For the first couple of months we would chat occasionally and update each other on our lives. I would complain about relationship problems and he would talk about work and the few girls that had crossed his path. Soon he got a new job and I didn't hear from him for a while. During this time, my whole life was crashing. I hated my life and especially the guy I was with. For some reason I felt trapped -- like I couldn't do anything about the situation. Eventually I was pushed to the point where I snapped and basically told my boyfriend where to go. This was around the beginning/middle of December. At some point during this time I decided to check in with Dave, see how he was doing, and tell him what was going on with me. So I sent him an e-mail that said, "Hi! Did you die or what? Just curious." He found this extremely funny and was obligated to respond, thus starting our occasional chats again.
After Christmas break I came back to school on New Year's Eve. That night was a turning point for me because I decided it was time to put things behind me and move on with my life. Soon after, Dave and I began chatting more often. I really enjoyed having him listen to my reflections on my life -- why things were the way they were, what I wanted to change, and how I could go about making those changes. I soon realized that no matter what I told him, he was still there to listen when most people would have been scared away. It was because of this that I really began to trust Dave and rely on him being there for me.
One day Dave and I were chatting and I mentioned that I did not want to go home after graduation. I told him that I wanted to get an apartment and needed to find a roommate. He said, "Pick me! Pick me!" to which I responded, "I gladly would!" We discussed it a bit -- rather jokingly at first, but with both of us really thinking it would be beneficial. (I needed a roommate and he needed a place to live in this area since he wants to attend school in Massachusetts.) Somewhere around this time we were chatting and Dave kept getting phone calls on the other line. Every time he typed, "brb.. phone." I would respond with, "It's not me!" I said this several times and then suddenly his phone number appeared on the screen. I was pleasantly surprised and typed, "Ooh! Is that a hint?" then promptly gave him my number of course!
Dave called me the next night (Thursday) -- first from work for about and hour, then from home for another three hours. I really have no idea what we talked about, but I know we hit it off really well and for the first time in my life I was left completely speechless. I would try to tell people about the phone call, but when I opened my mouth nothing came out! I tried to put my feelings down on paper and came up with the following:
"It was so weird talking to him, but weird in a good sense! We are so much alike that it is totally scary... I have never met someone that I felt like I connected with like I do with Dave. It is just so strange. The only way I can describe what it felt like talking to him is to describe it as the most unbelievable calming feeling. I just feel so calm and relaxed and connected talking to him. It is such a personal and overwhelming sensation that I can?t even talk to other people about it. I open my mouth and nothing comes out. It doesn't matter anyways because Dave is the only one who would understand what I meant. I just can't shake the feeling that he and I were supposed to meet -- now -- at this point in our lives."
I can honestly say that it was at this point, right after we first talked on the phone, that I knew Dave was the guy I was going to spend the rest of my life with -- and the possibility of a relationship had yet to surface!
Dave called me again the following Tuesday and we talked for 3 � hours before we had to pry ourselves away from the phone. During this conversation he told me that he definitely wanted to visit (to meet me and look at schools and such) -- SOON! I said, "ok... just let me know when." A week later he arrived in Rhode Island.
The weather that night was horrible -- torrential downpours! Dave's travel plans got so mixed up that neither of us really knew when he would show up. I ended up arriving at the train station about 15 minutes after he did. It really baffled me that I was not nervous at all about meeting him -- only about having to find the train station in the dark! Because of the rain, I had accepted that there was no point in trying to look nice to impress him -- and I didn't really feel the need to anyways. I got completely drenched in the 30 second walk from my car to the station. I walked into the train station, saw Dave sitting on a bench, and slowly approached. The first words out of my mouth were, "Hi! I look like a drowned rat!" He just laughed and gave me a huge hug!
When we got back to my place, Dave said he was completely exhausted and needed to get some sleep. I couldn't bear the thought of him being away from me for 2 seconds now that I had him here, so I told him that I really didn't mind if he wanted to sleep on my bedroom floor. He happily agreed and we ended up talking and laughing until 2 am! So much for getting some sleep!
