Wednesday, February 11, 2009

My True Love, Part 1


One of the first questions I often get when I go out with my husband is, "How did you two meet?" I guess it would be the fact that he is indeed Irish and I am obviously not. The accents give us away.

The answer? We met at summer camp.

Okay, so we were working at summer camp. It sounds better when you say it the other way though, doesn't it?

Our first picture together, Summer 2001

I'd had enough of the camp I'd worked at in Texas and wanted a change. I found a camp that was located on a college campus in the same city where my grandparents live. I'd been a program director at my old camp, but I made as much money/more money as a regular counselor at the new camp so I decided to go for it.

The Irishman met our boss at a job fair in Ireland. Sue is obsessed with all things Irish has since become a very good friend to us. She has also since admitted that she liked the Irishman's friend right away but wasn't so sure about the Irishman. Noel worked at camp one summer and the Irishman worked there five plus summers.

My first summer there the Irishman was my boss on the administrative team. I was actually dating someone else that summer. I had been with the "someone else" for about five years. (I also think a now happily married "someone else" may read my blog from time to time, so I'll leave it at that.)

The Irishman had traveled after working at camp each summer. He and his insanely large bag he always managed to fill with books old red backpack have seen more the the US than I have. When I needed someone to ride with me from Florida to Arkansas via Houston after my father and "someone else" both backed out, the Irishman volunteered for the road trip. We'd become friends over the summer, so I didn't mind the company. (There was supposed to be another counselor with us, but he got fired the last night of camp for something I refused to allow in my car.) The Irishman and I set off and took cheesy pictures at each "Welcome to" sign as we went on our way. Nothing happened, but we were asked in Louisiana if we were married.


Old photos I later scanned from our "Road Trip"

We kept in touch as friends over the next year via e-mails. He sent me great e-mails he'd been sending to his sisters in Australia to help keep them from being homesick. (That was the year he took a job as a postman...oh the stories of the yellow bike...) I broke things off with "someone else" the next November and the Irishman was a supportive friend via AOL Instant Messenger. I did not fully comprehend the time difference back then. He was staying up very late to speak with me. I loved typing talking to him. I looked forward to catching him online!

That sping, I needed a date for my sorority formal. I'd had a built in date for the previous 5 years. I was getting extremely worried about it. The Irishman stepped up. He flew across the pond for the formal. He spent a crazy amount of time and money many hours getting to Fayetteville, AR for a two day visit.

He says now he looks at that as an investment. I'm so glad that he did!

10 comments:

Rachel said...

What a flashback! That brought me back to that glorious final year at Fayetteville and the beloved house. Its amazing how much happier it seems in flashbacks :)

Oh, and LOL at the "nothing happened" statement. We were all just shocked that you drove that far with someone that we had not heard or seen before. (Note - this was before iphones and before I had a cell phone (gasp)). Modern technology has come a long way!

And finally, congrats to "somebody else." I hadn't heard, and that's wonderful news!

Anonymous said...

This has got to be one of the sweetest stories. How truly blessed you both are - doesn't God work in mysterious ways!?! I want to hear about the engagement next!

Kristen said...

Thank you so much for sharing your sweet love story! You are truly blessed!

Natalie said...

great story! i am glad he made that investment too...sounds like you are very happy together.

i grew up in AR and had several friends go to UofA. i moved to TX for college and never left...found my man here!!!

IE Mommy Blogger said...

Loved the story. Thanks for sharing. Swing by the IE Mommy to read mine. I am off to read more!

MN Mom said...

I so enjoyed reading your "Love Story"! I think you were totally meant for each other. Glad the "someone else" didn't last. The Irishman is so sweet!

Anglophile Football Fanatic said...

The pictures didn't load for me, but how wonderful that he flew across the pond for you. Very romantic.

Heather said...

What a great story! I'm eagerly awaiting the continuation...

Agate Lake Girl said...

Summer camp - that may ben even cuter than high school sweethearts. :)

Decor To Adore said...

I am a bit late in visiting via the SWAK carnival, but what a great story!