The Way We Were...

Today is our 6th wedding anniversary. I cannot believe how quickly the time has flown nor how much our lives have changed since we met in college. Clayton and I met while working at Abercrombie in Crabtree Valley Mall (Raleigh). At the time I was engaged to someone from my hometown of High Point. Clayton never asked about my ring and I never mentioned it. Besides, we were just casually flirting and there was never any harm done. The funny thing is that I never knew his name, LOL. We had been around each other so much I figured he would be upset if I asked his name so late in the game. I felt kinda silly the one time that I brought my mom into the store with me and didn't know how to introduce him. I somehow skirted that issue. Anyway, I quit the job soon after that and never walked back in there. We were both going to NC State so I thought that we would see each other again eventually.

After about 4 months we bumped into one another. I guess with over 35,000 kids on campus, it isn't likely to run into to someone you know very often. I was with my roommate and friend Laura. She saw how we looked at each other and knew there was a definite attraction. We didn't exchange numbers or anything during that brief chat (he was on his way to class) so I still had no contact with him for awhile longer. Besides, I was still engaged to someone else. Before the end of the semester Clayton found my dorm room and tried to see me. I had already gone home for summer break.

I went back home to High Point for the summer. My relationship with my fiancee grew turbulent and I knew I had to get out. I waited until I returned back to school to break it off. He didn't take it very well at the time but I am sure that he realizes now that it was for the best. Anyhow, on my first day back to school, guess who called me up as I was walking out the door to work at the bookstore? You guessed it, the man himself. My roomie Leslie answered the phone and said "She's right here" in a strange tone. I knew it was someone that she didn't recognize. My heart skipped a beat as I answered. I was hoping that it would be him. Thank God it was. He had been waiting for school to start so that he could find me. I was doing the same.

Over that past summer, he worked in Lexington, NC (about 25 min. away from me) at Kimberly-Clark. He knew that I was close to there and tried to find me. The campus directory from NC State did not give him my parent's number; however, it did tell him my parent's name and address. He asked a co-worker if he could borrow their High Point phone book and he tried to find me. Unfortunately, my parents kept the number unlisted. Little did he know at the time but the guy that he asked the phone book from was my first love from high school. I can't believe that they worked together that whole summer and Clayton never said my name around him. When Jason asked who he was looking for, Clayton just said he was looking for a girl from High Point. No more questions were asked, THANK GOD!!! If he would have asked Jason about me, he would have headed the complete opposite direction. I was incredibly mean and heartless throughout our past relationship (I was 14 and very immature for crying out loud!). The funny thing now is that Jason and his wife Natascha are our bestest buddies.

I totally believe that everything happens for a reason and that this was fate. Clayton and I were meant to be together. He is the greatest father and huband I could ever ask for. He loves me unconditionally and I couldn't live without him. This morning he left me the sweetest card and I am still crying after reading his message.

Happy Anniversary sweetie! I love you with all my heart!!!