I met my husband online. On Match.com to be exact.
We met three years ago. Back when there was no Tinder. It was still considered a last resort to go online to try to find someone. In fact, when I told my best friend I was getting on Match, she said, "oh I'm nowhere near desperate enough to do that." There was a stigma, and I tried to keep it a secret.
I was what you might call a serial dater. I've had a boyfriend since I was 16 or 17, and I've always been in long term relationships. I loved the comfort of having a boyfriend, and I was used to it.
When I was 27 I found myself newly single and lost. I remember saying to that same best friend, "I don't know anyone I want to date. If there was someone in my life who I wanted to date I would have already done it." With that attitude, I let my friend Laura set up a Match.com account for me. Within a few days she spotted Jimmy. He lived in Virginia Highland and listed live music, travel and skiing under his interests. Even though I wasn't sold on the idea, I reached out to him. I think my email said something like, "I like your interests and think we have a lot in common."
A few days later I met him at Bocado for dinner. It was not the type of thing where he walked in and I thought, "there's the man I'm going to spend the rest of my life with." I thought he was handsome and very easy to talk with. I knew I could spend more time with him, and I left the date feeling happy, but I did not let myself get too excited.
A few days later he texted me and asked if I would like to go to the Jimmy Buffett show with him and his friends. I absolutely love concerts and was in the process of trying to get friends to go with me to this one. I accepted right away.
There was so much excitement in the air that day. It had been so long since I'd been on a real date. I spent all day at work with Laura going on and on about what we thought would happen. Finally around two I couldn't stand it anymore and just left to get my hair done... perfect employee.
That night I arrived at Jimmy's house for the concert, and we all got in a cab to go to the show. It was awkward and a little uncomfortable but so much fun. We got drinks and some hamburgers and settled in to watch the show. At one point I asked Jimmy a question and he couldn't hear me. He leaned over to say something to me and put his hand on my back. I swear to you that the place on my back where he put his hand was on fire. I've never felt anything like it before, and it took me totally by surprise.
At the end of the night we kissed goodnight... a few times (soon right...second date! ha). I got in my car and drove back to our office to process photos (it was Spring and I left the office in the middle of the day, so this makes sense). My uncle was still there when I got there. He asked how the night was and I just said, "I had so much fun" with the biggest smile on my face. I sat in front of my computer doing my work and could not stop smiling.
The rest of the Summer went on like that. A string of shows and smiles and laughs. People said to me my whole life, "when you know you know." I always thought that was the dumbest phrase. In every relationship I was in, I would think it was "the one" and would always tell myself I knew.
With Jimmy I knew. I knew almost immediately. There was never a doubt in my mind. My friend Shelley told me at one point that the best person to marry is the one you can drink beer with. I thought she was being funny, but the longer I'm with Jimmy the more I think she's right. There is NOTHING I'd rather do than sit on our back porch at the end of the day and have a beer and just talk to the person I love more than anything in the world.
Jimmy, I love you so much. Thank you for marrying me two years ago. I cannot imagine my life without you, and there is nobody in this world I would rather spend every single day with. I am more in love with you today that I was the day we got married. Thank you for loving me and letting me be who I am. I did not believe in miracles until I met you, but the fact that I did and I get to spend my life with you is the biggest miracle. Thank you my love. Happy Anniversary.