2003-03-20T15:34:00.000-08:00

It was a Friday night of my senior year of high school. I was at the home football game where "someone of my interest" was playing for the opposing team. I didn't know him, but I did know his name was Jake, he was a couple months younger than me, he was a junior, and his hair was red. You see, my aunt married Jake's uncle. So, that is why I knew his name, age, and his hair color. The reason I didn't know him was because his family had just moved to Nebraska from Texas that year. But let me emphasize that MY aunt married JAKE'S uncle, which means Jake and I aren't related even though their children are cousins to us. But Jake and I are NOT related--I repeat NOT related.

It was chilly and windy that evening so I had on my big yellow fleece pullover. And my hair was in its usual state, which meant it was messy. Needless to say, I wasn't sporting the most stylish "first impression" look. But then again, I wasn't exactly planning on making a first impression in the first place.

Well, the game was over. My team lost miserably. And I was now in my high school's parking lot. That was where most of the students would go after the football games to figure out their plans for the rest of that evening.

I don't know why I was there because I'm sure I just ended up going straight home. But for some reason I thought I would wait around for awhile. And for some other reason, the opposing team was waiting for its bus in front of the school rather than in the back of the school, where they usually waited.

So, I was in the parking lot in FRONT of the school, and the opposing team was in FRONT of the school, which meant Jake, someone of my interest, was also in FRONT of the school.

What a great opportunity to make a fool of myself!

I was talking with my friends when I noticed...him. It had to be him. He was tall, red headed, and there. It was him. I knew it.

"I think that's Jake. I do. He has red hair. I know it's him. Should I talk to him? I'm gonna talk to him. Should I? I think I'm gonna," I rambled to my friends as he walked closer and closer to the car that had just pulled into the parking lot behind me. Yes. He was walking my way.

"What are you talking about?" a friend asked as she continued another conversation, and I continued to approach Jake.

"Excuse me," I muttered to Jake.

He stopped walking and looked at me. I had his attention.

"Hi. Are you Jake?" I asked.

He nodded.

"I'm Lindsey. I'm Tanner's cousin, too!" I said quickly and stupidly. Then I waited for...

Nothing. Nothing. He didn't say anything. Instead, he just stared at me like I was an idiot. I knew he was probably confused, but he didn't say anything. Not even, "Uh...okay..."

"Okay. Well, that's all I wanted to say. Bye," I said absolutely humiliated, and I turned around and walked away thinking, "I am SUCH an IDIOT!!! Why did I do that? Why?"

"Lindsey! What did you just do?" another friend asked as I returned with my face covered with a look of self-disgust.

"I can't believe that I did that! I'm so..I'm such...Ugh! I'm so stupid."

***
I don't remember much that happened after that until I came home that night and had the usual "I'm home so I'll tell you any exciting news, Mom" conversation. And you can almost guess what I told her.

She just laughed. She thought of it as a typical Lindsey-thing. I didn't, however. It wasn't because I was so embarrassed; it was because it wasn't something I would typically do. I don't just go up to people I don't know and talk to them or ask them questions!! It's not in my nature. I'm shy and reserved...to people I don't know or have never met. So why did I do it?

Well, I'm a sophomore in college now. So, it's been almost three years since the incident. I've recovered. In fact, Jake and I have been together for about a year and a half. WHAT?!?!?! I'm serious.

We ran into each other at our cousin's (Jake and I aren't related) baptism a few weeks after the football game, and he asked our other cousin (Jake and I aren't related) about me, and then that night asked some kids from my school for my AOL screen name. We had our first real conversation that night. We talked about our first meeting and soon realized that we both had the wrong idea about each other. He thought that I thought he was an idiot, and I thought that he thought I was an idiot, but neither was the case. It turns out, Jake's non-responsiveness wasn't really him thinking I was an idiot, but him being in a state of shock...or something to that affect. Apparently, my yellow fleece pullover made a decent first impression. Ironic, I know.

It took us another year to start dating just because of timing. When we did start dating, I was finishing my first semester of college at Wayne State, and Jake was getting ready to decide what he was going to do after high school. He had many colleges trying to recruit him for football, and I told him that when he made his decision he shouldn't base it on me. He chose Wayne State. Whether he listened to what I said or not, I'll never really know. And I don't think I want to.

I know I'll never forget the first night Jake and I met. I know I'll never know where the courage to talk to him came from. And as embarrassed and humiliated as I was at the time, I am so thankful today.

2003-02-03T09:15:00.000-08:00

Hey, it's Monday, and it's snowing. I haven't decided if I'm mad about it yet. I'll be mad if night classes don't get cancelled. If classes do get cancelled, I'll be happy. :) Oh yeah, I hope that I am doing this right.

Lindsey's Stuff