"He was just seventeen...

and you know what I mean..." Steve was just 17 when I first met him on a wintry night in Edgeley, ND in 1986. Since it is our 17 year anniversary, I thought I would share the story of how I met Steve.

My best friend, Tami, had wanted me to go with her to the Edgeley Sr High vs. Alumni basketball exhibition game on December 26, 1986. She wanted to tell-off her ex-boyfriend, who was playing in the game. I think it was more of a situation where she wanted the "Ex" to realize what he was giving up. I went along for moral support, plus I was excited to be able to go some where different... Edgeley is about 45 miles from Oakes, where Tami and I were H.S. seniors at the time.

The game was in progress when we got there and we met some guys that Tami knew in the hallway. I hadn't met any of them before, but I definitely noticed the tall dark-haired guy. They (Paul, Kevin, Cory & Steve) asked if we wanted to go drive around with them. Being the rebels we were at the time, Tami and I said, "Sure."

I strategically positioned myself in the back seat between Steve and Cory, but made sure I was closer to Steve. I complained about being too cold and continued to snuggle closer and closer to Steve. Eventually, Steve got the hint and put his arm around me. JOY!! The driving-around-thing ended up in Nortonville at Steve's house. Of course, his mom wasn't home, so that made it the perfect place for a party of sorts. Um... is this the part where I confess to under-age drinking?? No? Ok, I won't say anything about that. I will admit to making-out with Steve and oh, how I liked his kisses. Sigh...

I called Steve the next day {'cause I was the pursuer} which initiated a relationship which blossomed into true love by the time we both graduated from High School. Steve recalls the night we first met a little differently than I do... He said he noticed me right away in the hallway, but since he saw I was wearing a letterman's jacket that said "Randy" on it, he thought I had a boyfriend. He said that was why he was reluctant to make the first move in the vehicle. The jacket I was wearing was my older brother, Randy's jacket. Ha!

We spent our first year of college apart because he went to NDSU and I went to NSU. Despite nervous parents, Steve transferred to NSU our sophomore year. Steve proposed on Christmas Eve 1990 and we got married on December 28, 1991.... that leads us to 17 happily married years! I am so lucky to be married to such a wonderful man. He is amazing in so many ways. I am so glad I snagged him on that wintry night on December 26, 1986!

I was 23 and Steve was 22 on our wedding day, December 28, 1991. The trees were frosted and so beautiful! We originally wanted to get married on the anniversary of the night we met, but since the 26th was a Thursday, we moved the wedding day to a Saturday to be a little more convenient to our families and friends. I always tell Steve, "I'm glad I picked you!" and that hasn't changed in the 23 years since we met.... Happy Anniversary, Honey!