One Halloween night, I was studying in my dorm room. Many other students were headed downtown for a night of revelry, but I had an early class the next morning, and no fake ID to get into the bars. Resigned to spending the evening reading the engrossing tenets of Social Psychology, I had just opened my textbook when the phone rang. It was the guy I had my eye on, and he asked if I wanted to go to the movies. As a resident student without a car, a night off-campus was awesome enough; add a cute boy and a box of Sno-Caps to the mix and it was a total score.
It was Halloween, but love was in the air. Well, not love. More like a crush.
He picked me up in his royal blue Chevy Sprint, getting out to let me in, even though he could have easily reached across the tiny car to unlock the passenger door. We arrived at the theater and chatted while we waited for the movie to start.
I don’t remember most of what we talked about, but I do remember comparing SAT scores. What? Yes, we were both competitive dorks who thought that bragging about our standardized test scores would impress the other dork. He may have been impressed, but I doubt he was thrilled to hear I had beat his score by fifty points. Ouch.
I don’t remember most of what we talked about, but I do remember comparing SAT scores. What? Yes, we were both competitive dorks who thought that bragging about our standardized test scores would impress the other dork. He may have been impressed, but I doubt he was thrilled to hear I had beat his score by fifty points. Ouch.
Ridiculous one-upping stopped when the movie started; we saw Sibling Rivalry. Not Oscar material, but a good enough movie for a first date. After the movie, he took me straight back to the dorms because it was a school night. Dorks, remember?
He did ask me out again, though, and we dated for three years. Then that guy asked me to marry him, and I did.
This story is pretty skimpy on the details. Did he kiss me? What was I wearing? Did we get any Sno-Caps? I don’t remember. I know he kissed me but I don’t remember if it was in the car or in the theater. I’m pretty sure I wore a yellow sweater, but I only remember that because yellow is a horrible color for me and I don’t know what possessed me to buy it. Matt doesn’t remember any details either. Romantics may call that pathetic; I call it many years of so many other more memorable things.
We both remember the important things. One Halloween, I went to the movies with this cute guy with different colored eyes and a fabulous sense of humor. It was the best Halloween ever, until the next twenty three.
That is quite the dress! I bet I could find some lovely outfits from my past too! Awesome story though!
Thanks, Michelle 🙂
What a great story!!! Oh those last lines took my breath away…
But the dress? Ahem. I believe I had a few of those myself. Yup.
You’re a brave woman for sharing it here!!!m 😉
It’s funny how blogging has made me much less easily embarrassed, Chris. If it’s good for a laugh, I’ll share it!
What a great story and great first date. But, I have to admit, I full on laughed at your dress – only because I so would have wanted one just like that at the time!!
So you wanted a dress that looked like a sofa, too? Funny thing is, I borrowed it from a friend – I liked it THAT much.
BEST Halloween story I’ve ever read – and first date story for that matter. I’m so glad you decided to catch a movie with that guy form the dorm.
Me too, Ilene. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made 🙂
The ending is so sweet – the next 23 years, I love that. And I think you pulled a Fräulein Maria and made that dress out of your drapes.
I did, and it was one of My Favorite Things.
This is adorable and hilarious (what am I wearing, stop laughing!) and totally heart-warming. And totally made me want to be in my twenties again and go on dates. I guess what I’m saying is you’ve just captured youth so well you made me want to go there, which doesn’t happen too often 🙂
Thank you Katia – I don’t want to go back there very often either. And if I did go back, I would certainly pick a better dress!
wow i did not know you married your college sweetheart. that is such a fantastic story to pass down to your progeny!
You would think so, but they aren’t impressed. My daughter laughed hysterically at that photo, but I bet they’ll appreciate it more when they are older.
awwww, Dana I love this story cuz I met my husband on Halloween too!!! Awesome. And I think my Grandma had a chair that looked just like your dress – don’t be mad I said that cuz it was my favorite chair LOL!! You ROCKED her chair fabric, gurl. The night I met my husband I was dressed like a lesbian. I’m surprised he thought I was straight. I’m so not kidding.
That is hilarious Beth. You are just so fabulous that he wanted to go out with you despite your questionable sexual preference. And thank you, I did rock the chair fabric. 🙂
That’s such a cute story. I was pretty dorky in college too! My boyfriend (now husband) dressed like a professor (tweed jackets, etc) and I thought it was just the coolest. (Yep, we were dorks in love.)
I crushed on a professor who wore tweed blazers with jeans and a sweater – he was sexy dork personified. I think they make the best husbands, don’t you?
I heard you married the boy from Halloween, too!! I had to click right over and read your story! I love that we both wrote about our college dates who we ended up marrying! That dress in your picture is out of control, Dana! I remember the days of clothes like that though. Scary. I bet it had shoulder pads in it, too. It sounds like our dates were on opposite ends of the shananigan scale and I, too found a crazy photo. My poor husband is wearing a pooka shell necklace in the picture and I’m wearing a pair of jeans that I could fit one leg into these days! Great story! Thanks for being brave enough to share your photo! I love it!
It did have shoulder pads, Elizabeth – I like what you are wearing in your photo better. I guess some of the best relationships started around Halloween time 🙂
I TOTALLY laughed at the dress. Could you tell that when I asked you for fashion advice earlier, I hadn’t read your post yet? :p
You both look really happy though, and that’s the best part.
And WOW! to the different coloured eyes! Amazing!
I’ll have you know that dress was quite fashionable back in the day!
Oh, I daresay it was, and I don’t dispute that. Not sure if I would’ve been verbal at the time to express my endorsement though :p
OMG!!!! What an awesome story!!! My story is so long that no one can follow it. Your story is the bestest ever! Halloween movie, awww… Really. And then you got married?! WHAT! Love you even more now.
