I love you...thank you

My first attempt at expressing my love for Carrie prompted an unexpected and now-funny response from her.

Photo by Carol Arkins

My love affair with my wife Carrie began on January 17, 2010 – the day we first met in person. It’s well known among our family and friends that we met via a dating website. But what most folks don’t realize is just how quickly I fell for Carrie.

Within weeks, I was in love.

Now, it’s important to point out that I had been married before. I had been in love before. So, to paraphrase Forrest Gump, “I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed. But I know what love is.”

Or, something like that.

With my heart bursting at the seams with newfound love, I felt compelled to tell Carrie how I felt about her. So, I decided to share my feelings on Valentine’s Day - less than a month after meeting her.

I knew this was a risky move. Perhaps, Carrie would reciprocate and say, “I love you.” Another possibility, she’d be freaked out by some guy she met a month prior saying “I love you.”

Technically, less than a month prior.

In an effort to avoid immediate rejection, I preemptively made reservations at “Salty’s on Alki.” Carrie mentioned on her dating profile that Salty’s was one of her favorite restaurants. She seemed genuinely impressed that I remembered this nugget when I told her about the reservations.

So, there I was, sitting next to Carrie on her couch on Valentine’s Day. We were minutes away from our departure time for Salty’s. And that's when I went for it and said, “I love you.”

And what was Carrie’s reply?

“Thank you.”

Carrie then suggested that we should get going to avoid being late for our dinner reservation. This was not on my list of potential responses.

Say “I love you” back. Hopefully.

Freak out. Maybe.

Throw me out. Perhaps.

Break up with me. Possibly.

But “thank you?” I mean, come on!

Carrie remained as cool as a cucumber throughout the evening. We went to dinner and had a great time, although I did wonder whether she’d tell me to hit the bricks once I drove her home. I mean, if you’re going to break up with a guy, why not wait until after he wines and dines you at your favorite eatery?

Fortunately, I wasn’t sent packing and the rest is as we say…history.

Some of you may be curious. When exactly did Carrie say she loved me for the first time?

Well, in typical Carrie fashion, she followed her own path. My future wife finally said, “I love you” about two weeks after Valentine’s Day. Looking back now, that doesn’t seem like a long wait. But at the time, it felt like an eternity.

Anyway, the wait was well worth it. Carrie and I would share 14 wonderful years together - the best years of our lives. Although I’m alone now and miss Carrie so very much, stories like this one and photos of her smiling and living life bring joy to my heart. Hopefully, you get something out of me sharing our love affair, too.

In the next edition of the newsletter, I’ll share a funny anecdote about that fateful night Carrie finally declared her love. It involves putting me in my place in front of a pair of acquaintances from New York.