Wouldn't you know, that mysterious guy Cliff and I ran into each other, again, about two weeks after that first chance encounter we shared in the Belmont Library. This time the setting was the Beaman Student Life Center and it was a 10 o'clock hour on Wednesday, November 17. I was there for my meeting with the Orientation Council and he was there on assignment with the Student Government Association.
Just a few minutes of cautious recognition and coy conversation were enough to make me realize there really was something about this guy. And I was interested in knowing what it was. Interested enough to do some strategic research, so that we were soon exchanging e-mails later that afternoon about the SGA project he was working on. Soon enough, short e-mails about a yearbook project turned into mini-books about our semesters, about our families, about where we were from, and about our aspirations. And then about getting our friends together, hanging out, and maybe going to Fall Follies together that weekend.
Then came November 19th. And one small, uncharacteristic act on my part changed the course of my life as I knew it. You see, earlier in the day, after lengthy conversation with my advisor/mentor/older brother figure, I decided to p.s. my phone number into an e-mail "in case he needed it for our plans for Fall Follies." About 7:20PM that night, I got a call from a number I didn't recognize and though I don't usually do this, decided to answer. It was Cliff. And it was an invitation to go out and grab something to eat with him. Seeing as I'd already had dinner, we opted for a dessert/dinner of sorts and decided to go to the Panera by his Music Row apartment. I ran to my roommates and told them, "I think I'm going on a date!" and then did the same over the phone with my mom and sister. I didn't really know what this was, but I decided it required a quick wardrobe change and possibly some styling of the hair. Date or no date, I was going to look good.
He picked me up in his little red Jimmy at the front gate of The Commons, and off to Panera we went. And over a piece of raspberry chocolate cake (for me) and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (for him) we talked for hours until the placed closed for the night. By the way, he paid. And then we played Nintendo and watched "Orca" at his apartment, laughing and falling in what you might call sincere like. I had never been so unguarded with anyone before, and I liked that about him.
Our first date felt like a week's worth of them rolled into one. And every November 19th since then has been a celebration of one of the most unexpected and most welcome gifts either of us have ever received.
Even today, four years later, the celebration is as joyful as ever. We call it our dativersary.
Just a few minutes of cautious recognition and coy conversation were enough to make me realize there really was something about this guy. And I was interested in knowing what it was. Interested enough to do some strategic research, so that we were soon exchanging e-mails later that afternoon about the SGA project he was working on. Soon enough, short e-mails about a yearbook project turned into mini-books about our semesters, about our families, about where we were from, and about our aspirations. And then about getting our friends together, hanging out, and maybe going to Fall Follies together that weekend.
Then came November 19th. And one small, uncharacteristic act on my part changed the course of my life as I knew it. You see, earlier in the day, after lengthy conversation with my advisor/mentor/older brother figure, I decided to p.s. my phone number into an e-mail "in case he needed it for our plans for Fall Follies." About 7:20PM that night, I got a call from a number I didn't recognize and though I don't usually do this, decided to answer. It was Cliff. And it was an invitation to go out and grab something to eat with him. Seeing as I'd already had dinner, we opted for a dessert/dinner of sorts and decided to go to the Panera by his Music Row apartment. I ran to my roommates and told them, "I think I'm going on a date!" and then did the same over the phone with my mom and sister. I didn't really know what this was, but I decided it required a quick wardrobe change and possibly some styling of the hair. Date or no date, I was going to look good.
He picked me up in his little red Jimmy at the front gate of The Commons, and off to Panera we went. And over a piece of raspberry chocolate cake (for me) and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (for him) we talked for hours until the placed closed for the night. By the way, he paid. And then we played Nintendo and watched "Orca" at his apartment, laughing and falling in what you might call sincere like. I had never been so unguarded with anyone before, and I liked that about him.
Our first date felt like a week's worth of them rolled into one. And every November 19th since then has been a celebration of one of the most unexpected and most welcome gifts either of us have ever received.
Even today, four years later, the celebration is as joyful as ever. We call it our dativersary.
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