My Love Story- part 2- The Date and Then Some

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I should not have been surprised that Gary asked my sister out on a date. All of the older boys from church seemed fascinated by this new 16 year old girl. And what wasn't to love about her? She was petite, she had big brown eyes, porcelain skin (compared to my freckle face) and she was easy going and kind. Besides, Gary- having grown up in this small town and church had many adults who knew him since he was a baby cheering him on, excited to be a part of this match making.

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I had mixed emotions about this date. I was excited for my sister as I always was when her guys came around, and excited for the scoop on Gary and his dating ways, but jealousy was in full force.

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After Darla's and Gary's date they pulled into our drive way in the '65 Ford Galaxy named the Blue Bomber. I had been anxiously waiting for them and I made my presence known. Luckily where they parked was right by my bedroom window and being a mature 13, I pulled my window open and called out to them. "How was the date? Did you guys have fun? What did you do? Are you going to kiss her goodnight? Are you? Are you? Huh? Huh? Go ahead, you should. Kiss her!"

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A 13 year old sister makes a great kissing deterrent.

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Time went on without any more dates between the two of them. He graduated high school and at 17 found himself at BYU. That summer he came home before his mission. I had turned 14 and Youth Conference came, my first and his last. I was busy crushin' on the boys my age and picked out just the one for me. Greg. And life wasn't going to be complete if he didn't feel the same about me. I worked real hard flirting for 2 whole days and it was coming down to the final night and formal dance. We danced a few times and it was the last dance. Oh how I wanted Greg to ask me. If he asked me for the last dance, I would know he felt the same. I spotted him and it looked as though he spotted me. He started walking my way. Yes! I tried to look cool and nonchalant and he came closer and closer. I was ready to hop out of my seat and enjoy this last dance with him when he stopped one seat shy of where I was sitting and asked my friend (and Gary's cousin and neighbor) for the last dance.

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Noooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

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It couldn't be!

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My heart....

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My life..... it was over.

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Just then I see my mom and chaperone who had seen it all happen suggest to Gary that he ask me to dance. And he did. He was so very kind, sensitive to my feelings, he cracked a few jokes and made me feel good about my life almost ending.

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Two months later he was gone, he headed out to serve a 2 year mission.

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to be continued