Three Years

Tomorrow marks three years that Earl and I have been together, and I realize, I’ve never talked about our first date. I’ve meant too, but I’ve never gotten around to it until today. So here it is: 3 years later.

Some Background:

Earl and I had worked at the same place for  just over a year and a half but when he started I was married and well, that turned out horribly wrong (and is another story). I was moving out of the apartment I and my Ex husband had lived in and into a brand new development in Tempe with a friend. In passing I’d learned that Earl had experience moving furniture and asked him – since I had about 3 friends down here that weren’t also friends with my ex and he graciously agreed to help. I gave him my number on a company post-it note and then spent the next few days feeling like a total chicken and rather awkward about the fact that he hadn’t used the number.  (Later I’d find out that he couldn’t think of a good excuse to use it and in hind sight I hadn’t given him one.)

So. The day’s sort of pass and we get to 4pm on the Wednesday before thanksgiving (26^th in 2008), and I’m bored – as I usually am after 4 if I don’t have a book to read – and so I pick up the phone, call the counter extension and watch the little security monitor on my screen, hoping that David doesn’t pick up.

He doesn’t, and as soon as Earl gives his little schpiel that he’s supposed to give when he answers the phone I say –

Me: One or Two?

Him: What?

Me: Just pick one; One or Two?

Him: Two?

Me: Thanks. *Click*

Now, before you start to think I’m certifiable – as he pretty much did – I did have a reason to ask, and at the time, I didn’t have a quarter to flip, so that the most random option I had. Off the top of my head I don’t remember what I was deciding, but Two meant no.

Anyway, he texted me a few minutes later, and I was pretty sure he was a good guy… you guys, he used “Piqued” correctly in a text! And after that we texted for a while and basically it came down to him asking if I wanted to come hang out. So I did.

The Date:

I got to his apartment – which, truth be told was a scary thing, the complex didn’t seem to care about its parking lot lighting… or really any exterior lighting whatsoever – and we ended up putting in a movie that we talked through… and then 8 more that we talked through. I have only ever stayed up all night a total of about 5 times. And this 13 hour talking marathon was the most memorable. I got to his apartment at 7 on the 26^th and left at 8am on the 27^th…. Running home to shower, change and head off to my brother’s house for thanksgiving.

And after Thanksgiving, I ended up going back over to earls, where I did not stay up all night, but instead fell asleep on his couch and did my best not to drool.

And we’ve been together ever since.