After 5 years of being a “menace to society” (over 25 and unmarried), I graduated from attending a “student ward” (Sunday worship that includes only single students) to attending what my religion refers to as a “family ward” (the normal religious gatherings that most people attend). I simply hadn’t managed to get married, so I was consigned to either the “family ward”, or the “adult singles ward” (not where I wanted to be).
I really enjoyed the family ward I attended. The other church members there were friendly and inviting, and I got to participate in the ward as a Sunday School instructor.
Within a few weeks, some key members of the ward realized that I was single. They, of course, wanted to help me overcome this deficiency in my life, and set me up with another member of the ward who was also maritally challenged. Let’s call her Teresa.
Teresa is a nice woman with a Ph.D. who, at the time, was teaching at BYU. She was staying with her sister Jane and brother-in-law Alex. Teresa and I went on several dates and had reasonably good conversations. However, I just was not that interested and I eventually abandoned the relationship. Beside which, I was spending a lot of time with a friend of mine, Dawn.
Dawn and I were just trying to be good, supportive, low-pressure friends. We spent a lot of time playing MarioKart, working on various projects, seeing movies, etc. But we were adamantly NOT—per my definition of the term at the time—dating. Dawn and I are now married, so we can see how well that denial turned out.
Anyway, a few weeks after abandoning my relationship with Teresa, Alex caught up with me in church. Before Sunday School got underway, he plunked himself down next to me to get the scoop on why I hadn’t contacted Teresa in a while. I stated that I just wasn’t dating anyone at the time, and that I was not interested in pursuing marriage at this juncture in my life. Alex took that answer back to his wife, who certainly passed it along to Theresa.
That Friday, Dawn and I went to see the traveling Broadway cast perform the play “Wicked”. Her mom had secured tickets and neither Dawn nor I had seen the play, although we had both memorized the music. We were really excited to participate in this magical event.
The trip to the theater was an hour-long drive from Provo to downtown Salt Lake City. On the way to the play, I recounted to Dawn my Sunday conversation with Alex. The story helped fill the time as we traveled.
Across the street from the theater, we pulled in to an underground parking garage. As Dawn and I stepped out of the elevator, I heard “Richard Arthur! What are you doing here?” I quickly looked around to find the source of the voice until I saw…Alex.
“Um…I’m here to see Wicked.” Obviously I wasn’t here alone.
“Really? So am I! My wife and kids are out getting concessions.”
Gulp.
We wished each other an enjoyable play, and I quietly hoped not to see him again…for months.
Dawn and I crossed the street, presented our tickets, and made our way to our seats in the mezzanine. After that hour-long trip to the theater, I needed to use the facilities. I didn’t want to be interrupted during the show.
While in the rest room, I got a text message from Dawn: “Guess who just sat down behind us.”
I text back “Fart”—the closest I get to actually swearing.
When I came back, I saw that Alex, Jane, and their two daughters were seated in the row immediately behind me, a couple of seats toward the left. They also had other relatives with them sitting immediately to our left and in the row in front of us. Dawn and I were practically surrounded. Alex, Jane, and I chatted some, and eventually the topic of Dawn was brought up. I mentioned that we were just friends, and that I was merely being supportive of her after her recent divorce, and we most certainly were not dating. I honestly meant it, and they seemed to buy it, but I still don’t know.
Dawn and I enjoyed Wicked, despite the watchful eyes behind us (Alex and family had already seen the play at other venues). We sang through each song. and during the intermission, because my back hurt from the uncomfortably small chairs and knee-space, Dawn rubbed my back. Did I mention I married her? That most certainly was a date, even though I refused to admit it at the time.
Yeah…They think I’m a liar.
Or if they're generous, they might think you were delusional. But you were in good company. Your future wife was similarly adamant that you absolutely were NOT dating. I still haven't figured out when, exactly, the dating began.
ReplyDeleteNo matter, though, because now you're busily Happy Ever Aftering ...