Dear Friends,
Well, I have been back in IRock for about 5 days now, and I am already back into a rhythm. It really felt like I just took a long nap and then woke up in the same place (after a really nice long dream). The weather is getting warmer, but nothing much else has changed.
I was thinking about over my leave how many people asked the story of how Kate and I met. It was pretty much everyone we talked to. As a result, I anticipate that most who read this blog would also be curious as to how I ever was able to start dating a girl like Kate. I can summarize that question with the answer "God". However, I'm not being funny or cheesy. His hand is actually quite obvious in bringing us together. I can take no credit.
So anyway, I was on my way back from pre-deployment leave at O'hare airport in Chicago last August. I had just enjoyed 2 wonderful weeks relaxing at my parents' house in Hicksville, OH. My mind had already started to transition to the big task ahead. My deployment lay ahead of me like a ominous mountain that I knew I'd have to climb. I was excited and ready to fly out...I had looked forward to this event for nearly 7 years. As a focused individual I struggled with noticing the cute girl sitting across from me at the airport terminal. Apparently she noticed me too as I sat there with my guitar case, baseball cap, Bible open, and moleskin journal in my hand. My mind was determined, though. I had no time to talk to girls in the airport. I was leaving in a month for an entire year. As the hour before the flight progressed, however, two things happened. First off, I learned through a phone call I overheard that she was a Christian planning on going to church the next morning. Great...now she's cute and loves Jesus. But then I got myself re-focused. The second thing that happened is that I entertained the possibility that this girl and I would be seated next to each other on the plane. "If that happened" I told myself, "then I'll talk to her." I then turned up my iPod and rocked out to the Muse for the next 30 minutes before boarding began trying to regain my composure.
On the plane the "coincidental" happened, and we were sat next to each other with the aisle separating us. I don't remember how surprised I was to see this girl actually sitting next to me, but I know that it caused me to retract some of my earlier resolve. "I'll talk to her later in the flight," I said. That way it won't be awkward for as long if our conversation is lame. I flipped open the book I was reading (The Ragamuffin Gospel...an excellent read I might add) and delayed the inevitable.
Not more than 45 minutes into the flight I was startled to realize that the pretty girl was actually talking to me first. "Can I read your Bible?" she asked. All I remember was telling her "Sure" as I quickly got it out of my bag. Apparently she had noticed me reading it in the terminal. Since hers was with her checked baggage, I offered her the solution to her Bible-predicament. I was still finishing my chapter when she thanked me and gave me the Bible back. My intent at this point was to finish my chapter and then strike up conversation with the girl. However, I really can do nothing in defense of my lack of initiative. I was being dumb, and this fact was driven home when I saw that, upon finishing my reading, she was already fast asleep...in a rather cramped, uncomfortable looking position. She remained asleep for the rest of the plane ride which gave me enough time to talk myself out of any expectation to talk to her later in the Seattle airport. When we touched down I got off the plane first, and I expected to maybe see her one more time at the baggage terminal. After that she'd fade into the back of my mind similar to other pretty girls I'd seen...but never talked to in the past.
A peculiar thing happened as I got off the plane though. I felt an odd sensation that I was being followed. I glanced behind me and saw the same girl slowly walking behind me playing on her cell phone. I slowed my walk so that she'd either have to pass me or walk awkwardly behind me. Instead she quickly came up to me again and thanked me for letting me read her Bible. We quickly started talking all the way to the baggage claim. I learned that her name was Kate Campbell, and I instantly knew that I liked this girl. Kate was from Michigan and was going to school in the Seattle area. She also happened to go to Mars Hill Church...which is a large church I had wanted to check out for the past year. We made plans to go the next day if all went well, and Kate so kindly suggested that I get her number in case we wanted to sit next to each other. My friend Luke was also at the baggage claim returning from his pre-deployment leave, and all we could do was smile as we watched this cute girl struggle out of the airport lugging along 2 huge suitcases. I tried to play it cool for the next week, but Luke saw through my efforts from the beginning. He said something to the effect of "You're definitely 'in trouble'". Looking back on it I have to admit that I was.
The next day I met Kate with some of my friends at Mars Hill Church. After church we went out for lunch and then to one of the local markets. On the way back to our cars I finally started playing the part of the man by asking Kate out on a date. The next 4 weeks ended up being exactly what I needed. Kate and I started dating and I had no time to build up any anxiety about the deployment. I was already physically, spiritually, and mentally prepared. Kate gave me the opportunity to just have some fun and enjoy my last few weeks in the states.
So that's the story. Kate definitely has some different perspectives, but I think I told the story pretty accurately. Some rather unimportant details are that I was wearing my red Hicksville t-shirt and that I noticed almost immediately that Kate enjoyed walking around on her tippy-toes (she grew up dancing her whole life). There are a lot of other funny details that probably would only be recalled if I was telling the story out loud in front of a group of people. At least now I have a baseline story down in writing. I hope you enjoyed my attempt to recreate something that I look back on and thank God for. I realize that the chances of us meeting are very slim based on our own efforts. I didn't "seem" to be in a place to start a relationship. The previous 12 months would have been much more convenient, but our long distance relationship since has proven to be its own sort of blessing. At first nothing made much sense. I was deploying in less than 30 days! Why would I meet someone at that time? I'm still learning the full answer to that question. In the end, I admit that I have enjoyed almost every day since even if an ocean separates Kate and I. I'll be back soon, though, and I look forward to seeing that same girl...Kate has redefined airports for me :)
