How I met the love of my life...

Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner, I thought I'd share my personal "meet-cute" with the guy who became my DH.

I wasn't looking for him. In fact, I already had a steady boyfriend with a promise ring and everything. (I'm dating myself here. Do kids even still do the whole pre-engagement thing anymore?) Anyway, we'd been high school sweethearts before heading off to the same college. But then I met this other guy in the college chorale...

Not that I was a flirt or anything. I was not that kind of girl. But whenever our director had us gather around the piano or ring the room in rehearsal so we could hear the other parts better, I always seemed to find myself directly across from that guy in the bass section. He had a wonderful voice, rich as dark chocolate, and these deep brown puppy dog eyes. I sang across the room to him almost every day.

But when "The Voice" asked me out, I said no. I was already in a relationship and wasn't about to cheat. I wasn't that kind of girl.

The chorale needed some extra rehearsals, so "The Voice" called and offered to give me a ride. I was on his way, he said. Since I was a starving college student barely making my tuition payments, I was all about saving gas money.

So I said ok, but I wouldn't tell him where I lived. I asked him to pick me up in the church parking lot down the street. Small towns are notorious for gossip. People would talk if they saw some other guy picking me up at the house.

The free ride worked out well until after the rehearsal when he refused to drop me in the now dark parking lot. I had to tell him where I lived so he could see me safely to my door. He was a perfect gentleman. I decided he'd be a great friend.

Then I went to the college band concert and saw him playing the timpani. The pic of Animal aside, there is really something primal about a guy banging on a drum. It made me see him in a whole new light. I was still wearing that promise ring but I became hyper-aware of "The Voice," no matter where I ran into him. Evidently, he was keeping tabs on me too, because he asked me out again.

I said no. Even though things were getting rocky with Mr. Promise Ring, I didn't want to step out on him. I was not that kind of girl.  

But my friendship with "The Voice" grew. We started going to a weekly Bible study together (which I told myself did not count as a date!). We talked about deep things. He challenged me and made me think. His quiet confidence really drew me in. Even so, when he continued to ask me out, I continued to say no.

Then before I knew it, the spring term was ending and "The Voice," who was a year ahead of me in college, was taking the next year off to travel with a gospel team. If I didn't do something quick, I'd probably never see him again. And I suddenly knew I couldn't bear that.

Like Cortez, I decided there was no going back. It was time to burn the ships.  I gave the promise ring back to my high school beau. It wasn't fair to wear it when my heart was so taken elsewhere.

But that was only part of the equation. I'd turned "The Voice" down so many times, I couldn't wait for him try again. So I decided to break my personal rule and asked him out.

Yeah, I was that kind of girl!

Fortunately, he didn't play as hard to get as I did. He did still travel for the next year because when he agrees to do something, he sticks to it, but we carried on a distance romance via long letters and phone calls. I caught up with him in school and earned a 4.0 that year. We were engaged when he returned home, married a year later and graduated from college together a year after that.

Now, two kids, assorted pets, countless moves and forty years later, he's still the one I want to sing to every day.

Want to share how you met your sweetie? I'd love to hear YOUR story!