Quote of the Week

"We Must be Willing to Give Up the Life We Have Planned, So As to Have the Life that is Waiting for Us."
-Joseph Campbell
Week of Aug 12, 2013




Sunday, November 22, 2009

18 Years.

18 years ago today, Ryan and I went on our very first date. He had called me several days before to ask me out. I remember laughing to myself because he felt compelled to say he was "Ryan GERDING" - as if he feared I might not recall who this person was who was calling me.

I recalled. I recalled because I had that "moment." Someone once described it as "Your souls know, and pop out and wave to each other." So, maybe it's not quite love at first sight (or maybe it is) but I remember it as a quick fleeting moment of "huh - something significant here." I had only had it once before. I still remember that exact moment. A group of us were all walking together to a class - I was hanging back with some girls, he was a bit ahead with some guys. He was talking. Very animated. And at the moment when he was gesturing - I think re-doing a football pass - his hands were up, and I was looking at him talking, not hearing, that was the moment. A brief "slo-mo" of that "Hey, you paying attention here? This person is significant."

And then life passed. With several opportunities for our paths to cross again. And it was like fate was trying ... but we kept messing it up. But fate was set, and eventually it just came down to a phone call. A phone call that set fate's "big picture" in motion.

Now here we are, 18 years later. 13 years of marriage. Nearly 10 years of parenthood.
I do believe some things are just meant to be.

2 comments:

Lisa said...

You just melted away my usual snarky self.....it's lovely to know that sometimes fate really does get it right. Happy for you today.

Helen Cox said...

This is such a sweet story! Nothing can replace that moment when you just know you belong with someone. I'm very happy for you both! A lovely inspiring post :o).