Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Love Story

He was sixteen when I met him. He was broad shouldered and long-limbed, sitting at my friend’s kitchen table at her sixteenth birthday party. His dark brown hair swooped away from his temples like the wings of a dark, glossy bird, and though he wasn’t talking, his chocolate brown eyes took in everything around him.

I remember his white T-shirt, and his surprisingly strong looking forearms, and how uncomfortable he looked. When I was introduced to him, he barely even looked at me. Despite his less than encouraging reaction to me, my heart beat jarringly within my chest, and I spent the rest of the party pretending to follow conversations—all the while sneaking looks and wondering if he noticed me too.

By the end of the night, my trademark lack of patience got the best of me, and I followed him to his car. The chill of that September night blanketed every surface in dewy splendor, and I remember the millions of tiny droplets on his car, reflecting the rising moon like so many fallen stars.

I wanted him to ask me for my number. Instead, he gave me his. I didn’t know then how shy he really was. With a groan of frustration, I ripped the paper in half and gave him my number anyway.

And then I waited.

I don’t remember when he called, but I do recall meeting at our friend’s house once again, sitting on the carpeted basement steps and wanting him to kiss me so bad, I thought I might burst. Each breath was ripe with possibilities, each shared glance bringing us closer to that inevitable moment. But it wouldn’t happen there. That was for a different night.

A night that will always be a favorite memory. The inky black sky, the quiet of his neighborhood near midnight. Sitting on the trunk of my maroon’86 Oldsmobile. My rapid breath betrayed by the cold night air as it crystallized between us and floated to the heavens. Anticipation coursing through me like a torturous, delicious drug. At long last he leaned toward me, and I toward him. His first kiss.

My last first kiss.

Months later, I remember sitting in his little white car in my parents’ driveway, the drenching summer rain holding us hostage as we were serenaded by the thwap of windshield wipers and the tinny strains of Sweet Home Alabama floating though the humid air. His dark velvet gaze was leveled evenly on me—no more shyness between us. And then those three words spoken, not even fully formed before they were reciprocated. There was no doubt in my mind, in my soul, or in my heart. I loved him. He was meant for me, and I for him.

Everything about him was the perfect foil to me. Patience to my impatience, calmness to my restlessness, introverted to my extroverted. The classic yin and yang. He was good, and sweet, and infinitely kind.

Four and half years after we met, when we were oh-so-mature juniors in college together, a letter arrived at my work. Leave now, it said, and put on your best dress. Be ready by 6. Dinner, a show, a walk at midnight. At last his knee touched the pavement, on a winter’s night in South Carolina, and before the dormant fountain and sleepy, bare trees, he said those magic words. The moon itself nestled in a little black box, anchored by white gold and soft velvet, and with a single, whispered yes, he placed it on my finger. I cried and clung to him, loving this perfect man who loved me back.

A scant two weeks after graduating college, exactly ten years ago today, in fact, I awoke in my childhood bedroom in the gloomy light of dawn, giddy, electric nerves dancing through my every cell. The day somehow rushed by with exquisite slowness, snippets and moments preserved in memory among the whirlwind that was to be my wedding day. The artful working of my hair, the soft tickle of makeup brushes across my cheeks and nose, the jarring smell of nail polish. A blue garter, a white dress, a sparkling tiara, and yards and yards of the precious veil I had spent months making by hand. Stepping from the blinding sunlight into the cool, dark church, and then . . . there he was.

A hundred pairs of eyes watched us, but we only saw each other. His smile . . . I’ll remember it forever. His words of promise, his warm fingers sliding cold metal onto my finger, and then his lips on mine. Joined together as one, at long last. My husband. Are there any sweeter words in the English language?

I remember thinking things could never be better than they were that moment, when we ran from the church and laughed as we embraced, a symphony of tolling bells ringing in our ears and making the very air we breathed dance with excitement.

But I was wrong.

It did get better. It does get better. Every morning I wake with him by my side, every shared kiss, every time his fingers touch mine or I hear his voice on the phone, my life gets that much richer. His quiet words of support, his endless championing and his faith in me even when I had none in myself; all of it is precious to me.

I know, dear Cake Reader, that I am blessed. I am a writer because of some small seed of talent God planted in me. I am a writer of romance because I know love so completely. I am a writer of romance pursuing my dreams because of the man who makes it all possible.

To Kirk ~ My Love, My Life, My Very Best Friend ~ Happy Tenth Anniversary.

