History Doesn't Repeat Itself -- This Time

History does not always repeat itself. Such was the case on my fifth date with Phyllis. Very seldom did I make it past four dates. Usually, I would not ask someone out after three dates. Most often it was because I "perceived" something negative about my date. Reality was that I feared rejection. If I quit asking a girl out, then she couldn't turn me down. As I have thought about it over the years, I must have been very difficult to figure out. One girl I dated observed that when I left a group of people, I never said goodbye. Years later I understood why.

Before picking up Phyllis to take to her meet some of my family, I almost called and cancelled. I couldn't think of a good reason.

On the ride over to Ft. Worth, the atmosphere was tense. For the first time with her, I didn't feel like talking. First, we went to church. Afterwards, we went to my sister Paula's house to eat. After the service, my attitude towards Phyllis began changing. She met several of my friends, and each time I watched their eyes light up. As we began eating lunch, I could tell that my family immediately loved her. They also sensed that she was the "one," probably before I did.

After we had been dating awhile, my Dad said to me, "If you don't marry Phyllis, you're dumber than I think you are." I took that as a compliment. On the third month anniversary of our first date, I asked her to marry me. Phyllis said yes.

There were many qualities of Phyllis that I admired. She was a school teacher who taught Special Education. She was an only child and her family was fairly boring. Her Mom could be quirky at times, but she also had many endearing qualities. Her dad was a veteran of WWII and had the same job for 38 years (he retired with the same federal agency after 42 years). In other words, she came from a very different family background than I came from. She was also a spiritual person whose desire was to have a family who claimed "as for me an my house, we will serve the Lord."

Being a Dallas woman, she had a sophisticated air about her. She was definitely a big city girl. Of course, being attractive was a difficult quality to overlook.

We were married on November 21, one year and three weeks after we first met. Marrying Phyllis was one of the best decisions I ever made. She was the right person. In almost twenty-four years of marriage, we have never questioned that decision. She has been the greatest blessing in my life.

Two years later, Phyllis was pregnant. She handled her pregnancy better than I did. The thought of having a child brought on some emotions I wasn't expecting.