Sunday, November 04, 2007

Ah, Romance.



Good day, and welcome to day 4 of NoMoQuidProQuo. Today I address another Monkey question. "How did you meet your wife?" Back in 2000 I decided to go to grad school with the intention of becoming a college teacher. I was living with my then girlfriend, and life seemed to be going in the proper direction. Unfortunately a few months later said girlfriend decided that she didn't really love me after all, and I was shown the door. A short time thereafter I was going to lunch at school when I noticed that the skinny redhead from the costume shop was reading one of the Gor books in the cafeteria. The Gor series is a Science Fiction/Fantasy series that takes place in an alternate universe where men are warriors, and women are slaves. The books are very popular in the Dominance and Submission sub-culture, but it is a rare thing to find women reading them. Normally I am very shy around women, but for some reason I found myself saying something along the lines of 'You don't usually see women reading those books.' She laughed and agreed, and we started talking. I found out she was involved in the SCA(medieval reenactment group) and knew a lot of the same people I did. We talked a lot, and my interest was piqued. Over the next couple of weeks I contrived to join her for lunch whenever I could, and flirted shamelessly. Unfortunately, I later discovered, she was clueless to that, and just thought I was a nice guy. Finally I worked up the stones to ask her out. We went to a little Irish pub I knew of, then went to the beach where it was windy, chilly, and rainy...but that didn't put a damper on some serious making out.

Fast forward to 2002. She had graduated with her Bachelor's degree the semester prior, and I my graduation was pending. I was in a quandary. I knew that we had something special. Her folks liked me, as did her daughter, but was I ready for something more lasting? All I had to do was nothing, and we would end up in separate parts of the country, and that would be that. And I realized I did not want that. So I got a white gold and sapphire engagement ring and summoned my minions at school. Em was to meet me that afternoon at the theatre so we could go to dinner. Erin, one of my students, met her at the door and escorted her to a specific seat in the auditorium. Shannon and Julie were in the control booth waiting for my signal to kill the lights and start playing Aerosmith's I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing(Em's favorite song). In the dark I ran out and sat right in front of her. At a predetermined point in the song Shannon brought up the spot light I had prepared that focused on me. I told her how much I loved her, and how the prospect of life without her was unacceptable, then I got down on one knee, opened the ring box, and asked her to marry me. She hesitated about 2.5 nanoseconds then said yes. I put the ring on her finger, and as we embraced the girls put on Smashmouth's version of I'm A Believer. And there was much rejoicing.

Tomorrow I'll tell you about the wedding.

Peace,
Marius

5 comments:

stinkypaw said...

How cool was that! Can't wait to read the rest!

Anonymous said...

How amazingly romantic. You must have been pretty sure of her response! If not, that was an epic showing of courage. So- how long ago did this happen? And have you revealed your secret side by disclosing your lovely wife's reading material?

Anonymous said...

Great story!

She was in the SCA too? Did you both go to events together?

BTW, love the pic for the post.

- KA

Unknown said...

We have made it to a couple of events, but since I tend to work on weekends it has proven problematic. We were much more active in our shire in Louisiana, but both Marcaster and Wyvernewood are kinda far from where we live, so we've been slacking.

Anonymous said...

You're not the only slacker. Since my daughter has reached school age, I find my weekdays are filled with homework rather than going to local meetings and stuff.

But, some of the events are close, and we go to them to visit with our friends.

Maybe we'll see you at one soon (hint,hint)

- KA