Scarlett: I always wanted to hear your story. You eluded to it, but never told it. I'm glad you finally ended up together.
Okay, here's by story. I moved from Meeteetse, WY to Green River, WY. In my mind, I had just moved to the big city (pop. 459 to pop. 5,000, lol) I was a junior in high school, so was he. We went to the same youth group, too. We did not like each other. I was a band nerd, he a jock. Our crowds did not co-mingle. I thought he was very stuck up, he thought the same about me. I was very shy and afraid, and only talked to the people I knew well. We had one class together.
Towards the end of our Senior year, we started talking. He'd had a girlfriend for two years, and was still dating her. She was also in our youth group, and a friend of mine. Her name was Penney, and deep down, I didn't really like her. I was beginning to have a crush on Stephen. We all went on a mission trip to Corvalis, OR in June, 79, just after we graduated. Stephen had given Penney one of the two-part necklaces that you give your girl/boyfriend. When we got to Corvalis, he met another girl, and gave her the other half of the necklace! All the girls were so mad at him. He didn't break up with Penney before he did that. She was so mad and hurt. When we got back, he continue to write (no email yet) and call the girl from OR. Then he started dating Pennie again. Then he called me. Ugh, what a jerk! He asked me out, then called back later that week and said he felt guilty going out on Penney (she was out of town that week) and asked if we could just meet at the park. We'd've been better off going to a movie, considering what transpired on the park bench late at night. He did not see me again after that on a date, but we remained friends (not sure why) all summer. He finally broke up with Penney in August, and continued to hang out with me. We water skiied, went bowling, to the mall, played games, just hung out. I moved to Wamsutter where I lived with the pastor and his family and pumped gas at a filling station in September. I came home on the weekend, we'd go out on a date, he'd ignore me on Sunday, I'd go back to Wamsutter on Monday and do the whole thing over again the next weekend. I hated my job and was continiously sexually harrassed by my boss, but felt I had to stay to prove something. I had no reason to move back, due to a bad home life with my parents. Stephen came out in December when the pastor I was living with was being ordained. He took me aside and told me he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. I moved back to GR at the end of December, we were engaged on Valentine's Day, 1980, and married May 23 that same year. We will celebrate our 23 anniversary this May. I guess when he finally decided to commit, there was no turning back. He is no longer a jerk, btw.