The following day, Wednesday, was a blast! We talked, laughed, listened to music, etc... And OK, I will admit that I was the one who started the dart gun fight, but it was NOT me that started the ping pong ball gun fight! We were racing around my apartment -- first shooting rubber darts, then ping pong balls. Then we decided the guns didn't shoot well, so we just started chucking ping pong balls at each other. This resulted in hiding behind furniture, and at one point I even ended up in the closet -- Dave outside just waiting for me to dare open the door! Eventually we both just collapsed from exhaustion and just sat there and laughed some more.
Despite the fact that we were both having more fun than we had ever imagined, there was still a bit of apprehension in the air. We both felt so comfortable and at ease around each other that neither of us could tell if the other was interested in being more than just friends. That night we were watching TV in my friend's room. Dave later admitted to me that he wanted to reach over and hold my hand that night -- I had been sitting there wishing the same thing!
Everything was finally settled the next day, Thursday. We were both so tired, so we decided to take an afternoon nap. But, as we had already proven, it was impossible to sleep with us so busy talking and laughing. So there I was on my bed and Dave was on the floor. I really do not know, nor do I care, who started the pillow fight. The next thing I knew, Dave was sitting next to me on the bed and I was cowering under my pillow. Then I hit him with it again, so he decided to try and take it away from me! This only resulted in me getting dragged onto the floor! I decided that I was not moving, so I curled up in my blanket and stayed right there.
At some point in an earlier conversation, Dave and I had discussed, at great length, how you can't go out and look for true love -- you have to wait for it to basically come right up and slap you in the face -- and you will certainly know when it happens! So there we were, both laying on the floor, when suddenly I rolled over and smacked Dave across the face with my pillow. As soon as I did it, I remembered that conversation and immediately burst out laughing. I was absolutely in hysterics over the irony of the situation and refused to tell him what was so funny.
The next thing I knew, Dave had decided to try again to take my pillow away from me. I was not about to give in (based on an earlier conversation about neither of us ever admitting defeat) and the more he tried to get it, the tighter I held on. Somehow this ended up with Dave putting his arms around me and trying to wrestle the pillow away -- but I would not let go! I have no idea how long this lasted. Thinking back now it seems like a scene from a movie. Everything was just too perfect and exciting and romantic for it to happen in real life.
Finally we dropped and ended up laying on the floor -- me with my head on his arm. The first thing he said was, "I admit defeat!" I just smirked -- still holding the pillow in a death grip of course! (There is some speculation now whether or not Dave was really tired or if he just wanted to bring things to a point where he could finally figure out if there was something more than friendship!) It was quiet for a moment, then he asked if I was comfy. I said, "Yup! I ain?t movin!" He said, "Good." Then he reached over and put his other arm around me and asked if I was still comfy. I said, "Yup!" We laid there for a bit until we had to move to get more comfortable. The next thing I knew we kissed! It was the most amazing, magical kiss I have ever experienced and the moment almost seemed to linger there forever. (Wow! Makes my heart skip a beat just thinking about it!) We didn't really discuss whether or not we were a couple ? we pretty much just accepted that, then and there, life felt right.
One day on TV I saw a Taco Bell commercial advertising the new talking Taco Bell chihuahuas. I fell in love with the one that says, "I think I'm in love!" and for some reason the thought popped into my head "Dave will buy it for me when he is here." The Thursday he was here he told me he had a surprise for me, but I would have to give him directions to the place. Without him saying any more, I told him he would not have to ask for directions and he would see what I meant later. (my work is right in front of Taco Bell) He gave it away when we drove by and he said, "Oh. You're right -- I dont have to ask for directions." Now we joke that it didn't take much to win me over -- just a three dollar stuffed dog!
Dave had to return to Indiana after only a week here. Needless to say it was a very teary departure -- for both of us!! As I was leaving the train station I turned on the radio and the first song I heard was Aerosmith's "I don't wanna miss a thing." I just sat in my car and bawled my eyes out because the song was just so perfect to describe the past week. The whole time Dave was here we hardly got any sleep. I think both of us didn't dare sleep for fear of missing something precious during those moments of slumber.
