Flashback: it's {all about him} and the first time we met...

Sometimes I lived vicariously through the life of my best friend Brandy. My job was fun, but I only worked with one or two people a night. Brandy, she worked with over 20. I was always jealous of the social factor involved with her job. So, every night after work, we’d climb into one of our beds and gossip. Gossip about our work, our coworkers, and anything else worth gossiping about.

After a while, I got to know her co-workers. Some personally, and some through the stories Brandy would tell. Jacob was a name I would hear often, although I had never met him.  

You see, apparently he was our home teacher. But he never came. Evidently he thought talking to Brandy at work would count. [Okay, so maybe he tried to come over but we were never available at the same time. He will be quite upset at me if I leave that little detail out. Future kids, your daddy was a great home teacher. Very persistent.]

But each night Jacob would ask Brandy how her roommate Kate was doing. The guy had never met me but still cared to ask about me. Maybe he felt it was his church “obligation” or maybe he was genuinely concerned for our welfare. Either way, what a guy.

Over time, Brandy and Jake got to be close friends. After several “we will catch you laters” she and I finally had a night where we could “hang out” with Jake and his roommate.  Ice Age 3D was our agenda. 

We had a great time. We laughed. We joked. We even stole. [Okay. So I stole. We needed an extra pair of 3D glasses for Jake’s friend who we may or may not have snuck into the theatre. Hey, it was their fault they left the box of recycled glasses unattended. Anyone could have reached in and taken a pair. I just happened to be that “anyone”. Don’t judge. Future kids, your dad made me do it. End of story.]

After the movie, we invited the guys over to our new apartment for games. Jake charmed me with a deck of cards. I was amazed. I think I made him show me the tricks about 20 times, begging him to reveal his secrets. [Ask him to show you his magic tricks sometime. They will charm you too.]

And then we ended the night. As friends.

If you would have asked me then, I would have said it would all end like that. Just friends.

Who would have thought that just shy of two years after this night we would be married? 

Turns out, Jake.

He claims this is the night he decided I was "the one".

When did I decide, you ask? Uhm, later. Much much later.

Why all the flashbacks? Find out here!