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Feel Free to Skip This Post

Posted by Stephen Green · 1 August 2003

A year ago Sunday she said "I do," and I was done in.

OK, that's a lie. I was done in at Old Chicago the night we met.

I was there with The Gang for a Friday night of Drunk Pool. I'd left our table to go get another Fat Tire at the bar. A typically crowded weekend night at a typical chain bar, I'd stepped up to the only empty spot, in front of the cash register. I know that's usually the place voted Least Likely to Get You a Drink Quickly (neck and neck with the spot where the cocktail waitresses pick up their orders), but it was the only spot I could wedge in. She wedged in the remaining smidge of an empty spot next to me, having just arrived to meet a girlfriend for a cocktail or three.

I looked over and fell a little in love right then. Mr. Too-Shy found himself asking, too quickly to get all worked up and nervous about it, "So what are you drinking?" She told me, and I told Jaime (my Old C bartender since Christ was a corporal) what to get us.

Then she told me her name in a confident voice and I fell a little more in love.

Within 40 minutes, we'd already broken all The Rules for First Dates. Somehow, I'd invited her to my best friend Don's pajama party the next night, and promised to make her beef stroganoff with a lovely Pinot Noir on Sunday. We were, I think, both still sober.

Then she said something I couldn't quite hear, so I reached over and touched her arm. And I could feel it all the way down to my toes.

Three weeks later I was forced to admit to my best (and recently neglected) female friend Deb that I was in love. A week after that, Melissa and I had The Talk.

"There's a word I think we both want to use, but it's too soon," I said, trying desperately to play it cool – which is never, ever cool. "All I ask is that you let me say it first."

"Too soon" ended up being maybe a week early. And, yes, I said it first.

That was March. By May I was educating myself about diamonds so I could buy a proper engagement ring. Ordered the ring on September 10, 2001 – but that's another story.

I won't bore you with all the tear-jerking details of the proposal story, other than to tell you I hit her with a double whammy – a surprise proposal immediately followed by a surprise birthday/engagement party. Nine months later we were wed.

She lets me love her, and she loves me back. I'm still not certain which part is better.

Happy first anniversary, hon.

Comments

Happy First Anniversary!

Posted by: bogie at August 1, 2003 04:45 AM

Great story. I forsee many happy years for you both. Happy anniversary, Melissa and Stephen!

Posted by: Cop Car at August 1, 2003 05:16 AM

That was a great post. Happy first anniversary, and may your 50th be as wonderful as this one.

Posted by: am at August 1, 2003 06:34 AM

Hapy anniversary to both of you Stephen.

May it last forever and a day. :)

Posted by: Garrett at August 1, 2003 06:41 AM

My gift to you both is another letter "p" for that first word. ;)

Posted by: Garrett at August 1, 2003 06:42 AM

Wow, it's been a year already! Happy anniversary to you both.

Cheers!

Posted by: Andrew Duncalfe at August 1, 2003 07:17 AM

Sweetie, you aren't supposed to make your wife cry at work!

I love you!

MUAH!

Posted by: Melissa at August 1, 2003 07:40 AM

Missy, I cried too. Steve, ya done good**

Posted by: Kat at August 1, 2003 08:22 AM

Thank you (sniff!) for sharing that great story with us. Now the only thing missing is the patter of little feet in your home. Yep, kids, rugrats, offspring.

Posted by: Bloodthirsty Warmonger at August 1, 2003 08:59 AM

Happy Anniversary to you both!

Great piece, Steve. Most guys won't admit to saying "the thing" first.

Guts and class. That's a pretty good combo, dude.

Posted by: Phil at August 1, 2003 09:15 AM

great post Stephen.

Especially resonant for me, as I got married two weeks ago myself.

all the best,

Posted by: Jeremy Nolen at August 1, 2003 09:38 AM

Somewhere along the line I heard the two of you compaired to Monica and Chandler. There isn't a friends writer that could compose the poetry you two make. I know you both and I couldn't think of a better match. Happy A-day guys, you deserve it.

Posted by: pete at August 1, 2003 12:17 PM

loving
or being loved
which is better?

what difference does it make,
when you've got both...?

Me too,
for five years and two months,
as of today.

As for forever,
I say:
take forever
one day at a time...

Most heartfelt congratulations
and thanks for sharing.

teary, too....

Posted by: Cliff at August 1, 2003 04:53 PM

Happy anniversary to you both!! and Steve......BORE US!!!! Everyone loves a love story... and you and Melissa have such a romantic one....

Posted by: Tanya at August 1, 2003 06:09 PM

*sniffle* congratulations, you two.

Posted by: tanya at August 1, 2003 07:08 PM

If you gonna show your heart, at least include a piccie of the two of you!

Posted by: Ilona at August 2, 2003 07:16 AM

Dammit, I HAVE VERY STRICT RULES about crying first thing Saturday morning!!!!

Posted by: sulizano at August 2, 2003 09:50 AM

Superb post! Happy Anniversary!

Posted by: Buffy at August 2, 2003 12:35 PM

It makes my whole weekend to see a love story involving a guy who knows how to spell Stephen. (or "Stephen", as "Reuters" might say)

There's nothing like looking back at that moment when you realize that she thinks you're wonderful. Even though you can't quite figure out why, when nobody else ever has. You just have to subscribe to the theory that some people are just meant for each other.

Hold on to that.

Posted by: Stephen Lassey at August 2, 2003 12:48 PM

Happy Aniversary to both of you. It's hard to believe it has already been a year. It seems like only a few months ago that I met both of you and you were planning your bachelor party. Time certainly has a way of flying by.

Posted by: dever at August 4, 2003 12:22 AM

A very happy anniversary to you both. And congrats to Stephen for snagging such an obviously wonderful lady.

Posted by: Pejman Yousefzadeh at August 4, 2003 03:04 PM

Blessings from an old lady who married a properly spelled Stephen also a long time ago. You seem to have made a great and very sweet start.

Posted by: pbird at August 4, 2003 04:03 PM

Congrats. It's heartening to see this sort of thing going on out there.

Maybe you want to bail on the cookbook and do a romance book instead?

Posted by: Balasubramania's Mania at August 5, 2003 04:19 PM