Our First Date....

Leading up to the first date, we did the typical college student form of communication: AIM. For those not in the "know", that's AOL Instant Messenger. Yes, we lived about 20 feet away from each other, and yet, for the first couple of weeks before the first "official" date, we chatted and flirted online. I suppose it's because it felt easier and safer because it wasn't in person. Less intimidating perhaps?

Eventually several online conversations later, I received a text message asking if I wanted to go to dinner after work. At that point, I wasn't sure if it was a "date" or a "friend thing". I was hoping it was a date. I'd never been on a real date and the prospect gave me butterflies in my stomach. There was just something about him; I knew he was special.

After work on September 23, 2005, I got ready to go to dinner. He didn't tell me where, but I was prepared for anything. Considering we earned the pitiful minimum wage in the state of Florida, I wasn't expecting a three-course candlelit dinner. From what I remember now, when he came to pick me up across the hall, I couldn't help but smile. He didn't show up with any friends, and it was just us in the car... I thought, well, I guess it's a date. I figured that if he offered to pay, that would seal the deal.

We drove for a little bit and pulled into the parking lot of our destination: TGI Friday's. The one thing I remember vividly while we were ordering off the menu, was that he ordered a "cheeseburger without cheese". I thought that was a weird way of putting it, but I thought it was cute. Personally I would have asked for a hamburger, but whatever. When I asked him why he ordered it that way, he pointed to the menu where it said Cheeseburger, then under it in fine print it said Without Cheese.

I was a little nervous that our conversation would have the dreaded awkward pauses. But my mind was put at ease when it just flowed. We talked about our families and where we lived and where we went to college. It was an ideal first date conversation. And the rest, is history. I met my best friend and now I get to marry him and spend the rest of my life with him. I feel so lucky and blessed!

How We Met

People often ask me how we met. We have a unique story. We're not childhood sweethearts. We're not college friends. We didn't even live in the same state. When people ask, "Where did you meet?" I often answer with, "Well, we met in Florida". No, it wasn't on Spring Break. I get a puzzled look from the other person, because I'm a California girl. The place that brought us together is often known as the "Happiest Place on Earth"'s Florida cousin, Walt Disney World.

We met as interns for the College Program. I had traveled across the country to delay "the real world" after I graduated from college. He drove down south since he hadn't found a full time job after graduation. Little did we know that we would meet. We were placed in the Disney subsidized housing, in apartment across from each other. I was in 1801. He was in 1802. A couple of days after we moved into our respective "homes away from home" for the next four months, one of his roommates knocked on our door. At first, we were a little suspicious, since he was trying very hard to be smooth. Considering it was the first couple of days, and part of the point was to make new friends, we accepted his invitation.

The 10-second walk across the hall brought us (me and 3 roommates) to a carbon copy apartment. I happened to sit on the side of the couch closest to the door, next to a guy who was surfing the net. I met him, shook his hand, smiled, and chatted in idle conversation. We stayed for maybe two hours. He was an army brat, currently from Georgia, a recent graduate, and had been placed at Epcot in Parking Services. I told him a little about me and just hung out. After my roommates and I left, they all made a big deal about us talking. "Ooooh! You guys are going to get married and have babies!" I was totally incredulous thinking that all we did was talk. And we happened to talk because we were in closest proximity to each other.


Little did I know that it would be the start of the most precious and special friendship.