Twenty Years Ago

I graduated from GlenOak High School in 1988 and decided to head to Ohio University in the fall. My first day there I went over to visit a friend from school named Kathy. I didn’t know many people down there so I figured I would go and say hello. As I walked into her quad I met one of her roommates. She was this cute little blonde soccer freak. For the next few weeks I would visit Kathy to say hi….but really I wanted to see her roommate. A few weeks later I finally got the nerve to ask Beth out and the rest is, as they say, history.

While I was at OU I became friends with a fellow computer geek named Thad. Thad and I hit it off pretty well and we when he decided to move off campus for his last year at school and move into an apartment with his fiancee Sarah they invited me to join them to help split the rent costs. We had a blast in the apartment, ate lots of Hamburger Helper and mac and cheese, played a lot of computer games and I think we may have even done some studying (though it probably wasn’t much).

Thad and Sarah graduated in the spring of 1992, I had one year left and Beth was going back to get her masters degree. By this time we had been dating for four years. We had gone through some good times, some bad times, a lot of walks along the hocking river, endless times of me singing “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”, me sticking a spoon in a running blender with the lid off and the one meal of Beth’s that we can remember as being just plain awful (Fettuccine Alfredo – the sauce was bad and the noodles were giant clumps). As we headed into the summer I was thinking that it was probably time for me to pop the question.

On August 1st of 1992 Thad and Sarah got married and Beth and I were invited. At the reception it was conveniently set-up that Beth caught Sarah’s bouquet when the had all the single men line up and I THINK (though it was 20 years ago so I could be wrong) that I caught the garter. The next few minutes were a blur as it was at this point that I decided to get down on one knee in the middle of the dance floor and ask Beth to be my wife. Thankfully for me – she said yes.

Now I know there are some that may say I was “that guy” trying to steal the spotlight away from Thad and Sarah and I can tell you that was not my intention. I don’t remember but I’m sure I must have said something to Thad to clear it before I did it as I had the ring with me and he’s the one standing behind us in the pic below…but who knows. Sure, I probably could have done something more creative but it just seemed to feel right to do it at this time. These two had been such a part of our lives for the previous few years so it was pretty cool to be able to share the moment with them. Plus, Sarah was a beautiful bride so there was no chance of taking the spotlight for her (Thad on the other hand…I KID!!).

Thankfully a few years ago Thad came across this picture and sent it to me – a moment in time captured. I am so thankful that twenty years ago Beth said yes and that we have spent the last 20 years together (we will be married 19 years this October). Thank you Lord, for blessing me with an amazing woman who I love more today than I did 20 years ago.