It was
summer of 2002 when one of my best friends, Rachael, mentioned to me that she
knew of a guy that she wanted to set me up with. She said, “his name is Simon.
He’s Christian, he’s good-looking and he snowboards.” My interest-meter to this
conversation suddenly increased ten-fold. Then she said, “Too bad, I’m going
away for university or I could arrange something where you could meet him.” A little disappointed that she would bring up
a potential date-able guy and then not be able to meet him, I said, “oh well,
maybe I’ll meet him next summer when you’re back.”
January
2003, I was at a friend’s church when Rachael’s younger sister introduced me to her group of friends. One of the guys she pointed out was named Simon. Suddenly I had a flashback of what Rachael had said earlier
in the summer and I wondered if this was the guy she was talking about. I had to
find out so of course the best thing to do was walk right up to him and say, “hey,
are you snowboarder Simon?” He gave me a puzzled look and said, “I snowboard if
that’s what you mean.” Then I followed up with, “do you know Rachael Kaptein?”
He nodded. We chatted more and found out
we both had passes to Mount Seymour which led to some awesome snowboard dates. I was positive that this was the guy Rachael had mentioned, she knew me too well, I liked this guy instantly!
Total side
note but I think everyone should date on the mountain. You don’t have to worry
if you look good in your outfit because everyone looks fat in a snowsuit. Plus,
after you put on your helmet, goggles and neck warmer, the only thing exposed
is your nose so who cares if you have no make-up on. And you sit side by side
on the chairlift and don’t have to stare awkwardly across the table from each
other. AND after 10 minutes on the chairlift, you get to just zip down the
mountain and think of more interesting questions and topics to talk about on
the next chairlift ride up.
But then Simon
graduated from BCIT and moved back to Enderby. Then came the year of the
Greyhound bus where once a month we took turns sitting 7-8 hours/ one way to
see each other for a weekend.
Then Simon
decided to “retire-early” from Forestry and he moved out here. Hallelujah, I
never wanted to get on another Greyhound bus again.
Ok now, fast
forward to late November 2004. It was around 9:00pm and I had come home with my
sister from kinder-gym class. My sister was the coach and I was assisting a
child in the class with autism. Granted, after an hour of running around in a
stinky gym with a hoard of 5 year olds, I was exhausted. The phone rang and I
was glad it was Simon. We talked for a
while and then he asked me to find the “World’s best girlfriend” trophy he had
given me some time ago. Puzzled, I complied and got it. He said, “Now this
sounds strange but I want you to take it apart. If you carefully unscrew the
trophy, it will come apart.” “Umm..OK?” I replied. I took it apart and out fell
a little slip of paper that said, “Nessy, will you marry me?”. I said, “for
real? Really?” Then Simon said, “I knew you wouldn’t believe me, just come
downstairs to your backyard.” I replied, “What? My deck? Why? Are you here?” Simon
said, “Just come downstairs!” And then I came downstairs, still in my stinky
gymnastics clothes to see my awesome then-boyfriend in a tuxedo holding a bouquet
of roses and on a 6 foot board in lights spelled out Nessy,
will you marry me? I can’t remember
much of what he said after that, I do remember the last part though when he got
down on one knee and said, “Nessy, will you step into my heart?” and he had
strung together lights to make a heart on my backyard deck. “Yes! Yes! Yes”
And Dec 17
2005 I married my soul mate. Best
decision I ever made.
And now, today, Dec 17 2012. 7 years together. Simon, thanks for being everything I ever wanted. Thanks for your patience with me, your constant support of everything I attempt, your thoughtfulness, your eagerness to serve and your commitment to be the best husband and dad. You are awesome.
Happily ever after doesn’t even begin to describe how blessed I feel. I just saw on the news that a lovely old couple are both turning 100 years old this week and have been married for 83 years. I hope that will be us. Praying that I will have you by my side forever and ever. AMEN!
