Still Here Fourteen Years after a First Date

Today is my 14th wedding anniversary. My wife is the absolute best. I am a lucky, lucky dude. She is a true catch.

In honor of our anniversary I want to talk about the first date we ever had. I was in pursuit of my wife from afar for a bit. I worked at a sandwich shop, a friend of mine was friends with her and I would ask about her cute friend a lot. We would eventually hang out more outside of that, and I finally mustered the courage to ask her on a date after a few more hangouts. I was pretty nervous leading up to the date too. This was back before iPhones, so texting was spotty.

I had an idea to watch "The Office" and hang out at her apartment. I passed this along to her via text and waited anxiously by my phone. No text came. I was shattered. I barely slept that night. But then I awoke to a text from her. It was euphoric. She let me know that she had fallen asleep and was very excited to hang out that night, just the two of us. Lucky for me she was also a big fan of "The Office", and she was more than happy to have me come over to her apartment.

All day I was nervous and excited. The time had finally come to make my way over, so I did. I left my folks house, yep, still living at home, and went over. I tried my best, I'm not very fashionable, to wear clothes that made me look good. Shocking, sarcastically, it was a hoodie, jeans and a stocking cap. But I thought I looked good. Lele looked great as well, in casual clothes. When I got over to her place we hung out like we had done before, but this time it was just the two of us. We got to know each other better. We talked about all the stuff we had to yell when we were out with a bunch of people. It was nice. We had a very good conversation. I was instantly into her. She was the one. I had that feeling right away. I knew there was a future.

As the evening wore on we had a nice dinner and then watched "The Office", a rerun by the way. We started out on the opposite ends of her couch, but we each kept scooting closer to one another. Eventually Lele was cuddled up with me, blanket in hand and we laughed and watched the show. I was as happy as I had ever been up to that moment in my life. It all felt right. I was so happy cuddling I didn't want to get up. So when the next show came on, some kind of game show hosted by Penn Jilette, came on and I suggested we watch it. Lele agreed and I was so happy. We just stayed on the couch cuddled up and watched I think what might be the only episode ever of that game show. As the night wore on I knew I was going to have to go home soon. But I stalled as much as I could. I wanted to stay and chat longer. I wanted to know more. But most of all, I wanted to kiss her goodnight. That was my big goal, outside of getting to actually know Lele. So when the time had finally come I started to get ready to get that kiss. I was super nervous. My hands were sweaty. I was fidgety. I didn't know how to go for it, so like a buffoon, I said, "would it be okay if I kissed you goodnight". Lele laughed and said sure. She would later tell me how cute/embarrassing that was, and that I should have just went for it. Lesson learned I suppose.

That evening forever changed my life for the better. I met my wife. I met the person I wanted to be with forever. I met the person I wanted to raise kids with. I met the best person I have ever met in my life. Lele rules. She knows me better than anyone. She gets me and accepts me. I am so grateful and very lucky that she said yes when I asked to marry her. And it all started watching "The Office" and a very short lived game show.

Happy Anniversary Lele. You are the absolute best. Can't wait to watch more "Office" this evening with you. 

Ty