So now Dave is back in Indiana and I am here in Rhode Island -- but this is not for much longer! I graduate in May and Dave is moving to the area so we can get an apartment together. We decided that our relationship shouldn't stop us from moving in together (well, that and we want to anyways!) so we are going ahead with that plan. While he was here for that one week we managed to coexist in my apartment just fine. He was not in my way at all and even pitched in with the responsibilities. We even somehow worked out sharing one car -- even with my school and work schedule, I didn't feel compromised at all. We can't stand being away from each other, but I think we are handling things just fine -- after all, May is not THAT far away! We have actually rather enjoyed this time to talk and learn more about each other and what we have in common. I could go on forever about the strange similarities between us! Neither of us really watches much TV, we would both rather listen to music! When we do watch TV, we BOTH watch the same thing -- the Wednesday night lineup on ABC! We are both fanatics of Dharma & Greg and have found a lot of similarities between us and them. Dave's last name is even Montgomery! I told him that was as close to being Dharma as I would ever get!! As for music, we both have similar views on the subject. We both like to listen to a variety of stuff, but mostly concentrate on classic rock. We both have become obsessed with The Moody Blues. Incidentally, before Dave came to visit I was dealing with issues about the whole internet thing, so I decided to listen to The Moody Blues to calm me down. I came across my favorite song quote which I had (sadly) forgotten about.
"The words that I remember from my childhood still are true: that there's none so blind as those who will not see . And to those who lack the courage, say it's dangerous to try, well they just don't know that love eternal will not be denied." -- I know you're out there somewhere
This quote put things in perspective for me and definitely convinced me that I was doing the right thing by meeting Dave. (I never had any doubts, it was some of my friends who were having problems with it.) This quote has come to mean quite a lot to Dave and I -- especially since we both love to analyze songs and the lyrics in them!
Other things about Dave and I include our ability to know what the other is thinking and to finish each other's sentences. We also have a lot of strange coincidences between us, the strangest being something I now refer to as the "22 connection." My birthday is March 22, Dave's birthday is July 22, my graduation is May 22, we first talked on the phone on January 22, he is 22, I am 22, we first met on 2/2, etc... I found this rather amusing until one day I had a dream. In this dream Dave sent me a card acknowledging my fears about growing up and asking me how I felt about getting married in 36 months. (I found it funny -- 36 months instead of 3 years!) When I told Dave about the dream he just kind of laughed. Then he did some checking and found out that 36 months from the day we met falls on a Saturday. We joked a bit about it being the perfect day to get married, but then a few minutes later I realized what the date was -- 02/02/2002! Up until this point nothing had phased me about our relationship -- but this threw me for a loop! It was a bit too freaky for me to handle! I calmed down after a few days however, and have now decided to let things take their own course. There must have been a reason why I had that dream and I am willing to accept things the way they are. Don't get me wrong though... I LOVE the way things have turned out! As it stands, we are not "officially" engaged, but we both know that is what we want in the future and we agree that 02/02/02 would be the perfect day to get married! Up until now nothing in my life has ever made sense to me, but I can honestly say that "Dave makes sense."
Update August 31, 1999
There are a few things to update since this story was written. First of all, Dave is not 22 anymore :( but he DID propose to me on his 23rd birthday, July 22. Also, we officially moved in together May 22, our house number is 22, and Dave special ordered my ring to be .22 ct. The Moody Blues have since become very important in our lives and we finally will get the chance to see them live TONIGHT!!! (8/31/99)
Update January 16, 2000
Well, we survived Y2K!!!! Just wanted to update the story a little bit since it has been a while. We are fast approaching our one year anniversary on February 2nd. WOW! Hard to believe a whole year has gone by! As of January 22 it will be one year since I first heard Dave's wonderful voice and six months since he proposed to me! :) We don't really have big plans for our anniversary, maybe a nice romantic dinner out. What I am REALLY looking forward to is our Valentine's Day plans. We aren't actually doing anything on the 14th, but on the 15 we are getting the perfectly timed opportunity to see the Moody Blues in concert again. Dave knows I have a surprise for him, but he doesn't know what it is yet!! (hee hee... what fun!!) The best part is that the tickets are SIXTH ROW!!!! I'm sure I'll end up telling him before the concert, but it's still a wonderful surprise! What could be a more perfect Valentine's Day celebration for us than getting to see the Moody Blues in concert? :)