Story time

Well, get comfortable. I just realized that it has been 10 years today since I met Chris. So, I thought I'd entertain everyone with a story about said meeting.

One lovely saturday in March, I got home from work wanting to go to a baptism. A girl (Marsha Mark*) in my ward was being baptized. Now, I hadn't officially met her. She technically didn't live in our ward boundaries; her "friend" (now "husband") did. She had only been to our ward twice. And I was usually playing prelude while everyone else was socializing. However, I like baptisms. I was anxious to meet her and get to know her. Plus, I was in the Relief Society presidency and felt a little obligation to go. But I didn't have a car and Carrie wasn't home. I called around in the ward, but couldn't find a ride. So, I decided to stay home and clean out the fridge instead. (Also a worthwhile activity.)

Luckily, my friend, Danielle, arranged a ride for me (and for herself). So I went to the baptism with a bunch of people. We were squished in the car and I didn't even have a seatbelt on. Oh no, I thought, my mom's not going to like this. When I turned 16, she made me promise her that I would never, never ride in a car without a seatbelt. And if I ever died without a seatbelt on, my mother would never speak to me again.

Anyway... (I can tell this is going to be a long story.) I got to the baptism and quietly found a seat by my friend whose name I can't remember. She was a really pretty Maori girl from California. Hmmm...we used to visit teach her. I worked with her. I supervised her, in fact, at the MTC. We sat in the back row. ELSA! I think her name is Elsa! I saw a few people milling around in the front preparing for the service. I saw one particularly handsome young fellah holding some music and standing near the piano. I thought, "Wow. He's good-looking. I should talk to him after the baptism." And then I laughed at myself because by that point in my life, I had sworn off ever, ever talking to a boy ever again. Too much pain.

The service started. It was lovely. There was one musical number. The boys from the BYU a capella group Vocal Point sang "In This Very Room." Eight of them sang back-up. They were all off-key. But that good-looking boy I had noticed previously sang the lead. He was on-key. (I know what you are thinking--maybe he was the one off key and everyone else was on. Give me credit for enough of a musical ear to at least know the difference.) I thought his voice was rich and beautiful. So I said to myself, "Well, there is a perfect 'in.' What an easy way to start a conversation--by complimenting his singing." And then I nearly laughed right out loud at myself. I was really done initiating conversations with boys. They're so dumb and they cause so much pain.

After the meeting, I was standing by myself eating refreshments. I'm better at eating than socializing. My friend Scott came over to chat. Scott and I were in the same ward and we also worked together at the MTC. I really liked talking to him. It turns out, Scott was in Vocal Point. I didn't even know he could sing. We chatted along and then Chris (oh wait, he was still nameless in my story)...and then that good-looking boy came up, pointed at me, and said, "You're cool and I don't even know you." I took the opportunity to compliment his singing. We began to chat casually. And I noticed out of the corner of my eye Scott looking back and forth at us and then slowly backing away.

Chris and I chatted for a while. And then he left. He didn't get my phone number. That was weird, I thought. I went home. At the next Relief Society presidency meeting, my friends asked me, "Who was that guy at the baptism?" I said his name was Chris and he didn't get my phone number. They couldn't believe it. One of them said, "You could actually see the sparks flying between the two of you." I was embarrassed, but I couldn't stop smiling.

The next Saturday, I came home to find a very weird message on my phone. It was my friend Scott laughing his head off and asking me to call back. I talked to him the next day at church. He said, "Remember my friend Chris?" I tried to casually say that I did, but instead I got a big cheesy grin on my face and I probably turned bright red. Scott asked permission to give Chris my phone number. Now I had expectations.

Time passed. Chris didn't call. I didn't see Scott for a long time. One day in mid-May, I ran into Scott at the MTC. We talked for a while. I kept wanting to ask him if his friend Chris would ever call me. But I didn't want to appear interested. That would ruin the aloof demeanor that was so important to me in a dating relationship. "Always keep 'em guessing"--that was my motto.

It wasn't too much later that Chris FINALLY called! It was maybe May 18 when he called. He asked me out for the next Friday. I remember the date because the next day, May 19, was the day Star Wars Episode I came out. I went to a showing with my family. I told them I had a date that weekend. My mom said I must really like this guy because I never told her when I had a date. I didn't know I didn't tell my mom everything. But most boys weren't worth talking about. My sister Brynn asked, "Is this that guy from the baptism?" I said, "I told you about that?!" That was evidence to me that Chris must have made an impression on me.

Well, why don't you wait until May and I'll tell you the rest of the story.

*You may have heard of Marsha Mark (now Marsha Mark Baird). She ran track in the Sydney and Athens Olympics. She ran for Trinidad and Tobago. Um, maybe you haven't heard of her. But I have. And now I can call her my friend.