Anniversary

Today is the 9 year anniversary of my first date with Scott. It was a snowy day, just like today. I was worried about going out with him - 10 years older, I was newly divorced, he was a neighbor of my parents, and since we were living with my folks, I didn't want to wrap them up in any of my dating, I was never getting remarried, and I would not date a Mormon boy/man, and on and on.

But - I went out with him anyway. We went to Mimi's, where he ordered a Diet Pepsi and a salad - which I thought was odd for a man. He had on a baby blue cable knit sweater that made his blue eyes shine. I wore a pair of black pants and a rust-colored sweater. We went from Mimi's to miniature golfing. I hadn't been in years. I didn't want to embarrass myself, and I was a little nervous. From there we went to the movie, "Cheaper by the Dozen" with Steve Martin. It was cute, Scott laughed and laughed.

Some highlights of the evening:
Scott talked about his years as an alcoholic and how AA was so important to him. I have a wallet-sized card of the Serenity Prayer and the Twelve Steps. I pulled that out of my wallet, it definitely made our conversation easier.
When we were golfing, a few strands of hair covered my eyes, he pushed the hair away - gently.
He stepped behind me, and repositioned my hands on the golf club, I got a hole-in-one.
After the movie, we went outside, in the still snowing evening. He had parked his car a ways away from the other cars - to protect his car. We had quite a walk, downhill. I put my arm through his, so I wouldn't slide. He later told me that was part of his plan!
I didn't fall in love with him that evening. He was nice, it was a nice date, but that was all. I left for Alabama the following day for a week and to do some job hunting.

Our second date, a few days into January, "Cold Mountain" was playing. I knew Scott like the Civil War, and I called him and invited him to go with me to the movie. Now there are at least 3 versions of what happened prior to and during that date. However - my version is: there was something between us. I didn't want there to be anything between us! I put my hand on his shoulder and told him I would be leaving Utah in the spring, heading to Alabama or DC to work. He took my hand, and said he was sorry to hear that, that he was hoping we could "get to know" each other.

Our third date was spent making out in my car, up Provo Canyon. We've been inseparable since.

This morning, we went for a walk, went to breakfast, he's off to buy a snow blower, and I'm off to bed, again. Lots of things have changed over the past 9 years, boy, have they. However - he still likes Diet Pepsi and salad (as do I), I get lost in his blue eyes, we watch movies together, we try to live by the Serenity Prayer and the Twelves Steps, and we occasionally find time to "make out." I'm grateful I took his arm that evening - he is truly a gentle man, and I'm blessed that we've had these 9 years to get to know each other.