16 years ago....

16 years ago today, Brad and I went on our very first date. I won't bore you with all the details, but it wasn't a dream date. Since we didn't make it to the movies on time, we just snuck in. It wasn't a dream date, but I knew that night I would probably follow him anywhere. Was I crazy, or what? How we met is the interesting part.

I got a wild hair one day and decided I wanted to move in with my dad. He lived just in the next town, but it would mean a new school for me during my 10th grade year. During my first typing class (computers weren't the thing yet), I saw this guy come from the back of the classroom to turn in his work. Wow, he was so cute! He didn't notice me, so I just let it go. The following year, I was back with my Mom in the little town I still call home. I didn't know this until later, but Brad and his friend came to the Sonic where I worked after school. I delivered his order, but really didn't notice him. I was just focused on getting the order delivered and getting on to the next one. According to Brad (I still tease him about this), he turned to his friend and said, "I'm going to marry her someday." Whatever! Some time afterwards (it could have been days or months), my boss told me we would be expecting a new cook. She warned us girls to leave him alone. We asked for his name anyway. My jaw just dropped as I cut my eyes toward my best friend, Buffie. She remembered me talking about this guy just a year earlier. My heart was beating out of my chest as Brad drove up in his little black truck. After he had worked there a few days, we were scheduled to have break together. He asked me out not knowing I had just broke up with my boyfriend that same day. Later on, Brad told me the story about coming to the Sonic and me not noticing him. He went to his grandmother and asked her to help him get a job there so he could meet me. He didn't notice me when I first noticed him, and I didn't notice him when he first noticed me!

16 years ago, we went on our first date. Tonight, we won't sneak into a movie, have that first kiss, or begin a new love. Tonight, we will share a meal with our kids, have game night, and curl up on the couch to watch our kids play together. Well, we will probably be trying to keep Jayce from bouncing off the walls and keep Lakyn from climbing on everything. This is our dream! 16 years and counting!