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Thursday, February 14, 2008

How I Met My Honey

On Tues, Barb of A New Chelsea Morning, asked the question How Did You Meet Your Honey. We've known each other for 17 or 18 years; I don't remember if we actually knew each other in 1988 or 1989, but anyway, here's our story!

We both went to the same high school in Zweibrucken, Germany. I don't remember having any classes together, but I know he was in ROTC and my brother was in ROTC too, we also had some mutual friends so we would see each other around school.

We were at the July 4th festivities on the base in 1989. We ended up hanging out with each other for a while and then standing next to each other during the fireworks (I think he actually was trying to plan it this way!)

During the fireworks show he leaned over and said, "what would a beautiful girl say if I asked her out?" Sweet and romantic wasn't he? I felt my face get all flushed and I was nervous, but inside I was thinking, "oh please don't let him be asking me out!" I mumbled something like "I don't know" and then he said, "well I'm asking one out now." (My thoughts - "oh darn darn darn! He IS asking me out! Oh man, how do I get out of this? How do I say no without hurting his feelings?")

Yes you can say "aaaahhhh" and feel sorry for Joe now, but hear my side of it first! I'm a year older than him (well technically only 9 months); I know, I know...but really...it was a month before I turned 16, when school started I was going to be a junior and he would be a sophomore (not that big of a deal now I know!) but remember when you were 16? Did you want to date a younger guy? LOL

But that wasn't the only thing - I actually liked someone else and was hoping this someone else would ask me out. So somehow I told Joe no, but I think I went easy on him! I think I just admitted that I liked someone else. He got over it pretty easily because before long he was dating someone else - so I guess it all worked out!

I think after that I had a "soft spot" for him. When I left Zweibrucken the summer after my junior year I didn't have my yearbook - they were delayed with printing. I had a friend of mine pick up my yearbook and get those all important signatures! I remember when I finally got that yearbook and flipping through to read all the messages; when I came across Joe's message I got a huge smile on my face and thinking, "aww he got Joe to sign it!"

About 7 or 8 years after I left Germany I got back in touch with Joe. Internet is a wonderful thing isn't it? I happened to come across an alumni site someone started for our high school and was reading the names of former students who had registered. There was Joe's name! I smiled upon reading his name and quickly sent him off an email. In the email I wrote, "not sure if you'll remember me, but this is so-and-so, blah blah blah."

He emailed me back writing, "of course I remember you! The girl I had such a crush on but wouldn't give me the time of day!" We emailed back and forth a few times and then lost touch again. (I found out later he had been deployed to Saudi Arabia a couple times and it just made keeping in touch hard).

Probably about a year later I was working at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and decided to call the base operator at Hill AFB in UT to see if he was still stationed there. He was. I got his work number and called him (I couldn't believe I had butterflies in my stomach waiting for him to come to the phone). When he found out I was in Colorado he told me he was a mentor with a high school honor guard and they were going to be at the Air Force Academy that weekend for a competition! Was I meant to call him when I did or what? If I hadn't called him then I would have never known he was at the Academy!

He arrived and met me at work and we went out for lunch. This was the first time we had seen each other in about 9-10 years. I remember he paid for lunch and when I protested he said, "oh just let me do this since you never let me take you out in high school!" He just wouldn't let me live that down huh?

This time we stayed in touch via emails and phone calls and an occasional visit. He then got orders to go to Korea for a year. Before he left we realized there was something between us and we wanted to see where it would lead, so we had a "long-distance" relationship the best we could. He came to visit me when he was on his mid-tour from Korea. When he returned stateside for good he was stationed in NM, about an 8 hr drive from where I was. We managed to visit each other about every other month.

In April of 2000 he showed up at my apartment for a surprise visit...I was not expecting him. We became engaged during that visit and were married later that year. And it didn't even matter that I was a year older than him! :)

So there you have it - the story of how we met!

49 comments:

Barb said...

What a great story, Michelle. I can see why you weren't really interested in high school. No one dated a boy younger than them. But of course as we get older that doesn't matter at all.

So you worked in Colorado Springs. Do you know I've lived in Colorado since 1969 and only been there once?

At six years you two are still practically newlyweds. :-)

Happy Anniversary and thank you for sharing this story with us.

Michelle said...

Awww - that's so cool!
Happy Anniversary you two!!!

Leslie said...

Awwww...happy anniversary! I love those stories!

I'm 3 months older than Todd and be-lieve me, he doesn't let me forget it. You'd think I was his grandmother for those 3 months the way he carries on about it! Sheeeeesh!

:)

Carole Burant said...

What a wonderful story and you two were certainly meant to get together...there was a reason you two didn't connect "that" way right away and the years in between finally paid off:-)Happy Anniversary to you and Joe...will look forward to hearing how you celebrated!! It was Blogger that was acting up yesterday...many people on the help page were complaining they were getting the error page whatever blog they were trying to access, including their own. Seems better today:-) Hugs!

Overwhelmed! said...

Ah, I'm glad you finally decided to share this story! I loved hearing it!

Happy 6th Anniversary to you and Joe! I hope you have many, many more years together. You two make a cute couple. :)

Oh, and before I forget, the dried beef that you asked about...I buy Hormel's brand and at my grocery store it was in the same isle as the canned vegetables. On that isle sign it said "canned meat" and the jarred dried beef was there! Hope that helps. :)

Unknown said...

When you are meant to be together, you will be together. Wonderful story!

Anonymous said...

