Leading Up To Our First Date

Looking back it doesn’t seem like my future husband and I courted for 2 years before our one year engagement. It was a slower start than it feels like now.  My first rose came Valentine’s day during my Junior year of high school. He “had an extra one” and asked if I wanted it. Umm…I guess so. He has since admitted that there was nothing extra about it.

The whole next year, from December to December, was when we built a friendship. Even though we grew up together we never really talked, and there was a lot to learn about each other. The notes from that time are filled with get-to-know-you party type of questions. What color do you like? Where do you want to travel? What is in your dream house?  The notes were folded in all kinds of crazy ways, taped, stapled, and one was even duct taped!

My first present from him was a 3 cell Maglite. Bear with me, it was more romantic than it sounds. The spring of my Junior year of high school was when I applied and was hired for my first job as a caverns tour guide. I had excitedly told him that they provided the uniform shirt, but I had to buy this certain flashlight. Soon it appeared in my school desk with a congratulatory note AND a belt holder for the flashlight. That belt holder was the envy of many a tour guide. Okay, maybe it still doesn’t sound romantic, but it was really special. I also have to admit that he knew what he was doing because I would use the flashlight almost every day and think of him.

Through the summer we continued to write.  He shared his cds with me, and hunted down rare musicals for me to watch.  We gave each other candy bars.  Postcards were sent when either of us went on vacation or to camp.  We were both working full time jobs.  He was fixing up the basement at his parent’s house, and buying a car. What a car that was!

We started talking of more serious things the January of my senior year of high school.  We also started tying up the phone lines around that time.

What I call “Our First Date” was on February 6, 1996.  He first asked me about it in a letter, “Would you be interested in going to see State Fair acted out at the local theatre?”  Yes, I was interested in going with him, his sister and her husband; but he would have to ask my parents.  I prayed about it before I answered him, and I knew that if my parents said yes I would eventually marry him.  I’m sure it was just a day or two before they answered, but I remember it feeling like years.  My dad told him the answer during a workday at church.  I was scrubbing the kitchen floor when he walked in wearing his dark brown, Australian style, trench coat and told me I had permission to go with him.

My mom helped me get a new outfit to wear.  I went Western style with a green wrinkly skirt, cowgirl boots, and a western collar over a turtleneck.  [It was the same collar that I put over the denim dress in the picture.]  I started getting ready right after school and used conditioner instead of shampoo on my hair – twice!  I was so excited and nervous that I didn’t realize it until I was out of the shower.  He showed up in his red Trans Am [with T-tops!] right on time and we headed off to eat and watch the show.  It’s funny what I do and don’t remember.  I can remember how he looked when he told me my parents said yes, but I can’t remember the restaurant we ate at the night of the show.  It was a wonderful night and the start of many fun times together.

Where did you go for your first date? Have you blogged about it? If you did please leave the link in the comments so I can read your story.
The links for the rest of my story are on My Romance page.
Should I keep on going with the story?  You won’t hurt my feelings if you’ve heard enough already.