Happy Southern Comfort Day!

Forty-three years ago today I sat on the floor of my friend Gail’s dorm room waiting for the phone in the booth down the hall to ring. I was waiting for a call from this guy Dave who I’d recently been introduced to.  He’d said he’d give me a call on Friday after dinner.  It was Friday evening and I was worried that he wasn’t going to call.  But then he did and my life was changed forever.

We didn’t have the kind of first date romanticized by Hollywood.  We didn’t go to a movie or a dance.  In fact, we didn’t really go anywhere.  I suppose you could say we “hung out” for several hours.  In a previous chat between classes,  Dave was surprised to hear that I’d never tasted Southern Comfort before.  He suggested if wanted he could get some for me to try.  That night he picked up a fifth of the stuff for us to share.

I honestly don’t remember what Southern Comfort tastes like. It must have at least been drinkable because we managed to finish the bottle off over the course of the evening.  What I do remember is the two of us sitting on the wall of the fountain that sat between our dorms on a clear spring evening, talking and laughing as we opened our lives to each other.

I remember telling Gail that there was something about Dave that was special.  She wasn’t so sure, telling me he looked like he was someone who could kill someone.  Fortunately for me, I was right, he was special.

And forty-three years later, I still feel that way.  No, he’s not perfect but then neither am I.  But together we form a perfect, imperfect union.  Through the years we’ve been through a lot, as most couples do.  We’ve had great joys and immense sorrows, surprises and disappointments.  But no matter how great the challenge, we have always managed to find our way back to that place in ourselves where we began; two young souls sharing of themselves under God’s heaven.

So Happy Southern Comfort Day Dave!  I’m so glad you called that night and that I didn’t listen to Gail.  Love you Sweetie!