Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Weekly Story Corner - Week 2

Chapter 2: Stepping Back


(Jessica -and Adrianne and Tammy-and Ryan, right around the time the dating commenced...can anyone tell me why she wouldn't be head-over-heels for this specimen of manhood?! <--- pictures posted by jessica w/o any form of either verbal or written consent. I should sue.)

(What the @#$&??? - I am 16 in this picture!!! ... I don't know why my wife posts her at 22 and me at 16. She is falsely representing "the way we were")

If there is one thing that my marriage has taught me, it is that Jessica is not one to change her mind readily. Once it is set on something, a nearly unearthly effort is required to convince her to change her mind. My schooling in this lesson began from the very start of our relationship. After our first date, I could tell that while Jessica genuinely enjoyed me, she wasn’t really interested. However, since I am someone who embraces life’s challenges head on, I decided that the only appropriate course of action would be to find another girl just like Jessica with the exception that she was more easily smitten by me. Surely there must be boatloads of such girls out there.

It only took me the three months between our first date and Jessica’s final return home as a BYU alumni for me to realize my mistake. There just weren’t any other girls like her out there. I decided to stake my claim and change her mind. So I told my good “friend” that Jessica was mine. I clearly explained that when she got back from college that I was going to date her. Despite the fact that he appeared to be fluent in English, there must have been some sort of miscommunication, because I came to find out AFTER Jessica and I were married, that he happened to be in the Sherrill neighborhood quite often, and that he even went so far as to invite himself over for Sunday dinner and tried to make all nicey-nice with mom and dad.

The dating pool in the San Joaquin valley wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be. But the silver lining around that cloud was that for as bad as it was in the female end of the pool, the male end was far more shallow. I had it all planned out in advance. In fact I even explained my strategy to my comprehension challenged "friend." I would simply wait her out. I would continue to be my fun-loving, charismatic self while allowing Jessica the opportunity to get a good look around. I wanted her to have ample time to weigh out her options. I figured that once her eyes adjusted to her new surroundings, she would begin to see things my way a little bit more.

So after her arrival home, our little dance began. I would ask her out relatively frequently and she would come up with increasingly less plausible excuses for not accepting. It became a joke for me and my friends. Whenever we planned any sort of group date I would jokingly inquire … “should I ask Jessica?”

“Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah! Ask her out again,” they would laugh as bets began to be placed on how long her rejection would take or what excuse would be used. I would then call her with all of them sitting around me as I tried to be as charming as possible. I would bat away their muffled snickering as Jessica would tell me how sorry she was that she wouldn’t be available “that night.” In fact, we kind of made it a ritual of sorts. Jessica always got a call before, I asked out whoever my real date was. They loved watching the anticipated rejection come.

My favorite excuse came one night as I called Jessica around 8:00 p.m. to see if she was up for some activity. She told me that she was really tired and that she was just about to go to bed. As she said this I checked the clock in disbelief. The A-Team was our family’s favorite show the last time I had gone to bed that early. It was then and there that I realized that she was never going to come around. I decided that it would be more humane for the both of us if I didn’t keep pressing the issue. I had called her for the last time.

That decision marked a turning point in our relationship.

23 comments:

zeeny said...

What! Don't leave us hanging like that!

Lauren in GA said...

Ohhhhhhhhhhh, this is gooooooooood! You know, I am really shocked and intrigued that it took some time for the two of you to get together. I can see why you couldn't find another girl like Jessica, though.

I am so excited for the next installment!!!!!! Did she miss your constant pursuit of her?! It is sort of cruel to make us wait! Hmmmmmmph!

Ilene said...

Way to work those overalls, Jessica. I had a pair just like them.

Obviously Jessica was waiting until you could prove to her that you had future employment potential. The parking attendent gig certainly isn't big on the future spouse meter. Especially when you are a Humanities graduate and know that your income potential depends on the earning capacity of your spouse.

I can claim authority on the Humanities perspective because I was one too. The answer to the oft-asked question of "What do you do with a Humanities major?" for me was, "Marry a rich man."

So, I didn't marry a rich man but well, he was really cute. I'm a sucker for cute.

Lisa-Marie said...

I can't believe you had to work so hard. I swear the two of you are a match made in heaven. I'm so glad that we know the end of the story, or I'd be bummed out!

Please don't make us wait until next week.

That reminds me...I need to update my own story. (As if I could write it like you! Could I hire you?!?!)

the wrath of khandrea said...

you wanted a girl in overalls? hmm. i guess all girls of then wore overalls. you're excused for that one.
you were either very spiritually in-tune, very stubborn, or very desperate. or all of the above?

Jake said...

Love love love it! Keep it rollin'...

Jill said...

It's so fun to hear couple love stories!! I guess I missed the first post, better go find it. Please be hasty in your next installment!!!!

Elizabeth Caldwell said...

What? you just leave it like that??? Next chapter please... NOW.

Anonymous said...

what?! I really am not digging this new 'trend' of making us wait for the end of stories... who the heck ever thought this was a good idea?!

sheesh.

Heather said...

This is fabulous.

After Ryan's version of the events I would really like Jessica's perspective.

Just awesome.

Laurie said...

Classic cliffhanger.

Don't go on strike or your readers may not be restrained from using bodily harm. From a distance.

And yeah, I had overalls just like that.

Bridget said...

Love a good cat and mouse chase. I am sensing a twist in the plot at the start of the next installment...

Anisa said...

Okay, you totally have me in suspense now.

You two were made for each other, so I'm glad it all worked out somehow!

Kirbell said...

Dun, dun, DUUUUUUN! Love the cliffhanger. Can't wait until next week.

Adrianne said...

to all those who can't handle the suspense, they end up married. And I think your overalls are almost back in style again. But the early Rachel hairdo we both had is not!

Christie said...

Way to play hard to get, Jessica. Good for you!

heidiram said...

This is great. But I can't possibly wait for another week. Please share more. I LOVE IT!

Also, I want to know how Jessica, Paige, Adrianne, Tammy know each other. I want to go to Tammy's cool house next time you gals have a get together.

Stacy said...

My husband doesn't "readily change" his mind, either. Maybe that would explain why He and Jessica didn't always get along so great in the early years. Can't wait to find out if things worked out with you two in next weeks installment. On a side note...any news on the employment situation?? Is Utah even a remote possibility?? We miss you guys...that's all I'm saying!

Hollyween said...

She finally decided she liked you when you quit calling, right? That is soooooo MY story with my husband except I was the pursuer. I can't wait to hear the rest! Don't keep us hangin'!

Mique (as in Mickey) said...

I can't wait to hear the continuation. This story is getting GO-OD.

TexasTwinsTwice said...

oh man--don't leave us hanging like this! =)

Melinda said...

I have to agree with Heather- I would love to hear Jessica's version of all of this. I am excited to read the next installment.

Lorena said...

Love the overalls...and the hair!

I think Stacy has a picture of the 3 of us all wearing overalls and having the same hair...I believe we were all MUCH skinnier then...OK, maybe it was just me pre-triplets.

Um...job? Utah? No man! AZ is a great place to live! Let me know if you need any help...I could be your "head hunter".