For Valentine's Day, I am remembering the story of us....
I was 18 years old, going to college and working full time at Long John Silver's. He was 20 and working selling Kirby vacuum cleaners. One day he was working in my town (an hour away from where he lived) and stopped for lunch at the Long John Silver's drive-thru. I saw him at the window from across the room and there was an instant reaction in my mind..."I'm going to marry him." We exchanged glances, or maybe long stares, before he got his food and drove away. I couldn't get him off my mind after that.
About an hour later, guess who comes walking through the door. My heart was racing--I just knew he was going to talk to me. But, no. He asked my co-worker for directions to Wal-Mart, cast a quick glance in my direction, and left again. I was so disappointed.
Then maybe another hour later, guess who! This time he ordered a fish sandwich, sat down and ate it while I anxiously waited for him to finally come talk to me. I just knew what he kept coming back for! But again, he left.
After that I thought about that guy every single day. I watched the door, waiting for him to walk though it because I just knew he would come back. I had no doubt. It was just a matter of when.
That day came only a week later. He came in for lunch during a busy time at Long John's. I was very busy working, but my mind was on the cute guy sitting by the window. Then, after the crowds had died down, I looked over and saw him standing at the counter looking at me. Nervously, I walked over and he said what I knew he would say, "Can I call you sometime?" Yes! Of course! I tried not to act too excited as I wrote down my name and phone number. He handed me his: Kevin Thomas. What a perfect name. When I read it, it sounded like home.
A few days later my phone finally rang. It was him. He told me that he had been thinking of me since the first time he saw me and a song was what gave him the courage to finally come back and talk to me. And he sang it to me. The first time we ever talked, he sang to me! He sang this song, which became our song:
Once in Lifetime Love
Girl I know you don't really know me
Still I want you to listen closely
This might sound crazy
But after all isn't love like that
I would be crazy to let this moment pass
What if I don't say what's on my mind
And you walk away
I might live out my life
And never feel this way
What if you are the one
That I'm meant to love
What if tonight is the night
What if once in a lifetime love
Don't come twice
Girl take a chance, time is unfolding
We could be blessed without even knowing
Just for a minute
Close your eyes and don't take another breath
'Cause what if you miss it
And it never comes again
What if you don't say what's on your mind
And I walk away
You might live out your life
And never feel this way
What if I am the one
That you're meant to love
And what if tonight is the night
What if once in a lifetime love
Don't come twice
I don't wanna wake up by myself
Years from now wishin'
That I'd told you what I felt
Your eyes are a window to your soul
If you don't open up
I may never know
What if we don't say what's on our minds
And we walk away
We might live out our lives
And never feel this way
What if I am the one
And you are the one
What if tonight is the night
What if once in a lifetime love
Don't come twice
Listen to this song here.
Well, as you can imagine I absolutely melted. It felt like a dream. I still knew I was going to marry him and as I got to know him, I knew it more and more.
Six months to the day of our first date, he put a beautiful engagement ring on my finger. And five months after that, on May 5, 2001, we began our adventure together as husband and wife. Almost ten years and six children later, I can honestly say I love him more than I ever have. It hasn't been a fairy tale--we still have our ups and downs, but looking at the big picture I can see how much we have grown and how it's getting better and better with every year. The past ten years really have been an adventure and I can't wait to see what the next ten years hold for us.
And the name Kevin Thomas still sounds like home. I love you, Kevin. Happy Valentine's Day.
