On February 14, 1987, my roommate Bob and I headed off to dinner together at Liberty University’s food service hall, like we did just about every evening. The food this evening was far better than usual, the tables were decorated, and the lights were dim, for this night for some was a celebration of St. Valentines’ Day, the food service company did its best to make the evening pleasant for those unable or not disposed to celebrate in a more expensive manner. For juniors Bob and me, it was merely dinner… a much yummier dinner than usual, mind you, but still merely dinner.
A spunky sophomore named Robin Hall, with whom I had recently made only the slightest acquantaince happened to work part-time there at the food service hall. Perhaps she and her coworkers were just a bit tipsy with the spirit of impertinent commentary on all the gussied-up couples parading though the lines on this romantic evening, or perhaps for some reason lost to the sands of time this young woman thought to ask me and Bob where our dates were. I retorted, "What’s it to ya?" or something to that effect. Robin was I think taken a bit aback by this rejoinder, but I don’t recall what specific words immediately followed.
Bob and I discussed the matter merrily over dinner. During a trip back up for seconds (recall the food was much yummier than usual), I asked Robin if she would like to go get a cup of coffee with me after her shift was over. She said she would, tho’ I don’t think she drank any coffee. And thus, nineteen years ago this day, we had our first date. On that same night, upon dropping her off at her dorm minutes before curfew, as I walked around to open the door for her, she stole the keys out of the ignition while my ’71 Chevy Impala was running. Less than two years later, we were married. In 1991, she gave birth to our first child. In June of this year, if all goes well, she will give birth to our sixth.
That evening was an improbable beginning to a even less probable lifelong convergence of two previously independent lives. And I thank God for improbabilities.
Happy Valentines’ Day, Sweetie!
Ah, Irwin — that low-rumbling, gas-guzzling, vehicular behemoth — finally makes a blog appearance.
Wait. I can’t fathom it. Someone using the word “yummy” and “University’s food service hall” in the same paragraph? Does. not. compute. Illogical. Non sequitur. kernel panic… *crash*
Sorry. I come from a university (also in 1987) whose main dining hall, the Kiltie Cafe” was universally referred to as the “Kill-Me Cafe”. Neither good food nor a future wife came from that place.
kiltie cafe? that reminds me of the kiltie band….the band without pants in which a few of my friends played. they didn’t have a dining hall with the name of kiltie, though. that’s just cool.
I wasn’t raised in a particularly epicurean family. I found school food to be tolerable most of the time, and occasionally quite good, fattening, simple, but occasionally good. Now my wife has developed quite a knack in the kitchen and I have become accustomed to much better cooking, so I might think differently if I was to go back in time.
Minor error, but not worth drawing attention with an edit: “Less than two years later, we were married” should read: “About two years later, we were married.” It was actually more than two years, but leave it to me to not remember the date of my own anniversary (May 20… I think).
Yeah, Howard, it was only last year that Irwin was finally euthenized, tho’ he had laid in a coma (in back of our house) for nearly 6 years. That was a cool car, tho’ I didn’t get the dual exhaust and glass-pack mufflers (and mag-wheels!!) til after the date in question.
Now it works! (test)
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