That night we talked. And talked. And talked some more. Probably until about 3am. And I felt magic.

The next night was a group night – a small group at the church that got together every Monday. I knew he’d be there. I waited to see if I would feel the same magic, if he would see me and have a smile. He did. We talked late into the night again. That night he kissed me.

The next night… More talking. Late into that night, he asked me to marry him.

No. Really. He asked me to marry him on night three.

I said yes.

We thought of as crazy. In fact, we lost a lot of friends. The only people actually for us marrying were both sets of parents. I would have thought it would be the opposite. But apparently our parents all saw something. Neither of us were clueless. We’d both been engaged and in long term relationships before. The best explanation I can provide is that we simply Knew.

We eloped. It was us, our parents, my best friend, and his brother. I got to have my flowers and dress. It was simple, and lovely. A wedding on a lake with snow on the mountains in the distance.

That was 11 years, 2 sons, 6 cats, a snake, a guinea pig, various fish, 4 moves, and two towns ago. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I married my Jay. That guy. My Poe.

Go Back to the Beginning

The next class was held in a different classroom. The set up was different. Instead of a room of desks facing forward to the teacher, it was smaller. Desks set in a U to face each other with the teacher at the front middle. It made a more intimate setting, one more for discussion than teacher lecturing.

I walked in and set up my caffeination. 3 Jolts all lined up in a row in front of me. It was a night class after a full day’s work.

That guy walked in with an older man. He set up his caffeination. 3 Mountain Dews all lined up in a row in front of him. If you ask him, that’s when he noticed me. Our eyes met in mutual understanding of exhaustion.

In that class, for about a month, we talked. We talked only as it pertained to class and group discussions. No personal stuff. The older man he came with was his dad.

We talked once in a break. He went outside to stand on the balcony. I went to the restroom, and then hung back watching him. I wanted to talk to him, but I didn’t have the courage. He did.

Move on to Part V
Start from the Beginning

I decided to take some Bible college classes through my church. All the classes I registered for, however, got canceled.

I’m sure it was just coincidence. *snort*

As a result, I ended up in another whole set of classes, but thought it would be fine. Not the content I was thinking I would learn, but so be it.

I showed up to class on the first night, and I was running a little late. By this time, I was working in a local drug store (oh, the irony) and had run straight from work. Literally. I had to walk everywhere. I was a smidge late, so I took a chair in the back. And lo and behold… I could tell by the back of the head. THAT GUY was in my class. I stared at the back of his head the whole time.

I asked that guy later if he remembered me from that class that night. The answer was no. He actually had his eye on another chick. Another chick who never came back to class.

Another coincidence? Yeah. Sure.

Move on to Part IV
Start from the Beginning

Thanksgiving came around. One thing that the pastor liked to do was have anyone who wanted to say something they were thankful for stand up and say anything. Open Mic Night at the church, so to speak.

I was alone. I was always alone. I didn’t make many friends up north. I was dealing with so much baggage, it probably hung around me like a fog. A warning beacon for people not to get too close to me. I was new in my faith, though, so I tried to make every church service there was in order to learn.

And sure enough. There he was. The guy from the bookstore.

He stood up to say that he was thankful for his parents. Thankful for their help and their standing by him in his recent troubles.

Again, I thought, “I’m going to marry that man.”

And then I decided to take some Bible classes. God had begun a journey in me.

Move on to Part III
Start from the Beginning