I debated on what this next post should be about. Part of me thought it was necessary to divulge what happened New Year’s Eve (super amazing night with friends, lots of Tito’s, too much champagne, plenty of dancing and tons of laughter), the devastation of New Year’s day (and it wasn’t just the hangover, really didn’t feel all that hungover to be perfectly honest) and the lack of sleep on both nights. But then I decided my posts have been morose enough as of late and you’re probably all sick of my depressing bull shit and want to tell me to woman the fuck up! If you do want to say that though, screw you, I’m going through a lot, it’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to!!!!!

I thought, instead, I’d take it on back to those glorious, rocky, uncertain dating days with my Mr. Wonderful (which is an ironic nickname because Ash was many things, wonderful probably not being his top quality. I actually just had a very similar conversation with one of my closest friends the other day. How Ash was so great at living! It was probably the thing he was best at, that and anything related to golf. But he sure did suck at real life, you know the parenting and the paying the bills and the husbanding and the getting a job and the real deal, real life shit that we all have to do!! It’s ok, he knew it, too. I’m not speaking ill of the dead! (I guess technically I am, but it’s not anything I wouldn’t and didn’t say to his face.))

We last left off with Ash calling me to find out what color sheets I thought he should purchase. That was probably one of the strangest phone calls of my life, but I went with it. He did not, as previously stated, ask me on another date on that phone call. Again, WTF, why did he call, why did he want my opinion, what is up with this guy? I thought, like you probably did, oh, he wants my opinion on sheets, perhaps he has pictured me in these sheets with him. But, then he said thanks and hung up. What in the actual fuck?

The next day was a Friday. I worked and then had plans to go out with some girlfriends. I think we went to a wine tasting that I very vaguely remember. I drank too much then went home with said girlfriends and drank some more. Shocking, I know. Some things never change. I lived in this adorable cottage at the time, right across the street from the beach, old Nags Head style cedar shake with red trim. The floors were made of 2x4s I’m pretty sure and all the dirt and sand from upstairs fell through the cracks in the wood so that it often felt like its was raining dirt in the downstairs of the house. I loved it, though. It was perfect for a young and vibrant 24 year old girl that was obsessed with sandy toes and sun kissed skin.

I wake up Saturday morning to my phone ringing at some ungodly hour, like 8 am. I look at it, see that it’s Ash, wonder if he’s looking at dish towels now and really needs my opinion on that as well. I answer it because 1. I’m intrigued and b. I’m kind of excited, interested, confused. Low and behold, he asks me out! He finally asks me out again. Only, he’s literally asking me out right that minute. Like, he’s going to pick me up in 20 minutes, can I be ready. Ummm, not really, but like the dumb 24 year old twit that I am, I say absolutely, no problem, see you in 20.

Ash is a realtor back then. Not a good one, but a realtor nonetheless and he has to go sit at an open house down at some condos an hour south from where we are. I don’t think I even showered, no time. I throw on a denim skirt, a pink polo shirt and the most adorable pink Sperry topsiders that also happen to be 1/2 size too small but they were so darn cute, I just couldn’t resist (told you I was a twit). I toss my hair on top of my head, quick swipe of mascara and a touch of lip gloss (so simple when you’re so young) and voila, I’m almost presentable. Never mind the alcohol seeping out of my pores or my stomach that is ready to revolt at any minute (whether from nerves or the aforementioned alcohol, I’m not sure).

He picks me up and takes me to a local deli to grab a breakfast sandwich and lunch because I guess we’ll be gone a while (wish I had known that before I put on the damn pink shoes that are a 1/2 size too small, probably why I have a foot issues presently). I will say I won the breakfast order – ham, egg and cheese on a croissant. I had a hard time with ordering my lunch. I am a mayo girl. I am also a girl riddled with anxiety and fear of people’s opinions of me (at that time anyway, who am I kidding, I’m still anxiety riddled) so I order a turkey sandwich with mustard because clearly mustard is a sexier choice than mayo (seriously, this is my thought process and also one of Ash’s favorite things about me – when he learned this he both teased and loved it mercilessly). Mustard. The sexy condiment.

We make our way south to the condos and literally just sit in the clubhouse. All. Day. Long. Except of course when he decides we should really go check out the surf because he brought his surf board and maybe he should do that for a while. See? Worst realtor ever. We check out the surf (there was none), we walk on the beach, we take a nature trail to the sound. You know what we don’t do? Sell any condos! We eat our lunch, my sexy mustard, his much more delicious mayo. The day drags on. I’m dog tired. My head hurts. I’m thirsty. And I just want to go home. I was enjoying his company. We talked endlessly. This just wasn’t the day for marathon dates and conversation and nerves and excitement. My stomach was too delicate. Probably had everything to do with nasty mustard. Bleck!

5 pm finally hits. There’s been not one single person interested in a Slash Creek Condo and we finally start the trek home. Only hold up, Ash has decided we should also have dinner. Holy shit. I don’t want to say no. I also don’t want to say yes. But I’m young, weak and a little dumb and I do say yes but in my head I’m screaming. Why are we having 3 dates today? We’ve had breakfast and lunch and now dinner, too?! I just want to go home!!! But I also like that he’s liking me. He hasn’t touched me all day. No hand holding. No hugging. No kissing. Surely, after all this, he will take me home and something! A hug, a kiss, a full on make-out? I wouldn’t be opposed to any of it. But, alas, nothing. Not even a high five. I can’t exactly remember how it ended, what was said. I know we didn’t make more plans for another date. Jesus Christ, we just had dates 2, 3 and 4 all in the same day. I still like him though. He’s cute, funny, seemingly nice and really hungry all the time!

I asked him out for date 3, didn’t wait for him this time, so progressive of me. Took him to dinner and The Lost Colony (front row seats – do you know what you don’t want front row seats for? If you guessed The Lost Colony, you hit the nail on the head!! So fucking loud!) He took me home afterward, and still no kiss, no hand holding, nothing. I’m so confused.

Date 4 he invited me over for dinner that he was making. They were the worst fucking tacos I have ever had in my life. Seriously. (a little fact I didn’t divulge until years later) We watched a movie after. I can’t remember what the movie was, but he finally kissed me. Like, a lot. Finally.

Dating Ash was always so much fun. Even after marriage, we still dated each other all the time. Real life we weren’t always great at, but dating, we had that down. So make sure you still make time to date each other, enjoy each other, dress up for each other, go out, watch movies and make out on the couch. You never know when something will change your life forever and make you realize how lucky you were to experience all that love, lust and fun.