Remember when...

This past weekend marks the 5th year anniversary of our very first date (March 1st to be exact). Matt and I went back and shared our journal entries from that night (although my journaling skills were sorely lacking). It was fun to think back to that time, share our first impressions and hopes about each other, and remember all the fun memories we created during our pre-marriage dating.




(Not the clearest or smiliest picture, but here we are at good ole "Romance Gardens")

To "commemorate the occasion," I thought I would share the story of our first meeting and a few of our dating pictures. Matt moved into my apartment complex (Roman Gardens) shortly after he returned from his mission. I had very recently felt inspired that I shouldn't go on a mission, although I didn't yet know the reason why. I remember hearing quite a bit about this new, hot guy that just moved in. I figured I didn't have much chance with someone that good-looking, so I didn't pay much attention at first. However, one evening, I got a visit from this new guy and his friend. I say I because I had two engaged roommates...my odds were pretty good.

He seemed really cool and down-to-earth as we chatted, and by the end of the visit I was hooked. I would have been bugged by their comment to "make the rounds" (aka visit the other girls in the complex), except they just went back home. I kept thinking about Matt over the next couple of days and trying to think how I could hang out with him more. That night I got a call from him asking me out for the next night (Saturday, March 1st...yep, that's right, the days were the same as this year. Pretty cool, huh?). I tried hard not to scream into the phone as I said yes and confirmed the time he'd come get me. After I hung up, I was so excited I was jumping up and down and I rushed to tell my roommates and other close friends about it (okay, okay, I know I'm a nerd).

By the time Saturday night rolled around, I was so nervous and excited I couldn't hold still. After trying on I don't know how many shirts, I was finally ready. I remember he looked very handsome that night, but he also seemed a little nervous. That made me feel a little better.

To be honest, the first part of the date (or maybe longer) was a bit awkward. We went to Gandolfo's Deli (The one on University and Center-ish for you Provo-ites). All I remember from that was a huge sandwich and Matt being so shy he hardly said a thing (granted the guy in the "couple" we doubled with did most of the talking). As Matt helped me back into the car, I bonked my head. I tried to play it cool and I thought he didn't notice, but later I found out he was just too kind to call me on it (I was not very graceful, even when we were only dating).

Next we went back to complex (the other couple lived in RG, too) to watch "Strictly Ballroom." For those of you who have ever watched a movie on a first date with someone you hardly know, you will understand how awkward that feels. You don't know each other well enough to be cuddly, and it's not cool to talk a lot during the movie. So, I just sat with my hands in my lap, thinking it was a very weird movie, and hoping we'd get a better chance to talk before the night was over.

Afterwards, we played compatibility. That was much more fun. We won, but I think it was more because I just assumed Matt would pick things related to religion (mission) and Mexico (where he served his mission). I don't know what tactics he used, but we won. And hey, we actually started to flirt a bit. Perhaps he was hoping to chat more, too, because after the game was done he asked if I could show him how to play piano (I don't know much, but I know enough to show someone who knows nothing), and we ditched the other couple to go to the activity room (a room with a very old pool table, foosball table, piano, and couches inside our complex).

Although we briefly goofed around on the piano, we really just sat a talked for a long while. I don't recall what we talked about, but I felt so much more comfortable with him, and felt like I knew him a bit better. I knew for sure then that I wanted to date this guy. Our talk ended when curfew came (BYU rules) and someone came to lock the room up (I think it was more to keep people out late at night than they were worried about the stuff inside). We talked as he walked me back to my apartment (a lengthy one flight of stairs and one door down). We agreed that we had fun and wanted to go out again, and then he hugged me. In that brief moment, I remembered the discussion in one of my classes about expressing that you liked the other person by kissing them on the cheek. Well, I was too chicken to do that (I have never been very bold in dating), but I liked Matt too much not to do anything, so I just gave him an extra long hug. I could tell he got the message. I went inside and couldn't fall asleep for hours...I was crazy about him! And well, the rest is history!



I didn't find out until after we got engaged, but when Matt went home that night, he got a distinct impression that I was the one he was going to marry. Perhaps he'll post his version soon(or at least his interjections in my version). It's good he waited to tell me that though, because I think I would have freaked out. I did not think I was going to get married that year! Still, I think about that first date all the time, because it was the start of something truly wonderful...I can't believe it's already been 5 years!


(Ah, beautiful Seattle...we've had so much fun every time we go)