December 3, 1996. We had moved to a little farm out by Woodcock Dam. We had lots of beef cows, a big pasture to play in. And for some reason a college student came to our house from Allegheny wanting to study the organisms living in our back pond. He was a nice looking guy and I remember Lisa and I giggled as we thought about the handsome college student playing back in the pond we always played in. I remember that I thought he was the cutest man I had ever seen, and I was pretty sure that I was going to marry that man. I remember thinking that December 3 must really be my lucky day.
I was wrong about marrying the biology major from Allegheny, but I still love December 3.
December 3, 2004. I was working in the Student Activities Office at Edinboro University. I worked with the secretary, Bonnie. David came into work early that day and asked Bonnie if he could steal me a little early. She agreed, and David drove me home. At that time, I lived with a family from my church in this big, red, farm house. I had my own little space there. A little room, with my own bathroom, and they had lent me space in the living room to put up a Christmas tree. I loved living there, and I loved that they let me be part of their family. And, I really loved my Christmas tree. I had spent two days making it just the way I had always wanted a Christmas tree to look.
When I walked into my room that day, David had already been there. He had cleaned up the space and made it really pretty and tidy. He had also bought me flowers, and put little post it notes around the room saying sweet things about me. I walked into my living room with the tree and noticed that David had built a fire in the fireplace. "Hey, Sarah, I bought you a new ornament," David said. The tree was not a very tall tree, and because I was so young and lacking in cash, there were not a ton of ornaments on the it, but as I walked over the tree I didn't see anything. At least not at first. But, as my eyes scanned the tree, I saw a beautiful frosted glass treble clef. Hanging from the tail of the clef was a ring. I still can see my hands reaching for the ring. I reached up with my left hand and touched the ring. "Is that what I think it is?" I asked in disbelief.
Nodding, David took the ring off the ornament and assumed the proposal position. My heart was racing and I said yes. After that, we kissed. For the very first time. It was sweet. And wonderful. David then ran into my room and pulled out his guitar and sang a song he had wrote for me. It's the only song David has ever written, and I'm pretty sure the only song that he could ever fully play on the guitar. I then remember asking him if we could call people and tell them. I called my sister. She had been napping, and was quite annoyed at the interruption. But, she reminded me, as always. "I like David. He's the most normal of all your friends." I remember calling all kinds of people, celebrating and stealing a few more first kisses. Then we went out to dinner with David's sister Cathi and her new husband Curtis. On the way home, I realized all this amazingness happened on December 3. There was no coincidence there.
December 3, 2005 It had been one year since David proposed. We've been married for almost six months. We wake up early because I'm pregnant and I have to pee all the time. We start talking about what a fun Saturday we are going to have. But, the phone rings at 6:00am. It's David's best buddy wanting him to go hunting. I agree, but not with a good attitude. David ends up shooting his first deer and I do not see him again until 8:00 p.m. David's mom takes me out to Uncle Charlie's pizza to celebrate the year anniversary of our engagement while my husband is gutting a deer. Not as romantic. That was the day of our first fight. Looking back now, it's funny. That day, it was tragic.
December 3, 2010 I had been in North Carolina, driving home in a snow storm. David gets called to New Jersey for work. I'm hurrying home to see him before he has to leave. I get home just in time to kiss him before he leaves for a week. Over the course of the next three days it snows 55 inches in our town. I'm snowed in and do not travel anywhere while David is away.
December 3, 2013 I wake up to two kids fighting about toothpaste and snow pants. I'm exausted and could really use another hour of sleep. It's cold. I know the check book is nearing empty and the house has all kinds of cleaning that needs done. But, I see David walk by in the hallway and I gently call out, "Hey, honey. Come here please." He comes in and stands next to me. "Thanks for proposing." He leans down and kisses me. I smile.
I still love December 3.
Laughing, crying, loving it...and loving you.
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