Memory Lane

Once upon a time, I met a tall, dark, handsome man at a cabin in Sundance, Utah. It was my first weekend back at college after the summer. He happened to sit in the chair next to mine. We exchanged biographical information over the movie Men in Black.

"I'm from Idaho, where are you from?"

"Maryland." I made a mental note: too far away. I like Westerners.

"I'm 18. How old are you?"

"25." Another strike against him.

"What are you studying?"

"I don't know yet." Okay. Cross this one off the list. (Not that I had a list. I was only 18, remember?)


Yes, this sounds judgmental, but it worked out well because he didn't like me either. He was looking for someone else, and I did NOT fit the description.


So we went to church and FHE group together. I tutored him in calculus. He drove me to physical therapy and the grocery store. We went caving, out to dinner, for drives up the canyon and long walks along the Provo River. We hiked Squaw Peak and met for lunch at the WILK. We practiced the quickstep and the cha cha for our social dance class. We played ultimate frisbee and volleyball together. We attended football games, ward activities, devotionals, and Homecoming together. All with a strict "just friends" policy.


Every weekend, the conversation was the same:

"We're just friends, you know. I don't like you like that."

"I know. That's fine with me."

"Good. Do you want to go out for ice cream?"

"Sure."


Until one day, several months later, the unthinkable happened.






HE CHANGED HIS MIND.





We were engaged in June and married in the Salt Lake Temple in August.

And this month, we stepped back in time for a few days, revisiting the places of our past and reliving the memories. Marty planned the trip entirely by himself, and kept all the details a surprise. It was the most wonderful anniversary present ever.


Highlights:



A memorable walk along the Provo River.



A view from the lookout on Y mountain. Marty claims he arranged the fireworks show down below just for us.



Visiting my brothers and sisters-in-law and meeting my first niece Jade and nephew Ryan!

A drive up Provo Canyon. The night before we got engaged, Marty set up a candlelit dinner and Scrabble game on the top of this hill, overlooking Deer Creek Reservoir. It has been "our spot" for a long time.

Two nights at the Anniversary Inn, the same place we spent our first anniversary nine years ago.

A beautiful session at the Salt Lake temple. We spent the day touring the grounds and enjoying the atmosphere. (It was so quiet without the kids!) Oh, and a fabulous lunch at The Garden.

A viewing of the new Joseph Smith movie at the Legacy Theater.

Dinner at The Roof, serenaded by piano music. This was the view from our table. Marty took me here on the night he proposed, and I asked him to bring me back for our tenth anniversary. He remembered.

Thank you, Marty. For ten adventurous years, and the perfect gift to celebrate them.