Steve asked me to go for a drive.
It was deliberate, and planned.
It was deliberate, and planned.
He took me to the church building on Cedar and Bullard, the one my father and his father both worked on. The same building where we performed road shows and dance festivals and gave Sunday talks. The place I was baptized, and later, would hang around after mutual, to accidentally run into him. The building where his band played for dance after dance after dance.
He took my hand and led me into the cultural hall. We walked across the oak floor that I watched my father help lay, when I was 8 years old.
He led me to a spot, took my hands, looked into my eyes . . . . then said,
"It was right here. On New Years Eve 1969, I walked into this room and scanned the dance floor; you were standing right here, on this spot, talking to two guys. You were wearing a brown stripe satin dress and I liked your hair and you looked so pretty. . . . . I wanted to get to know you better. "
I wanted to get to know him better too. We had been on one date together (December 19th to be exact) and I was so nervous on that date that I didn't know if it went well or not, because I had never been on a date before. I did know one thing; I liked him, even if he took me out in an old blue electrician truck and didn't open the door for me. He did take me to a movie (Charlie) and then to Foster's Freeze for a hot fudge sundae, then he drove me down Belmont avenue so I could see what it meant to "cruise the main" (which is properly done on main street, but all we had was Belmont) and he made me laugh.
He got sick the next day, then his family went out of town for the holidays, so by the time the New Year's Eve dance rolled around, it had been 12 days since our date and I had not heard from him. I was convinced that I had ruined the date, and along with it, any chance of ever talking to him again.
My good mother came to the rescue. As Secretary for the LDS Institute, she knew all of the young singles and she invited them over to our house for a party after the dance. It was 1:00 am and I thought she was pretty cool. She must have planned ahead, because she served chips and dip and soda, three things we never had on hand. It was at that party that Steve and I did some flagrant flirting that led to his call the next day. . . .
. . . . . Steve and I stood on that spot and hugged for several minutes and he told me how much he loves me and how happy he is that he came to that dance, 40 years ago.
Since that night in 1969, we have called New Year's Eve our real anniversary
Happy 40th Anniversary to us
Happy 40th Anniversary to us
Happy New Year to you
13 comments:
Looking back 40 years ago, going to that dance and being with you was THE most wonderful and best event in my life. I am amazed that, today, you are even more beautiful, more fun, the greatest friend and a fabulous mother and "mema".
I love you!
I look forward to another 40 years with you!
what a cute story- and I like his tie :)
interesting break material there. i'm certainly glad things worked out so well...i am among many who have reaped benefits of this story. :)
How dad relived the memory of the story I've heard several times almost got me choked up! When Ili and I walked into your sacrament room on Sunday I replayed for him where he was sitting when I first saw him and we tried to repeat our first conversation together. It's fun to have great memories in specific locations.
That is the sweetest story! I love it. How wonderful to have these great memories. You two are adorable! Here's to another 40!
few are so lucky to have such a sweet story. Thanks for sharing, I was started tearing up on the third line.
So sweet! You guys are a great couple. I'm glad it all worked out.
And it makes me feel good to know that you didn't judge Dad for not opening the car door on your first date... because Zacho didn't open mine either :-) But he has every single opportunity since.
i'd just like to say that i did open chrissy's car door on that date...just not the first time we got into the car...didn't know it was a date yet. once i knew then it was game on. (.02)
So Zach, if I understand this right, you open car doors on dates, but not for the general female population?
Oh, and no need to get defensive, it has been established that Freeman girls are pretty forgiving of this omission....just another reason you and Chrissy are a perfect match :)
haha...you beat me to it. i was thinking about my comment and was just fixin to clarify that i don't think dates are the only time to be chivalrous.
but i should also add that the nerves of "is this a date or...what exactly is this?...and man she looks good in those boots" also had my head kinda spinning and thus the oversight... :)
Nice save
PS. I LOVED posing for these pictures with you!
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