My Sweetheart of Five Years

My husband Linus (nick-named on this blog "Linus" for various reasons -- can you guess them?) and I went on our first date this day five years ago. It was also the first day that I mentioned him in my journal, and here it is with blog replacements for names in brackets:

"2/1/2003
I had a good and fairly productive day. Went to FLSR this morning to watch Dr. Caligari (Cabinet of). We had breakfast beforehand (waffles, muffins, eggs, juice) -- it was all good and fun.
I practiced this afternoon too and then it's Chinese New Year so [Sister], [her German room-mate], [her very short roommate], [the RM], and I all went to Panda Express and got dinner to go. It was good. Then [sister] took me home and I got ready for [Linus] ([spanish-ized nickname I used back then]) to come pick me up for our "Daddy-daughter" date to a Moosebutter concert -- it was hilarious and a lot of fun. He took me to the Creamery afterward for some rootbeer freezes and that was fun too. Then we went back to the German House and joined [sister's German roommate] and [sister] with a movie. It was a very fun and enjoyable evening. very refreshing. [Linus] is a very fun, nice guy. I had a great time with him tonight and I think he enjoyed himself too."

What strikes me about this journal entry is of course that it ended up being nothing like a daddy-daughter date. Already after one date I sound very comfortable with Linus -- and it's the first time I've ever even mentioned him! Just to prove how quickly he swept me off my feet, here's an entry from a few days later:

"2/5/2003
[Sister] told me today that [Linus's spanish nick-name] wants to go out with me again. Apparently he talked to her about it on Sunday and was trying to figure out/get advice on what to do next. I was very flattered by that and was very happy to hear that someone wanted to get to know me better and spend time with me without me initiating it. Anyway, it was kind of funny to hear about it since he already asked me yesterday about going to see an International Cinema film on Friday, so we're doing that Friday afternoon. I'm looking forward to it."

I remember this day when sister talked to me. As I recall, we were in the instrument locker room because a good friend of mine from Logan was also there. She was listening as sister told me about Linus's intentions to ask me out again. I remember that I couldn't stop smiling while I listened. I think my friend was surprised because so many of my recent boy stories had been frustrating and sad. She looked at me and said, "You're positively glowing!" And so I was. I was gone.

Indulge me for a moment longer. One of my favorite sequences in this month of my journal are the following days that say a lot in very little:

excerpt from 2/7/2003 the second date: "I had such a fun time...Really, truly, I enjoyed myself immensely and look forward to whenever we go out again."
2/10/2003: "Went and worked on German and whatnot at Sister's tonight. It was fun." (I was there to work on German homework with Linus)
2/11/2003: "Today was a very blah day. I'm running on almost an emotional empty and it doesn't make for very good things. [Before Linus came along, I had been having a pretty hard time dating-wise.] Played in masterclass, then went to German House to do homework and talked to [Linus] a little about stuff, life. It was good to talk to someone who understands -- I always like being understood."
2/13/2003 (excerpt): "Went to German House as usual tonight and worked on things and laughed (and vented a bit at the beginning) and generally felt a lot better. Going on another date tomorrow with [Linus] -- it's a group date with Sister's and other FLSRs. It'll be fun. Plus, it's Valentine's Day. Funny stuff."
2/14/2003 (excerpt): "This was the best Valentine's Day of my life so far. It was absolutely fabulous. Once I got school out of the way, that is. After school I painted my nails, made Valentines, signed my housing contract, [my roommate from home] did my hair -- it was fun all curly and stuff. Then I did my makeup and [Linus] picked me up at 7:15. When we walked out to his car, he went to the trunk, said, "I just found these in my trunk," and handed me a nice flower arrangement -- a white iris with baby's breath and green things. It's very nice and was very thoughtful. Never really gotten flowers before or been on a date on Valentine's Day for that matter. It was all a lot of fun and just felt really good and happy."
2/16/2003 (excerpt): "[Sister] told [Linus] to give me some time, so that's good. I think he understands." My sister thought he was moving too fast.
2/18/2003 (excerpt): "Oh man, what's going on with me these days? ... I've been trying to stay emotionally reserved. Now I'm trying desperately to stay emotionally reserved. I don't think it's working very well."
2/19/2003: "Well, so much for being emotionally reserved...." One of my favorite lines in my journal.
2/20/2003: "I'll be glad when this week is over -- it's been a horrible school week, but a wonderful life week. I'm happy and at peace."
2/22/2003 (excerpt from the day of our first kiss): "Well, I definitely owe ice cream." This of course is a reference to the tradition at that undergrad school of ours to buy ice cream for roommates after the first kiss of a relationship.

Well, that sums up the February courtship of 2003. But this day is also important to us because it was on this day four years ago that Linus proposed. How time flies. He's held me together the last few years. Oh how I love him. So much for being emotionally reserved!

Happy fifth anniversary of our first date, sweetheart!