Four Years Ago...

....I met my future husband. Who knew that a short four years later we would be married with two kids, (one breathing, one almost) a mortgage, a full set of China and a list of babysitters taped to our cabinet.

We were set up on a blind date and decided to meet at Applebee's. It was a short date, probably less than an hour.  Joe ate like a bird and I was embarrassed that I could pack in more than he could.  I was impressed by how polite and humble he was and thought it was sweet that he made sure I wouldn't be offended if he ordered a beer. I had a some friends spying on us from a few booths away.  Not because I was scared that Joe would be a creeper, but mainly because we thought it was be funny. It was pretty funny. I eyed them as we were leaving and I got teased at the length (or lack of ) of my date.

Before my date with Joe I had been on a number of first dates ( I guess when you're 24 and single it is people's goal in life to set you up!) and I knew something was different about this kid (I say kid because he is a whole two years and one week younger than I am!).  I knew I wanted him to call me and I knew I wanted to see him again.  I pretended to my friends that I could take it or leave it.  I told them I thought he was cute and nice and that I would say yes to a second date, but they didn't know how much I was truly hoping I would land that second (third, fourth..etc...) date.

I wasn't very nervous for the initial date.  I even contemplated say no to being set up because I was sick of stupid blind dates. But, I agreed, thinking that if anything it would be a funny story...because my blind dating history was full of funny stories.  To the point where my friend Lindsey (who also is full of funny first date stories) and I were going to write a book titled: 24 and Single.

Funny stories like the guy who kept on telling me how nervous he was the whole date as he would wipe his sweaty palms on his pants continually.  And that was the same date that dragged on, and on, and on.  Where we met at the FleetFarm parking lot and he had nothing planned so it was a whole lot of "I don't care, what do you want to do?" Which lead to dinner and then bowling and ...let's just say it was a long night. Or the date where the guy kept on swearing and then invited me back to his place to watch a movie.  I didn't have a good excuse up my sleeve, so I sucked it up for another two hours.  Two ours of a totally inappropriate movie.  Or the date where the guy didn't have any cash on him so he had me pay for the 5 minute massages that he insisted we get at a Calhoun Square kiosk. And then proceeded to tell me that the only thing his ex girlfriend ever bought him was a picture of a tiger.  And he didn't want me to come to his house because there were beer can pyramids in his kitchen.  There was another date at Tiger Sushi at MOA where we had nothing in common. Nothing. He was into tattoos, chewing tobacco and raves. All of these dates were due to someone setting us up. Someone who knew both me and Mr. Blind Date and thought we'd hit it off.  Funny!

I am glad that my cousin Randi saw something in Joe that she figured I would like (besides the whole dark and handsome thing :-) ) and I am even more glad that we both agreed to get set up.  Joe was way more hesitant than I was, although I would have never guessed it based on our first few dates.

4.5 months later we talked 'forever', two weeks after that there was a ring on my finger and 6 months later we made a vow to love each other for better or for worse.  Best decision I've made to date!

So, happy first date anniversary to us! Cheers!