On September 14, 2001, one of my roommates came upstairs, grabbed my hands, and said John (my date) arrived. "Shannon, he brought flowers! I've never seen a boy do that before!"
We met through mutual friends a couple years prior. Senior year of college-the Friday before 9/11-he [finally] asked me to dinner. I remember exchanging emails on September 12th. Classes were cancelled and it felt so strange. Yet, we kept the date and I was smitten from the beginnin'. The weekend of our first date was Parents Weekend and the football game and activities were cancelled. Yet, my folks still came down to visit and I told John he was welcome to meet them while we were at a campus bar. He agreed to meet us...literally the day after our first date!
Amidst all the eeriness of a nation in mourning, my parents met the boy I would marry two years later.
During the whole of our marriage, John has held the same job, which involves a fair amount of travel. When we first married and were living in Seattle, I'd reserve a fancy glass (wedding present) with some soda (I rarely drank alcohol back then!) during weekday dinners without him. We didn't know anyone yet in town and I was trying to find a job. This little ritual lifted my spirits when I was missing my husband, missing home, and feeling lonely.
After a 6-month hiatus from travel, today marks his first out of town work trip...and the 19th anniversary of our first date. The kiddos gave him a suuuuuuper long hug and ran after his rental car when it turned
down the street headed for Iowa. When he returned 15 seconds later to get his computer cord...the kids once again chased his car.
Tonight, rather than soda, I opted for a yummy red wine in a fancy glass to lift my spirits. Yes, 19 years ago, I fell in love with Mr. A., and I miss him.
Cheers!
Commentaires