The Beginning of Our Beginning

Tomorrow (5-10-90) Dave and I will celebrate 19 years of married bliss so naturally I have been thinking a lot about us lately. Our story is wonderful and unique and deserves re-telling.

This is the beginning of the beginning; let’s call it the first chapter.

Dave and I met on a warm summer night in Arvada, Colorado in 1987. I was a hard working college student, home for the summer.

Dave was also a hard working college student home (in Colorado Springs) for the summer.

I was alone as my family was on a little trip, (where and why I didn’t go I don’t even remember). I decided to go to go a single’s dance….alone. Weird. I never did dances alone. Dave was not alone. He was with his brothers Daniel (a recently returned missionary), Nathan (a missionary waiting to enter the MTC), his sister Debbie and Kelly Jennings both recent High School graduates. They traveled 1 ½ hours to Arvada to a single’s dance on a Saturday night. Weird. None or they had ever been to north to boogie with the singles before, or since.

The dance was sort of lame, just a small crowd that was almost doubled when the Williams' bus arrived.

The rest of what I remember of the night is a bit foggy, except for anything to do with Dave.

They say first impressions last a lifetime. It must be true; somehow as my memory starts to fade, the first sight of Dave gets sharper. Brace yourself. The first thing I saw was Dave’s red hair, and yes he did have hair, generous amounts! He was the first red head I ever remember that was really good looking. His smile was amazing. He could have been in a toothpaste commercial. I swear I saw a little glimmer and heard a little “ding” when he smiled at me.

The next thing that stood out was Dave’s pink (with black geometric lines) flannel shirt. Yes pink! (Have I ever seen Dave in pink since? No!) Oh I wish I had a photo. Gotta love those 80’s!

Also, what stands out in my mind…his dancing shoes!

Dave had a lot of energy and some “killer dance moves!” (I think he was in the D-Quan Boogie Video of the month club). I know you wish you could dance like that!

As the dance came to a close, I noticed the Williams’ milling around and then Dave came up and asked if I “knew a place they could go to get ice cream?” I thought it was a wired question just because the answerseemed a bit too obvious, but I went along with the gig. I don’t remember how it went down but for some reason I had Dave follow me in my car to the nearest Coco’s, your basic family restaurant where some of them ordered ice cream and I ordered ice water. I was broke, didn’t have a dime and I thought it much too forward to have Dave pay for me. Along with the cold stuff we have some "ice breaking questions" about everyone, and some laughs we decided to call it a night. When we were in the parking lot, Dave asked for my phone number and said he would call me and tell me when the next dance in Colorado Springs was, so I could come there…”with some of my friends.” I didn’t think I would take him up on his offer , but I kinda thought Dan was cute, and knowing that he would be at BYU in the fall when I would be there, I gave him my number. I found out much later that I was the first and last girl Dave had ever asked for a phone number from. He said he felt obligated (being the eldest) to show his two younger brothers just how to “pick up chicks.”