It Starts…

It was July 3, 1989.

Sometime in the early evening.

I was 18 and just over a month to go before I shipped off to Navy boot camp.

I was standing in my front yard saying goodbye to a friend.

I don’t recall the reason she had come over, but I won’t ever forget the conversation that followed us walking out and her standing at her car before she left.

Now, before I get into the conversation, some details are in order.

This girl was an ex-girlfriend of mine. We had dated for a month and a half about a year earlier. We broke up for no real reason other than the simple fact that I was 17 and she was 16 and we had no idea how to talk things out. We had remained friends though, partly due to the fact that I was madly in love with her.. even though I was only 17.

So, there I was, finishing our conversation and I brought up the fact that I was thinking about asking another girl out (another ex btw) and was wondering what she thought. For some reason, I valued her opinion on the girl I was about to ask out.

And this is the account, as best as I remember.

Me: “I’m thinking about asking (insert other girls name) out again.”

Her: “Why?”

Me: “Seems like a good idea.”

Her: “Why don’t you ask me out instead?”

Me: “Cause you will say no.”

Her: “You don’t know that.”

Me: “Yes I do.”

Her: “No. You don’t.”

Me: “You are just going to say no.”

Her: “So ask me.”

Me: “Why? I already know your answer.”

Her: “Ask me anyway.”

Me: “You are setting me up.”

Her: “You won’t know unless you ask.”

Me: …

Her: *folding arms waiting

Me: “Why are you doing this to me?”

Her: “Why aren’t you asking me?”

Me: “Fine.”

Her: “Well.”

Me: “Will you?”

Her: “Will I what?”

Me: …

Her: “Will… I… what?”

Me: “You know.”

Her: “No. Say it.”

Me: deep breath

Her: waiting

Me: deeper breath

Her: still staring

Me: “Fine. Willyougooutwithme?”

Her: “What?”

Me: “Will.. you.. go.. out.. with.. me?”

Her: “Yes.”

Me: “Ok.”

Her: “Ok.”

She then proceeded to get into her car, and drive away.

I stood in the front yard for another 5 minutes.

Dumbfounded.

Confused.

Thinking… “What just happened?”

Later that day (or early the next), I talked to my best friend and in our conversation said to him, “I think me and Heather are going out.”

He just stared blankly at me.

I stared blankly back.

And that is how my wife and I started dating (the second time).

 

I know, I know..

Nailed it.

February, 2014

 

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