As Ian and I approach our 9 year anniversary, I find myself reminicing about our first meeting and the events surrounding our 1st date.
In March 2000, Ian became the newest member of the "low-rise" RA(residant assistant) staff at the University of Akron. I myself was a sophomore at the U of A, studying nursing as well as an RA! I had just recently said that I didnt want to date anyone and was going to focus on school and the upcoming grueling semesters of Nursing classes as well as my commitment as an RA. Little did I know within a few short weeks my life would change. I distinctly remember the day Ian and I met, as does he. In the RA world there typically is a no dating the other staff policy, however things changed with Ian and I.
As I was working with my RA advisor, Megan we sat in her office and there was a knock on the door. Megan opened the door and I looked up and saw this handsome boy standing in the doorway. The next thing I remember is me standing up and Ian walking over and shaking my hand and introducing himself as a new staff member. (All I kept thinking is..Wow, he shook my hand!) Typically college boys just said "hey, what's up." But in that instance, I felt that there was something different about Ian. After Ian left the office, all I remember thinking was "WOW, he's really nice" A few days had passed and we had a staff dinner planned. During dinner I remember Ian and I talking and he asked me if I would want to come to his room since he hadnt got to talk to me as much as the other RA's. I said sure and he said he would call. After dinner, i had to be on desk duty in the dorms and 3 of my residents(Tara, Tina and Caroline) were visiting me when I "got the call.!" Ian and I decided after desk duty I would head over to his room........I was SOOOO giddy and excited, but was trying to convince myself that he wasn't interested, but Tina, Tara and Caroline were more than convinced he WAS interested. So, after desk duty I ran up to my room and changed and got ready....and headed to Ian's room. When I got there I remember having butterflies and being so unsure of myself. We decided to "watch" the movie "The Matrix" however 3 hours later when the movie ended we realized that we had been talking and sharing our stories with one another. I left and went back to my dorm room. As soon as I walked into the room, the phone rang and it was Ian just making sure I got back ok. (SO SWEET!!) Then I went down to Tara and Tina's room and couldnt stop smiling or talking about my night.
So for the next few weeks, Ian and I were "talking" as they say in the dating world. I was involved in "Tetelestai" which is an easter passion play. On April 21st, it was a Friday night and coincidentaly my granparents 50th wedding anniversary as well as a performance or should I say a prayerformance as we call them in the world of "Tetelestai" and Ian called and asked if he could come over before I left for the performance that night. I said sure. So it was probably about 3 or 4 in the afternoon and Ian arrives with flowers(lillies) to be exact and we sat and talked for a bit. Ian then very nervously asked me to be his girlfriend and asked if he could kiss me. I said "YES" to being his girlfriend but the kiss thing...well....he got a kiss on the cheek! So then I was off to the performance. Ian was on DUTY so he could not make it to a performance but we usually go out to eat afterwards and he agreed to meet up with me later and so he did and Ian got to meet my Tetelestai family!
A few weeks after we were officially dating, it was Mother's day and Ian had asked if he could come home with me! HOLY COW is all I thought. That meant he would be meeting my family! And so we headed home together and on this weekend he met my entire family and GUESS WHAT...they loved him, especially my Grandma. We were able to share with my Grandma and Grandpa that we actually started dating on their anniversary. The were elated and I remember my grandma taking Ian aside and talking with him privately. To this day that conversation is between Ian and my grandma!
As the months passed, Ian and my relationship became stronger with each passing day and he soon would be deployed to Germany with the Air Force for his annual 2 weeks of training. During this time is when I fell in love with him, because I realized how much he meant to me and how much joy and happiness he brought into my life. Once Ian returned, as we did every Sunday we went to church. As we are sitting in church Ian took his finger and wrote on my pants "I Love You" I remember being in shock as this is exactly how I felt and did the same thing on his pant leg with my finger!
After 11 months of dating, on March 6th, Ian proposed to me and asked me to "be his best friend for life" and of course i said "YES"
On July 6th, 2002....Ian and I exchanged our wedding vows with our closest friends and family. This was the happiest day of our life! Ian and I were ready to begin our life together!
