Monday, November 1, 2010

First dates...

Last week marked 4 years since my first date with Tony.  It came to mind as I was driving down "south" this weekend to meet my dear friend Casey's newest baby girl, Caitlyn.  I was holding her oldest girl, Chloe Melissa, for the first time 4 years ago, when I sheepishly said to Casey and her husband with a grin, "So I have a date this weekend."

Tony invited me for our first date to what was supposed to be a reception for one of his clients at the Westin downtown.  Well, it was far from it....a 2 hour business meeting instead, where I proceeded to enjoy the view of going round and round downtown Atlanta.  It was a train-wreck for Tony; I was quite impressed by the calm and collected way he handled himself that day.

I knew he owned "big boy pants" when he asked me out again.  On our third date, he took me to meet his dear friends at their annual haunted house, which Tony had never attended in years past.  They threw fake "guts" at us and made us crawl on our knees through a maze.  The next time I saw them without their Halloween horror gear on, I didn't even recognize them. We still chuckle about that. Oh, the bloopers of our early days together.

One of my colleagues asked me this week what attracted me to Tony.  Along with our shared values, I simply said, "he actually pursued me."

And despite those first dates not turning out the way he had hoped, the pursuit was on.  Very quickly, I found myself wishing to spend every moment of my life with Tony.

I miss him.

But I can definitely relate to the saying, and now say it with confidence, that "it is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all."

Dearly loved, and giggling at Tony,
Melissa

4 comments:

  1. What an amazing truth Mel-friend! I wish more men would get this. PURSUE!!!!! Of the many things I admire about Tony, this is one of the main things I loved about how he treated you!

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  2. I'm so glad you gave us a second chance. :) We have gained such a beautiful friend because of Tony. Love you!

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  3. I remember the anxiety he shared with me during those early days...things not going right, how could he remedy the oopsies...he loved you early on sweet sister and you remained his one and only focus since he saw you in church one day. I love you so much!
    ~Kim

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  4. I can speak for a fact that Tony was always 100% in pursue mode for you! Tony is a true man and and one of the best I know. You were a treasure worth pursuing to Tony and he demonstrated it always to me and Mike in the way he talked about you and planned things for you both! I hope other guys (including me) can learn from his example.

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