I don’t know if college students still do this, but back in the day – circa 1977 – when we needed a ride home for the weekend, we’d check out the ride board in the student union to see who was driving back to the city. I know this sounds like something out of an Archie comic book – “Hey, I’ll meet you at the malt shop, Betty” – but I didn’t have a car at school so when I had to go home for my cousin’s wedding during my sophomore year, it was the easiest way to get there.
When Friday came, my friend and I headed over to meet the guy who was driving. A couple of other guys were also coming and, although I honestly can’t remember which friend I went with or who drove, I can vividly picture Michael walking toward the car. He had longish blond hair and was wearing a green military-looking jacket. I had never seen him before but the thought flitted through my mind with absolute clarity, “I’m going to marry him.” It was so natural and matter-of-fact, though – there were no fireworks or heart palpitations – that I didn’t even think twice about it.
We all introduced ourselves. Michael got in the front seat with the driver, and the rest of us settled into the back seat for the four hour drive. A couple of hours into the trip, we were all sleeping when I felt something in my hair. I started swatting at my head and screaming like, well, a girl. We’re lucky I didn’t give the driver a heart attack.
Michael jumped out of his sleep, turned around and took care of it. (Little did he know, he would do this many more times in the future.) I thought it must be a horrifying bat or some kind of disgusting crawly varmint or a giant bee that was going to sting me.
It was a moth.
After some apologetic laughter (mine) and some tolerant smiling (his), we pretty much ignored each other for the rest of the trip. I didn’t think about him again until we got back to school and discovered we were in the same literature class. He asked me if he could borrow the Monarch Notes (no comments, please!) I was holding for whatever book we were reading at the time and, when he returned them, he asked me to go to the pub with him. This happened a number of times because he kept borrowing my Monarch Notes and I kept turning down his invitations. I really thought he just felt obligated and was trying to be nice.
When I finally said “yes,” the whole world changed. Michael became my best friend, my lover and, just as the deepest part of me always knew would happen, my husband.
Over the past 35 years, Michael has taken care of lots of things for me, including a rat our Newfoundland brought home and a rattlesnake coiled in our backyard. He even called the landlord of our first apartment at midnight when I was convinced I saw a mouse scamper across the floor.
There’s one creature, though, that’s definitely off limits, and Michael actually wrote a beautiful poem about it. In it, he talks about “Cupid disguised as a moth.”
Thankfully, neither of us needed Monarch Notes to understand that symbolism.
Spectacular article! I just loved it! Made my day!
Love this story Lois.
Love that you have a moth as the symbol of your relationship – …like a moth to a flame…
What a beautiful story—it reminded me of “When Harry Met Sally …” But Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal didn’t have the lovely the moth symbolism!
I feel like I was right there with you! Such a great story. I love that Michael was so persistent. What a treat to read!
That’s adorable, Lois–you two look so young, yet so full of love and determination! Thanks for sharing this lovely story.
Karen
LOVE this story! And the pictures…priceless!!!
Love this story, Lois! Ah yes, those ride boards … another dinosaur. There must be an online equivalent by now!
Wonderful Story!
Love this story, Lois! Great pictures, too. So interesting that you should write about this, because I have an essay in Skirt this month on the same topic 🙂
Here’s the link:
http://skirt.com/essays/assigned-seats
A very sweet story! Do you wonder how many times he was going to ask for your notes before you would go out with him? You recognized his disposing of …. skills early on, a good trait!
What a sweet story. I love that he wrote a poem about it. How romantic!
Lovely story, Lois. Like Marci, I thought immediately of “When Harry Met Sally,” and their driving across country, right around the same timeframe in the story.
Love the pictures, too. (Were we ever really so smooth-skinned and wide-eyed?)
Lois, what a delightful story! I think it is hysterical that a bug brought you together! The pictures are great! Congratulations on surviving for the long haul!
I bet that’s a beautiful poem.
Love the pix!
So sweet!
Your story put me right back in the day—ride boards, Monarch notes, the pictures–love it! And love how you obviously take care of each other—35 years is quite an accomplishment.
So cute-I have another girlfriend who met her better half the same way. Love the pictures too!
What a great way to meet! Love the wedding picture.
How cool that you met on a road trip! Lovely story! It was meant to be.
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
From a moth, to a Monarch Butterfly, love morphed.
Loved your story!
I like that guy’s persistence. He saw what he wanted and didn’t give up until he got it! Smart girl, for finally relenting.
Your pictures could be out of my photo albums, except the wedding picture because I didn’t get married till my late 40’s and I’m Catholic!
Great story.
Ah, the hidden symbolism of moths. That’s such a cool story. For me, it started with a bad chicken salad sandwich. I bought it at college, took one bite, discarded it, and started walking somewhere. Two of my friends were sitting on a bench and motioned me over. Sitting with them was the young man I would marry. I didn’t hear that little voice then but I did soon after. It was right. Trust those voices!
Exactly! Love that story! The bad chicken salad could have had an entirely different result!
That’s sweet…so sweet! I have a similar insect story, only mine was a raisin that I thought was a cockroach. No poems have been written about THAT…but he’s dined out on it many, many times! Happy heart day!
Ooh, I’d love to hear that one! Happy Valentine’s Day, Carol!
I love a story with a happy ending. And perfect for Valentines Day.
Lois, I love hearing how the two of you met. You were drawn to the light in each other!