That is such a great story. Great how you got back in touch.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Birthday Kelly!

Anonymous said...

I love hearing this story. I remember the night Joe asked you to marry him. I can't remember if you were crying on the phone or not though... Happy Anniversary!! Love you guys!
Oh! I completely forgot that Kelly's birthday is right before your anniversary! Happy Birthday Kelly!!

Robin said...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

jotcr2 said...

I love hearing about how people met. It is always a good yarn

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary!!

That is such a beautiful story! Thanks for sharing it! We are going to celebrate 5 years this year and it seems so crazy that it has been that long!

Anonymous said...

Michelle & Joe Happy 6th Anniversary!!!! I always thought it was so neat how you met and then thru the years, you connected again and then.........Married!!!!!!!and then came Kayla!!!!!!!!!!!! What more could one ask for..... Beautiful........Memories...... a cherished story to be told over and over and over every anniversary!!!!!!! Love Mom

Anonymous said...

P.S. WOW!! You've raised a lot of money already!!

Anonymous said...

P.S. WOW!! You've raised a lot of money already!!

Anonymous said...

Oh how sweet! Happy anniversary ~ you are obviously each other's destiny!

Beck said...

That's a beautiful story and OF COURSE you didn't want to date someone younger than you in high school! But I'm so glad things worked out.

K.T. is Mommatude said...

Happy Anniversary!!!!!!That is really romantic-makes mine sound kind of blah-LOL

Pamela said...

Michelle, I am so glad I stumbled on this sweet little post...*smile* It was definitely fate Michelle, I have goose bumps, that you met in Germany and then met up again, years later...ooh la la!!!

I just love your "love story"! I was born in Colorado. :) My Mom's has several relatives from NM.

Catch said...

I loved the story!!!! How neat that you two actually got together after all those years! It was meant to be!!! Thank you for sharing..it is a great story!

mindi said...

Very sweet! Happy anniversary!

Christina said...

That is so neat! I am goin to try to put our meeting together tonight sometime. Yours is really cool though!

Shannon @ Gabi's World said...

I remember that story. Happy Valentine's Day!

Glo said...

I have something for you over at my blog. Come over and pick a bunch.

Glo said...

I have something for you over at my blog. Come over and pick a bunch.

Tricia said...

Awwwww....how lovely. Kismet! :)

Sandra said...

I remember your story Michelle and I never get tired of hearing it :)

The Adoption Of William said...

Awww that is such a great story. Thanks for sharing!

With Love and Hope,

William's Mom

Tarrah said...

What a great story, good of you too chase after him and make some of those 1st calls :)

Karen said...

I love hearing how couples get together, and yours is a winner. Thanks for sharing!

Michelle said...

That's so sweet! The Lord definitely works things out when they are meant to be!

Rachel said...

This is a sweet story. And your daughter is so beautiful!

Dena said...

What a great story!

Joanne Huffman said...

I know this isn't a comment about your Valentine's post. I can't find your email anywhere and I was delighted to find I won your drawing for the friendship picture. My email is thiemehuffman@yahoo.com If you email me, I will very happily send you my snail mail address. Many thanks,
Joanne

Catlin Humes said...

loved reading your story thanks for sharing!

Joyfulness said...

What a sweet story!

Julie said...

That is a beautiful story.

Susie Q said...

Such a sweet story dear Michelle!
You and Joe were surely meant to be together...soulmates. YOu can take that from an old married lady of almost 30 years!
Happy Anniversary!

And guess what, not that it is SO exciting but YOU won my giveaway!
Yippee!!! So just email me your address and I will get it out to you no later than Monday!

Thanks so much for entering it and being a part of OHOW!

Happy Valentine's Day dear Michelle...please give that little sweetheart Kayla a kiss from me.

Hugs,
Sue

Susie Q said...

Oops...I guess I should leave you the email...
combs_sue@yahoo.com


Thanks again!!!

Hugs,
Sue

Anonymous said...

That story doesn't get old. I read through it a year and a half ago with a big smile on my face and I read through the whole thing again today smiling just as much.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Mrs. M said...

Your story is so great too! Isn't it great to love someone so much still?! I think long distance dating actually makes a relationship stronger! I know it did us!

Killlashandra said...

That's a great story of long time love and interest. It's cool how somethings just plain work out.

Ms. Kathleen said...

That is such a sweet story. God does work all things out for good! And I understand very well that at 16 you do want to date a guy who can drive! Happy Anniversary!

Anonymous said...

aww Cail and I actually met in a very similiar way. We were friends in high school and I had the biggest crush. Found him about 5 years later on classmates.com and sent him an email. Got together again, he asked me to be his girlfriend and the rest is history!

Theresa said...

That is such a beautiful story. It was all about timing! Thanks for sharing. Theresa

Nancy said...

Yay! Love conquers all!

Barb said...

How funny to come here and read the comment I left when you participated in my How I Met My Honey thing, good grief, two years ago!

I see you're still home. Hmmmm. Maybe this is the weekend? I click over here all the time, hoping to see a status report posted by your husband. Can't wait - the suspense is killing me since we don't know this baby's sex. LOL

Sue said...

You hanging in there ok? I remember you posting this - a great story. Amazing how things work out like that. I knew Jerome in high school and we even hated each other for a while. Go figure...

Faithfulmommy said...

AWWWWWW!! That is really sweet!!

Anonymous said...

"What would a beautiful girl say if I asked her out" is a hella suave pickup line. I would have wet my pants laughing.