Our Story - Lisa
THE STORY OF US
By: Lisa Taylor
Here's a brief (yeah-right!) story of us. We met during our Junior Year at Calvin College, in Grand Rapids, MI. I was a Business Major, minoring in Computer Science. David was a Psychology Major who decided 1/2 way through college to also major in Computer Science. During the fall semester we had two classes together. In those classes there were three (count them-one, two, three) girls, and about 50 bazillion guys (ok, 25 or so). Needless to say, the three of us girls stood out a bit. Anyway, we had lab projects due all the time, and the three of us girls stuck together and usually met in the lab to work on them together. David was friends with one of those girls, and she invited him to join us. The first things I noticed about him (besides his good looks!) was he was smart and kind. I mentioned one time that I had a test I needed to go and study for, and the next day he asked how the test went! I know that sounds silly, but the fact that he noticed what I said, remembered it, and asked about it seemed really sweet to me. Anyway, we spent hours in the lab together, often late at night too. Whenever I decided to leave, he would always miraculously be ready to leave too. To be truthful, I almost made it into a game (you know, see if he'd follow my cue-he did!)! He would always walk me to my car (such a gentleman), and we'd usually stay out and talk for awhile before we headed our separate ways. In addition we also started working on math homework together. David noticed where I settled in to do my homework, and he'd come and join me!
On Halloween night (2000) he came over to my house (under the guise that we were going to work on math homework), and ended up talking for like 7 hours! One of my roommates interrogated him, making sure he was suitable for me! Poor guy! But it was fun. I should also mention, that around this time we also started talking on the phone at nights... sometimes until the wee hours of the morning (leading to some extremely high phone bills for him, because he talked on his cell phone, but that's another story!). He called my house I believe on two different occasions, asking if I wanted to join him and others in some activity. The first time, it was a movie, I believe and I didn't get the message until late (like midnight... after the movie was over!), so I didn't call him back. The next time he was asking if I wanted to go rollerblading with him. I also didn't get this message until late, and again, neglected to call him back. At some point, I started feeling real bad about not calling him back. I don't remember if I called him back, or just talked to him in person, but I did acknowledge that he called me, and apologized for not calling back! I should mention that to this day, I still get teased about how I never called him back!
Anyway, on November 15th, after a bit of phone tag (yes, I did call him back this time!), we finally connected. He seemed a bit nervous, and that made me nervous too! He asked what I was doing (making small talk), and I told him that I was making dinner. Disappointed, he asked what I was making. I told him I wasn't sure yet, I was just boiling water! He said, "I have an idea for you. How about you let me take you out to dinner?!" I was floored, and hardly knew what to say to that. But I said sure! He came and picked me up, and we went to Papa Vino's, and excellent Italian restaurant. Then we went back to his house, and chilled in his room, listened to music, talked, and got harassed by his roommates (yeah, I'm pretty sure that Nate played EVERY song ever written with the word "kiss" in it... EVERY song! And he'd look over at us every time that word was said! Seriously now... come on! We're in college!). After our first date followed several other ones, all went equally as well. I was hooked! First kiss happened a few weeks after the first date. It was one of those magical moments! : LOL! Seriously, though, it was like time stopped and went into slow motion. I can remember like it was yesterday (and so can he, for that matter). What makes me laugh so hard thinking back on it was how nervous he was, and how nervous I was (though I'm not sure I was as nervous as he was, which is ironic!). He was hugging me goodbye, and I totally knew he wanted to kiss me, but I played cool! Our faces brushed up against each other as we pulled away from the hug, and he gently brushed my lips with his. It was quite romantic-like in the movies!
ANYWAY... we dated, blah, blah, blah... in March, after spring break (which we went our separate ways for), we came back and were hanging out for the first time. He was real quiet and awkward... I wasn't too sure why, but he was real cuddly, needing affection, etc. So, after like probably 2 hours of him clearly being nervous about SOMETHING, he says, "There's something that I've been wanting to tell you... (silence)...(more silence)... I love you!" He was so darn cute about it. I knew what he was going to say, all that time too! Anyway, I said I loved him too (which I meant with my whole heart... but being a semi-traditionalist, wanted to wait until he said it first!).
About 6 months later... in November, about a week before our 1 year anniversary, he proposed! I knew it was coming (well, I didn't know exactly when, but I had an idea-we had been ring shopping, and I'd picked out several ones I liked!). Our story isn't as romantic as some, but it was sweet, and I like it just the same! He came over to my house one evening, and we were going to be hanging out together, nothing big. He seemed real nervous, and that made me real nervous too... like almost sick nervous. I was sitting on his lap, and could about feel his heart beating out of his chest! Poor guy! Anyway, he asked if he could take me out to dinner, and if I would go as his finance?! He got down on his knee, and asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes! He then said that he had something for me, and pulled out a box with the most beautiful ring I could imagine. I know every girl thinks their ring is the coolest, but mine really is!!! I just love it. Well, he had two of our best friends down in the basement, waiting for us to come down (they had snuck in the house). We got all dressed up (he had brought a shirt & tie) and we went down and they took pictures for us! He took me to dinner at a very nice restaurant (Gibson's). I couldn't stop starring at my ring, and felt almost self-conscious because I felt like everyone there was staring at me and my ginormous diamond! After dinner we went downtown to the tallest hotel (in Grand Rapids, keep in mind!), they have a cafe their top level. We sat in these comfortable lounge chairs, and had cappuccino's and a great time! We called our parents and some of our friends, all who were very excited. We were also able to look out on the city from up there, and it was a beautiful view. We spent a lot of time staring at my ring, and trying to pinch ourselves back into reality!! Eventually, we set our wedding date for about 8 months later, on August 17, 2002.