 |
| David and Elaine at our Rehearsal Dinner |
David and I said “I Do” 19 years ago today, in the most beautiful ceremony I have ever imagined. Our ceremony was held in the beautiful Methodist church we were both attending, with an amazing pipe organ and a full choir (anyone that knows David will find this not the least bit odd). Not one thing went wrong that day (that I remember anyway) to mar our perfect day.
Recently I watched a movie called Timer, a very scientific, futuristic movie about a dating company marketing a small device, implanted on the clients’ wrists that counts down, to the second, when you are destined to find the love of your life. And not just a good spouse, no this company guarantees you will find your soul mate, the one in a million, the one that is THE one. Well, first of all, the implantation device looks a little painful and perhaps not the best fashion statement for those fashion minded among us, not only that, the movie proves that perhaps there’s a tad more to finding your soul mate than using technology. I certainly was thinking of how I met my spouse 19 years ago as I watched the movie.
I met David at church one afternoon, as he busily rounded up any and all single woman that had attended church that day. Since I had my 2 year old clutching my leg and climbing me like a flag pole, I really could not believe when this man, who I had never even seen, asked, no stated, “You’re single . . . come on over the Pedro’s restaurant for a planning meeting for the new Single Group.” Okay, hello, Mr. Moustache man, how do you know I’m single? Don’t you see this monkey kid climbing on me, chanting, mommy, mommy, mommy? Do I have, “Single, done with toad-like men” on my name badge or something?
My jaw dropped and I stuttered and stammered, as my aunt reached out to take my daughter and said, “Go, have fun!” I was thinking, as I drove to this restaurant, what in the world was I getting into? So far my dating life had consisted of dating men who could very easily win no personality awards or worst boyfriend in the world contests. One guy stood me up, after I got a babysitter and drove my daughter 20 minutes both ways for a date that did not happen. Another one thought that dating could very easily just be drinking a few beers and then maybe going to another bar. Nope, not good dating material so far in that department, so I figured okay, I’ll go to the single’s group and then just say, “no thanks to the single dudes who would no doubt be there.”
It ended up being a MUCH different luncheon that I though. First of all, we all sat at a long table and planned some fun events we could do, and not one topic included “finding the perfect spouse.” David sat across from me, joking with all the people at our end of the table. I could tell from his personality that the man had never had a problem fitting in any social situation, so it was no surprise to learn he was a Marketing Product Manager at a local biotech firm. I also found out that he was very easy to joke with and the laughter went on all afternoon. I have to admit I felt a little safe, chatting with him. I had seen him enter with the other planner of the group, Susan, and my assumption was that he was dating Susan, which made him safe to talk to. No chance of getting hurt or being disappointed.
Imagine my surprise when I received a phone call that evening to tell me what a great time he had had and how glad he was that I had decided to join their group. A few minutes of conversations and I found out he was NOT dating Susan and was currently single. Uh oh. The little warning bell went off in my head and I felt that skidding feeling of my emotions crashing into each other . . . but I thought, what the heck, let’s just see where this goes. David was off to the East Coast for a weeklong conference, but he wanted to be sure we set something up when he returned since, he’d then be off on another business trip (ah, a traveling marketing dude). We set up the date, a fun walk along Laguna Beach with breakfast on the beach and ice cream later. I was impressed that not only did he mail me a post card from Chicago, but he also called during the week, just to be sure we were still on for Saturday. This guy was serious about our date and wanted to be sure all his “duckies” were lined up.
Our first date was so much fun. We cruised down to Laguna, a beautiful picturesque city in Southern California, where we dined, right on the beach. After our delicious brunch, we walked the beach and had ice cream and talked and talked and talked. When he dropped me off at my apartment that night, I thought to myself, I hope he calls me back.
Done! I was trying to get my toddler into bed (kind of a long process, being a single parent, there was no one else to play double the meanie on bed time),when the phone rang. David wanted to know when we could go out again. I knew during church service the next day, as he walked by with the other choir members and he gave me that little smile, the one that says, “Later, right now I have to sing Hymn #2203.” Oh boy, I felt a little jolt or tickle up my spine that is so hard to describe. I wonder if I had a timer, like from the movie, would it have been easier to see he was the one? What if the Timer said he was NOT the one and I ignored him? We dated less than a year and he proposed. We were married September 6, 1992, slightly a year after we met. I never doubted he was the one and, to this day, I truly believe it was the best decision I have ever made in my whole entire life. Who needs technology when the heart is the best indicator of true love?
