The night it all started: New Years Eve 2004
We were just babies back then...
Whenever I get asked, I've always wanted to tell strangers that B and I met on eHarmony. He thinks I'm ridiculous, but I have this theory that deep down everyone wishes they knew at least one couple who met online, and that we could fulfill that desire for them. But maybe that's just me.
In actuality, our love story is much more complicated (which is part of why I would prefer the simplicity of the eHarmony story when making small talk). We met for the very first time in high school at South Dakota Honor Choir in the summer of 2003. There we were, just a couple of music nerds, having the time of our lives and singing ourselves hoarse. I would love it if I could say that we knew then and there that we were soulmates. But my reputation had preceded me, and not in a good way.
You see, B and I had many mutual friends, including my high school BFF. Unfortunately, she and I had a rather nasty fight that led to a brief falling out (it's all good now - she's one of my bridesmaids!). But B had heard about the fight, and assumed I was a bit of a bitch! So when we finally met at honor choir a few months later, B and I didn't exactly hit it off - despite the fact that the argument with my friend was long over. He was determined to dislike me, and I thought he was an arrogant toerag.
We kept running into each other places, though, and after we were forced to spend some time together we realized maybe we'd been a bit hasty in our first judgments. I joined the church choir that he and his family sang in, and he came to see my high school's production of Brigadoon. We started emailing back and forth, then talking on MSN Messenger (remember those days?!), and soon we were even *gasp* talking on the phone - a big deal back then, since this was before he had a cell phone!
Then one night after church choir rehearsal, B asked me if I would go to his high school's winter formal with him. I accepted, and soon our friends were doing everything in their power to get us together "officially". A New Years party was in the works, so they worked on both sides to ensure B and I would both be attending. That night was a lot of fun, and full of those awkward moments that are cute to look back on, but seemed downright mortifying at the time. I remember being uncertain whether I wanted a boyfriend, but being unable to deny how much fun we were having together. He says my dazzling smile, which evidently I was flashing at him all eveninig, encouraged him to go for it. Whatever the reason, B officially asked me to be his girlfriend in the early morning of New Years Day 2005.
We've been together ever since.
It was hardly one of those "love at first sight" stories, but here we are, six years later -- planning our wedding. So let that be a lesson for all of you: First impressions are definitely important, but with a little persistence (and the help of a winning smile) you can overcome a bad one!
And hooray for one fantastic year of engagement!
Happy engagement anniversary!
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