At the tender age of seventeen :)


June 2, 2001


On our fifth anniversary


Seventh Anniversary

A candid shot on our 8th anniversary



9th Anniversary. My Hero :)

32 comments:

  1. Good LORD! You two are pretty much the cutest thing I have ever seen, and very clearly Meant To Be. Congratulations, and many happy returns of the day!

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  2. Aww, thanks Erica! Meant To Be, yes indeed :) Thanks for stopping by, sweetie!

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  3. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Awesomeness in words. I LOVE love stories!!

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  4. That is the sweetest post ever. Congratulations on your tenth anniversary, and may, in another twenty years time, you both be just as in love with each other.

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  5. LOL, Aimee, I'm so glad you loved our story :) Thanks for the great compliment, as well!

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  6. *grins* Thanks, Aislinn! I am very much looking forward to spending the rest of my life with that man :) I hope we'll be that ancient, tottering old couple in the park, holding hands on our daily constitutional :)

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  7. Many congratulations on a life-long love story!

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  8. Girl, your posts ALWAYS knock me out, but this one is absolutely perfect. I'm sitting here all misty, loving every single description of the two of you falling in love.

    *sniff* I've got to re-read it now.

    Happy Anniversary. And see what you can do about getting Kirk cloned. :)

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  9. Thank you so much, Deb! I'm so glad that all my friends are a bunch of romantics, too :)

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  10. Getting right on the cloned thing, Donna ;) Thank you so much for your wonderfully kind words! Sometimes the words almost write themselves, and it's always when the inspiration is greatest. Read away, my friend, read away :)

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  11. Wow, how sweet. Happy anniversary, Erin! There's no doubt you are a writer after reading this! I couldn't stop smiling. =)

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  12. Happy Anniversary! Thank you so much for sharing your lahve story!!!! So sweet and beautiful! I wish you and Kirk many, many more blissful years together.

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  13. Wow, this is the second tenth anniversary post I've read this morning. There must have been so much love in the air that day. I'm teary reading your beautiful tribute to Kirk and your love. Happy Anniversary.

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  14. Exactly the reaction I would hope for - smiles for all! Thank you, Gwen, for sharing in our special day - it makes my heart happy :)

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  15. LOL, our 'lahve' story :) I know, Marquita, that you and your dh are lucky have a great love story as well... even if it does involve getting locked in a truck ;) Thanks for the well-wishes!

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  16. Thanks so much, MaryC, for stopping by to say hello! I just LOVE those days when love is the order of the day, don't you? :)

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  17. So sweet! And you two just get better and better looking as the years go by. How can I get some of that karma? ;)

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  18. LOL, Sonja - That's the best compliment I've had all day ;) You're so funny - thanks so much for dropping by!

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  19. I'm green with envy, Erin. I wish my marriage had been so sweet. I wished I could have thought my marriage got better with each passing year. Yet...I'm still with my hubby after 26 years. But we're such good friends now and I do love him, so I guess it wasn't that bad, right? Still...your marriage has definitely been a Love Story!

    ~Marie~

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  20. 26 years?! I'd say that is pretty darn great, Marie :) A friendship and love with our significant others is a beautiful thing!

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  21. I'm crying in my PT's waiting room. Beautiful. Just beautiful. Blessings and joy to you both always:)

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  22. Well, I hope those are happy tears, my dear :) Thank you for the blessing and joy - I will happily take them both!

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  23. Happy Anniversary, Erin! How sweet this story is. :) Thanks for sharing with us.

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  24. Thank you so much, Marnee! It is so sweet of you to join in our happy day :) Now if he would just get home from work, life would be perfect, lol!

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  25. A lovely love love letter. Congrats you two!

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  26. Beautful love story. It made me tear up. Grats, Erin! May every year be better than the last.

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  27. Thanks Ryan! I'm not sure if it compares to the love letters you are rumored to write, but I think it turned out well ;)

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  28. You are so sweet, Suzie- thanks so much!

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  29. I know I'm a day late, but Happy Anniversary!!! I loved reading your story - it's so romantic and told so beautifully :) Here's to many, many more anniversaries for you and Kirk :)

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  30. Selfishly, I'm glad you found Kirk too -- I've enjoyed 10 years of ping pong and video games! But seriously, this was beautifully said, and I wish you another 10 wonderful years and more.

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  31. Thank you Jerrica - and happy 7th anniversary back at you! May we both enjoy many, many more happy years with our hubbies :)

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  32. Do true, Andy - I don't know who you would have played with all these Christmases and family gathers ;) Thanks for stopping by - can't wait to see you soon!

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