Year of Tens

This is going to be The Year of Tens for us.

Tens have always had a significant meaning for me (and for Brandon, I hope!). Actually, not always. Just for the last ten years. And it's not like they are really important. Just kind of fun.

See, on May 20th (20 is two sets of ten), 1998 (10 years ago --you see where this is going?), I met Brandon for the very first time. I didn't mention it on my May 20th post (because I was an idiot and didn't remember at the time, and I was being extremely selfish, as you can see by what I posted on that day.). But I'm mentioning it now, because you know what today is? It's June 10, 2008! Ten years ago today, I went out with Brandon on a date. Our first date. The date to end all dates, if you will. Notice the Ten? It was the 10th day of the month. And it was 10 years ago. So many tens! And it continued throughout our courtship:
He kissed me June 20th.
He almost proposed to me October 10th (okay, not really, we just had a great date that night!).
He did propose to me on October 20th.
His birthday is November 20th.
We were married January....16th. Okay, not a 10, but we didn't have a choice there...

Anyway, my point is that tens are nice, even numbers and I like them. And they mean a lot to me in light of all these Ten Year milestones.

Today, Brandon is taking me out to lunch. Our first date was a lunch date. Wanna hear? I swear I've posted about it before, but I might as well do it again, what with the anniversary of the date and all:
Brandon asked me, on a Sunday afternoon, if I would go out with him on a Wednesday afternoon. I had been waiting on pins and needles for at least 4 or 5 days for him to ask me out. Back then, four days was torture! I was thrilled when he finally asked me out.
Well, Brandon didn't have a car. He had been home from his mission for exactly 3 whole months (and a week) and was working and living on campus at BYU. Like me. (Except I didn't serve a mission, I meant the working and living on campus part, capische?) I remember I wasn't sure what we were going to do, what with the lack of car and all, but he came and got me and we walked onto the main part of campus. It was a gorgeous day (I remember the sun), and I had gorgeous hair (I remember the curling iron). I have no idea what we talked about on the way there, but I remember feeling more comfortable than nervous, which was odd, considering how giddy and silly I was around boys I liked. And boy-oh-boy! I liked Brandon. A lot.

He guided me to the Museum of Art, and when we walked inside, I realized we were eating at the Museum Cafe. What a great idea for one without a car, but wanting to make a good impression! We got great seats by the window, and I remember some of our conversation:
*He was floored that I was only 19 years old. He didn't realize how young I was when we had met. Actually, I think it was the fact that I had graduated from high school in 1997. His sister was a year younger than me, but had graduated the same year as me --I think he was afraid I was an 18 year old, at first.
*We talked about school and where we were from.
That's it. That's all I can remember. Time has done a number on my brain, and so have my children. But I do remember feeling a tad self-conscious as I ate my salad (did I have salad? I think I did!), but being perfectly at ease with the conversation. He was really easy to talk to and I loved that.

After we ate, we walked around all the free parts of the museum looking at the gorgeous art. My cousin, worked as a security guard in the museum at the time, so she got to meet Brandon that very first day! She approved of him, too.
It's funny, but Brandon told me later that he was immediately taken in by me because I "played the game right" during that date. I asked him what he meant, and he told me that I was good at banter, but I was also very good at the touching. The touching? Yes, the touching --I knew when to touch his arm, or lean into his shoulder with my shoulder to push him away, i.e. playful, teasing, sexual tension (but in a very prudish way! Don't you be getting any ideers, there, mister!). You know what I mean, right? Well, I hadn't realized I was doing it at the time (he was doing it, too!), but I'm glad it worked.

When we were done looking at art (where Brandon impressed me, again, with his cultural and art-loving knowledge), he took me to the BYU Creamery inside the Wilk (for those who don't know "Wilk", it's the Wilkinson Student Center). This is where I was ambushed. Ambushed, I tell you!
Every Wednesday during that Spring/Summer terms (1998), BYU students (and friends) that had lived in Thousand Oaks, CA (or had gone to T.O. high school) met to eat ice cream. I was totally set up to meet his friends. On the first date! Oh, sure, it was just to "get some ice cream", but later, I found out that he had planned it all too well. Four days after our date, he got together with the same friends, sans me, and then proceeded to seek their approval of Yours Truly. I didn't find this out for a couple of weeks, and so I thought it odd he would do that on a first date.

Obviously, it didn't bother me. Oh, and the friends approved.

So, Happy Ten to Us! And don't you worry, dear reader...I'll be sure to post about the Kiss, the almost proposal, the proposal, the birthday, the wedding, etc. etc. as their Big Tens come around. Because I know you're so interested! Dying to know, really...

...Right? Yeah, I could tell. Dear reader, you make it so obvious (wink, wink!).