Just a note, this post, this 30x30 to-do, was inspired by my own parents' love story. For my 18th birthday, I asked my mother for one gift. I wanted her to write down hers and my father's love story. When she wrote it down (by hand no less), she wrote it in a journal, inviting me to write my own story in it one day for my future daughters.
He was not.
More like over-thirty.
Okay, fine, he was 32.
And I was interviewing, on the suggestion of my sister-in-law, with an agency that provided services for special needs children and adults.
It was June of 2001 and hot. I was wearing a purple shirt, black pants and driving my sister's Toyota Four-Runner (David said he thought I was a spoiled rich girl when I drove up in that...as opposed to my own trusty little green Geo-metro).
I was nervous.
Truth be told, I was nervous that this single-dad to three I was meeting with was going to be hot. I was relieved when he wasn't.
haha.
My boss, Mary, met me at his apartment to meet with the two kids (Adriana, age 3 and Jacob, age 17 months) I'd be working with.
Did I mention I was nervous?
The kids were adorable. Especially that little brown-eyed boy. I could tell even then the little girl was trouble.
About 15 minutes into the interview and the dad walks out, leaving me with two very needy little kids (he confessed later that this was a test).
I rocked it.
My job was to work Monday-Thursday from 6-8pm with Adriana and Jacob on their goals.
David asked me to babysit one night; he was going out to celebrate his divorce being final.
He called the apartment totally wasted (in the eleven years since, I've only seen him like that one other time). I was un-amused.
Perhaps I should mention that David is somewhat difficult to understand (read: significant speech impediment); well add alcohol to that and I was like, "What?"
Anyway.
The next month, I went to the beach with my girl friends. I got my first and only speeding ticket on that trip. A few weeks later, I went back to the beach and David, trying to be cute, wrote me a note that read, "Watch your speed." Or something like that.
I kept it on my dash.
That was probably my first clue.
You see, I was dating my on-again, off-again high school boyfriend at the time.
By August, I knew something was different in my interactions with David in the evenings. Enough of that something was enough to convince me that I called it quits with my boyfriend.
A few days later, my friend and I were in a minor car accident.
I went to work that night, but my back was killing me.
And, well, I'm a sucker for a good massage.
David offered.
I accepted.
*
A few nights later, I met David's mom and step-dad; only David didn't tell them we were dating. Yeah, that was every shade of awkward. But his mom loved me.
My mom loved him.
Everyone else? Not so much convinced of our fast and non-traditional coupling. It was hard. Mostly because I couldn't quite explain it. I just knew. Yep, in that cliched, tried and trued tradition of yesteryear, I just knew David was right for me. I could feel it.
And I've never been one to hesitate when I know something is right.
By November, we were "casually engaged." I say casually because when he asked me it was so nonchalant that I thought perhaps he wasn't serious. I called him the next day from my mother's kitchen to make sure!
We married March 2nd, 2002 in a very small ceremony. It was beautiful and perfect.
I loved him then.
I loved him in that 19 year old girl kind of way.
But I'm in love with him now.
In love with him in that we've persevered and laughed our way through tragedy after tragedy and now celebrate our marriage as God-inspired.
In retrospect, I know I loved him because of the proof. I could see he was (and IS) an incredible father. Like, one-of-a-kind. That kind of man is few and far between and I KNEW that any man that can be that good of a father has to be one heck of a man.
Turns out I was right.
Less than one month from now, we'll celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. If I could go back to the 19-year-old me on her wedding day I'd tell her it's all good. David and I have endured tragedy like no other, but we also share a love so genuine I cannot fathom for a second any other man that could end this story with me.
I love you David.
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| January 2012 |
