Our First Date....

Leading up to the first date, we did the typical college student form of communication: AIM. For those not in the "know", that's AOL Instant Messenger. Yes, we lived about 20 feet away from each other, and yet, for the first couple of weeks before the first "official" date, we chatted and flirted online. I suppose it's because it felt easier and safer because it wasn't in person. Less intimidating perhaps?

Eventually several online conversations later, I received a text message asking if I wanted to go to dinner after work. At that point, I wasn't sure if it was a "date" or a "friend thing". I was hoping it was a date. I'd never been on a real date and the prospect gave me butterflies in my stomach. There was just something about him; I knew he was special.

After work on September 23, 2005, I got ready to go to dinner. He didn't tell me where, but I was prepared for anything. Considering we earned the pitiful minimum wage in the state of Florida, I wasn't expecting a three-course candlelit dinner. From what I remember now, when he came to pick me up across the hall, I couldn't help but smile. He didn't show up with any friends, and it was just us in the car... I thought, well, I guess it's a date. I figured that if he offered to pay, that would seal the deal.

We drove for a little bit and pulled into the parking lot of our destination: TGI Friday's. The one thing I remember vividly while we were ordering off the menu, was that he ordered a "cheeseburger without cheese". I thought that was a weird way of putting it, but I thought it was cute. Personally I would have asked for a hamburger, but whatever. When I asked him why he ordered it that way, he pointed to the menu where it said Cheeseburger, then under it in fine print it said Without Cheese.

I was a little nervous that our conversation would have the dreaded awkward pauses. But my mind was put at ease when it just flowed. We talked about our families and where we lived and where we went to college. It was an ideal first date conversation. And the rest, is history. I met my best friend and now I get to marry him and spend the rest of my life with him. I feel so lucky and blessed!

I knew he liked me...

especially after this day, when we went to Epcot with Michelle (one of my roomies).

I guess he thought it would be cute to let me know that he liked me by running into me and poking me like a first grader. Oh well, clearly, I bought into it. At this point I did wonder if he liked me, but we hadn't really said anything about it. Though, if I remember correctly, it was 3-4 days after this that we went on our first date. Awww memories.

How We Met...

We met back in August of 2005. I had decided that I wanted to delay my entry into the real working world by taking on a post-graduation internship at the "Happiest Place on Earth". It seemed like a bold move to fly out to Florida, not knowing what would happen once the internship was over.

I had flown in on a red eye with a layover in Miami. Bleary-eyed, I arrived at the housing complex for the Walt Disney World College Program Interns. I was assigned to Apt. 1801. I had five roommates, and I was the second to arrive to the apartment. I ended up sharing my room with a girl with a Kentucky twang.

A few days after settling into the new digs, and getting to know each other a little better, there was a knock on the door. It was a guy from Apt. 1802. At first glance, we weren't quite sure what he wanted or if we should accept the invitation. He was nice, but obviously trying to hit on any female he could. He wasn't exactly what I would call suave, but he was well-meaning. After a little coaxing, we agreed to venture across the hall and meet new people.

Cent and I met because we ended up sitting in closest proximity to each other. I wanted to meet new people and he was friendly. I had to have him repeat his full name at least twice, trying to perfectly replicate "Centurion" the way he pronounced it. (I still mess it up at times.) I can't even remember what we talked about that night, but I guess we left my roommates with the impression that I was totally into him. All I could say was "I was just sitting next to him!" They teased me that I liked him and that we would have little pennies and nickels. I suppose they were on to something...

We became good neighbors and then good friends. Then more than "just friends". And, as they say, the rest is history.