Eight years ago today, Derek and I had our first date. He’d followed me out of Saga a couple days previously and asked me to coffee–at which I was so flustered that I had to consult my planner to see if I could fit it in between selling chocolate roses in front of Saga (an IV fundraiser) and British Lit with Dr. Whalen. Anna must have been right behind us in the EAR, because after Derek disappeared, I remember collapsing with her in Dr. Stewart’s office, so excited that Derek had finally asked! Anna (experienced and engaged) asked what I was going to wear. Having never gone out on a real date, this had not occurred to me…much discussion ensued. On that day, Derek and I met up and walked up to the Gathering. He took the splash at every opportunity, no easy feat in downtown Hillsdale! Derek got a mocha and I got a chai (some things really haven’t changed!), and we sat down and talked for about an hour. I made sure to ascertain his opinion on stay-at-home moms (and was delighted to confirm that he wanted to get married, have kids soon, and let his wife stay home with them–otherwise, there would have been no second date!), and my Whalen notes for that day reveal that I also learned that he had two younger brothers the same ages (and personalities!) as mine. I dutifully tried to remember Matthew and Jason’s names for our next conversation. My notes are not as helpful in indicating what we actually discussed in class that day.=) I wasn’t in love yet, but I was definitely impressed and intrigued by this boy. We took 6 more weeks of hanging out before we made it official, and by summer, I knew he was The One.
We’ve tried to commemorate our first date ever since by going out for coffee on our “anniversary” every year. It’s not going to work out on the actual day this year (the having kids thing complicates things like dates), but we’ll take advantage of my mom’s visit next week to go on a belated anniversary coffee date. I know it doesn’t work this way for everyone, but I feel so blessed that my first love was and is my only love!
So this is actually from senior year, not sophomore year, but it was the youngest two-of-us picture on the computer. Don’t we look like kids?!
Another highlight of celebrating our “first date”: we pushed it back to February 15 in ’07 and went to the South Bend Chocolate Company. It was our last date before Tommy arrived two days later!
actually you look pretty much the same!! bravo, mama! 🙂 congrats on 8 years! We are very glad and blessed the Lord joined you two in love. 🙂
What a fun memory!! Thanks for making me a part of it!
Congratulations on eight years! You guys still look the same as you did then.
So, wait, I am a little confused, I think. For some reason, I associate you two dating with the trip to Philly, to which I refer as The Worst Spring Break Ever. From my perspective, anyway. Did it become official during Spring Break? I also recall something about a spaghetti restaurant…
We started officially dating in Philly, after walking in the rain past Edgar Allen Poe’s house–Piko, were you sick that whole week? I remember you were a driver, and Derek was supposed to be your navigator…but somehow he and Lisa switched places so that he could sit by me! =) And yes, our first dinner date (to Maggiano’s, hence our 5th anniversary trek there this summer) was in Philly, as well.
What a wonderful “anniversary” to celebrate!
What fun to remember those “early days”! I remember very well first meeting both of you (separately) at the Merit Weekends and then (fast-forwarding a few years) hearing about Derek’s interest in you well before your coffee date (and I remember talking with you in Saga intentionally trying to find out what you thought about him without your realizing that I was doing so!). We will be going on five years of marriage this summer and ten years of dating this fall–we were just talking with friends last night about how by the end of the year, we will finally have been married longer than we were dating! So much to be thankful for!