Aww, thanks Jen. It’s a pretty good first date story, even if I can barely remember it!
So great! Love the dress, Dana. Sounds like a great first date and an easy anniversary to remember.
Yes it is – although we usually forget in all the Halloween excitement!
I’m sorry but I cannot stop laughing at that dress!! OMG! It looks like something from Laura Ashley that has a matching one for your daughter. Love that you shared that…and a great, romantic story! You guys are freakin adorable!…dorky but adorable!
Glad I could amuse you, Allie! That dress happened to be quite stylish for 1990 🙂
I didn’t think Laura Ingalls and Ron Jeremy would’ve hit it off. Xoxo
I’m telling Matt you said that!
Ohhh, I love that story! Am I am a moron if I admit that I didn’t see the ending coming? 😉 Such a fun memory…
Not at all, Stephanie! My son was reading the first paragraph, and he asked, “Who’s the cute guy?” He had no clue.
Love this story!!! Sounds like a perfect Halloween and the start of such a great life!!!
I know for a fact that I wore dresses very similar (I’m sure there aren’t pictures though!!).
Consider yourself lucky that there is no proof that you dressed like that, Kim!
What?!? I think Maria Von Trapp would be very taken with your stunning window curtains dress. How ever did you get Frau Schmidt to agree to give you the fabric?
OK, that got an out loud “awwwwww” from me. So sweet…in a dorky sort of way. 😉
That’s me – sweet and dorky 🙂
As you could tell from my knee socks and Dr. Scholl’s, it takes one to know one! 😉
Love, love, love this! Great story, not-so-great dress (I can laugh because I am sure I also had one!)
I bet you did, but I’m sure it was purple 🙂
Competitive dorks make the best couples! I married my high school sweet heart. We were number 1 & 2 in our class. Guess who was number 1? I get to hold that over his head for the rest of our lives. Ha ha ha. But he torched me when it comes to the SAT. So, I guess we’re even. LOVE this post. And LOVE you even more for sharing that pic!
Thanks, Nicole. It’s a little embarrassing, but I know I love when other bloggers share their old photos, so I figured what the hell. It’s not like I don’t overshare anyway!
Oh I love this Dana!! So fun to hear the story of how you met! And that last line is epic! (Plus, the yellow sweater couldn’t have been much worse than that dress, right??) 🙂
Ha, Lisa! You’re right – the sweater wasn’t as bad as the dress. But it was close.
Awww, that was sweet about the 23. Can’t believe it’s been
that long. So long ago that I didn’t remember your first date was to a movie…did remember the date though. About the dress, i’m sure I didn’t pick that one out!
mom
The dress wasn’t even mine – I borrowed it from Tricia! I wonder if she remembers 🙂
I did smile at your dress. I didn’t laugh! I love the idea of many more memorable things filling your brain. I forget certain details of many beginnings too, because the creamy middles are so good!
One of my best friends has two different colored eyes. And yes, our old Husky did too!
Creamy middles – I like that! Those are the best parts, anyway.
Okay so I scrolled to look at the picture first and wondered what character you were in that dress. Bit my lip when you said not to laugh. Sweet story 😉
Ha! That’s what my daughter thought too – that it was a costume. She laughed. A lot.
I would never EVER laugh at your floral dress. (well not to your face). I am quiet certain I had the same dress back in the day. Glorious!! (and I had the hair, too, but only achieved it thanks to a good perm)
I love, love, LOVED reading your fantastic Halloween story that turned into a LOT of fantastic Halloweens. 🙂 Aw!! –Lisa
It was a good Halloween. Sometimes we forget to even acknowledge it because we are so caught up with the kids now – but I do consider it our “other” anniversary.
Love this! And you and Matt are still adorable.
Thank you Karen 🙂
I remember seeing dresses like those. Not often, but I do remember seeing them. Kind of hard to forget, actually! lol Just out of curiosity, how did the class go since you neglected your studies for a date? At least I know you aren’t a hard woman to please. After all, Chevy Sprints … well, nuff said! 🙂 Great story!
I got straight A’s that semester, Rich – despite my new romance 🙂
First of all, sorry, I did laugh at the lovely dress. You are a brave girl to share that beautiful number! I am a dork, my husband and children are dorks so I love that you identified yourself as a dork and discussed SAT scores on your first date. My first date with my husband was the result of a bet about who would get a better grade on a Business Law exam. That happened to be the one and only time in my college career that I overslept an exam. I was so flustered I totally missed one of the essay questions and lost the bet. But after 33 years of marriage I can say that turned out ok for me. 🙂
That dress was fashionable at the time! And yes, I’d say 33 years of marriage is better than winning a bet. Many more years to both of you, Mo!
I love love love the “It was the best Halloween ever until the next 23.” WOW. 23 years? I’m jealous. And that dress. I had a dress like that? But never wore it because I suck at dresses. Like REALLY suck at dresses. Forever suck that them. And you know what? I feel bad now because I remember your post about your hub’s 2 different colored eyes (which is magic) and had forgotten all about it. AWESOME FTSF post, you!!
Also? OMG I’m going to meet you in like 30 hours. 😀
Now it’s 21 hours – holla! That dress was something, huh? My daughter thought it was a costume.
Sounded like the perfect first date to me Dana and you two truly make such a cute couple! Thank you for sharing and Happy early Halloween!! 🙂
Thanks, Janine – you too!
What a great story! I have been married to Jason for 14 years in December and I remember what he was wearing the first time I saw him. No clue about anything else.
I think it is funny that you were trying to one-up each other and the movie had the word rivalry in the title. 🙂
Carla – I didn’t even catch that! That is funny. I have no idea what Matt was wearing – I’m sure it was jeans and a shirt. He wasn’t very stylish before he met me 🙂