The Story of Us

My last UM/MSU game

This weekend--this Michigan-Michigan State weekend--is one of my favorite weekends of the year.


Sure, I like the rivalry (better when we are on the winning end of it, which hasn't happened for a few years...here's hoping), I like the weather, I like the cider mill. But I like it the most because it will always be "My first date with Kyle (that lasted three days)."


With the repeated get-to-know-you scenarios that come with the expat lifestyle, I have expertly reduced my "How did you meet your husband?" answer to a simple "We went to the same high school. Two years ago I stood him up for a charity walk. I apologized. He asked me out to dinner. Two months later we were engaged."

But, really, It's fun to think back and recall the details from two years ago:
I was very much enjoying my life and my new appointment as an Ingham County Commissioner. I was about to run for election for the next full term. Then Kyle showed up in my driveway.

My Soph

Several months earlier he "friended" me on Facebook. Later he posted that he was coming to East Lansing for a festival. I offered to let him use my driveway as I would be away at the cottage. He thanked me. A few weeks later, he asked if I wanted to join him for a charity walk in East Lansing. I was kind of thinking, "Dude, just ask me to use my driveway again, I really don't care." I accepted the invitation for September 19 which is my niece Sophie's birthday.

The morning of September 19, I woke up to a phone call from Annette. "I think that guy from high school is in my driveway," I said, "I will call you back." I never returned her call.

I swear I sent Kyle an email to tell him that Sophie had an early soccer game before her birthday party and I wouldn't be able to make the walk. But I must not have. Kyle showed up, on time, with two kinds of coffee. Wearing last night's make up and my pajamas, I sat on my side porch and talked with him for two hours.

I emailed Kyle to apologize for bailing on the walk, but said I enjoyed catching up with him. He echoed my sentiments and invited me to do it again, maybe over dinner. I accepted, but couldn't be available until Michigan-Michigan State weekend. We spent the next two weeks one of three ways:  emailing, texting or on the phone--often until the wee hours of the morning.

Kyle's "first date" flowers. Very nice!

I was getting a mani-pedi when Kyle called to tell me that he arrived for our date. He was so early! I told him to let himself in and that Pete wouldn't hurt him. Pete barked like crazy until I got home and Kyle hid upstairs. He later told me that he was so excited for our date that he left extra early to allow for traffic commuting from Detroit, and that he was scared to death of Pete.

The plan--painstakingly thought out by Kyle, complete with Cakebread and a Corvette--was to have a lovely Friday night dinner at the Knight Cap, my favorite restaurant.


The reality strayed just a bit from the plan:  we spent Saturday tailgating with my friends, watched the game with my family in DeWitt and stayed for a family dinner.  Sunday morning we again joined my family for a trip to Uncle John's Cider Mill, more fun with my nieces and another family dinner.

On our first date (day three: Cider Mill)

On Monday we talked on the phone into the wee hours of the morning. Tuesday we met for dinner to agree, "When you know, you know." We decided we better introduce each other to the rest of our families.

Two months later, we were engaged.

Getting engaged at the Capitol steps (also where we shared our first smooch)

:)sbc