed to meet him there.

Then, getting off the phone, I realized I better make certain I talked to the guy I thought I was talking to (that whole matching the name with the face thing can kind-of throw me sometimes). Jenny and I dug through some old copies of our newsletters and I was relieve to find out that indeed, the now Hubby was who I thought it was. **phew**

I then looked at Jenny and asked what I had worn the week prior, when I had been out and about our plant, as this was the third guy to ask me if I wanted to go out, in some way, in the period of two weeks. And I had been on a major dating drought.

The Hubby and I met at the party, played some darts, and talked until they kicked us out (seriously – the party was over, but we stayed and talked and talked and talked…). He walked me to my car and when we parted ways, I gave him a huge hug and we agreed we wanted to go out on a date again. (He said that hug was what did it for him!) **aww!**

The only thing that freaked me out on that first date, was that I was the excuse to get his friend to the surprise birthday party.

He called his friend, who knew he was “going on a date” with me (not realizing said date would be at his birthday party), and said I had stood him up. His best friend said he would go out for a drink with him, as the Hubby played it up that he was really disappointed in me. I found this out when I got to the party, from his best friend’s wife. Talk about making me more nervous about how this first date was going to go…

Anyway, like I said, this was what was happening in January, nine years ago…

A few months later, in March, the Hubby drove an hour to eat dinner with me, my family and some of my friends, at a convention I was at. He drove an hour there, and an hour home later on, in pretty yucky weather, when he had to get up way too early the next morning, just to be with me for all of three to four hours.

For giggles – here is the picture of us, taken by my dad, at that convention. (Please excuse the quality – digital photography nine years ago wasn’t as nice as it is today, and I no longer have the original file. Scanning in old digital photos leaves something to be desired.)

Weren’t we cute? (And young?) And notice, neither one of us is running for that exit behind us… (Honey – you don’t regret not taking advantage of that exit, do you?)

Then, in April, he drove me to an airport in another state, with one of my old college friends, as we were taking a huge vacation she and I had planned together, prior to my dating the Hubby. He drove four-five hours one way, just to drop us off (even though we originally had planned to leave one of our cars at the airport), and he drove back to that airport a week later, with a bouquet of red roses, to pick us up.

The Hubby did A LOT of driving to hang out with me, and now I just drive him crazy (as he does me).

So, happy anniversary honey! I’m so glad you asked me out and I gave you that hug. Isn’t it amazing where things have gone?