Derek & Diane...the early years...Part 1

I decided to follow Mary's lead and write a series of posts about my husband and I. Today is about how we met. Derek and I were high school sweethearts. But before I delve into that, I need to explain my situation back then...

I was born and raised in Alaska. From 1st grade through 11th grade, I went to school in the same small school district. My last year - my SENIOR year, my mom decided to move to Washington. This was devastating to me. I mean seriously distressing to my 17-year old self. I'm 39 now, and still this move was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I went from a small high school in a VERY small town where everyone knew each other to a very rich clique-y snobby high school where students drove expensive cars and had drinking and drug problems. It was SUCH a culture shock. To make matters worse, I was (am) an extremely shy person. Back then I was not one to approach strangers and make friends.

So needless to say, my first day at this new high school, so long ago...in September of 1986, was miserable. Hideous. I didn't know where to go or what I was supposed to do. I didn't know where to go to sign up for classes, or where any of these classes were. I remember the morning on that first day, we were supposed to go to the gym for a back-to-school assembly. Once I FOUND the gym, I figured out we were supposed to sit with our class. Only I didn't know who or what my my 'class' was. I figured the seniors would be on one side of the gym or the other. I ended up picking the wrong side and sat with a bunch of freshmen. :( It was humiliating. I nearly cried.

Apparently, at this assembly was where Derek spotted me. The lonely pathetic senior who wandered around with tears in her eyes and didn't know what the heck she was doing. Derek was a football player. Coincidently, the football coach was responsible for assigning lockers. So Derek decided he would pull some strings and weasel into the locker next to me (not that I even knew where my own locker was for a long time...) So suddenly, he showed up. He had the poor sap that originally had that locker next to me moved out, and Derek moved in. :)

So every day between classes at our lockers, Derek found some way to say something to me. Every day. He would say, "You look nice today." Or "Do you need help finding your next class?" Or "Aren't you the girl that moved here from Alaska?" I don't even remember what I would say to back to him. But I do remember thinking how TALL Derek was (he's 6'2") and how handsome he was! (*swoon*) But the thing I'll never forget was how nice he was to me. He was the only person that took the time to offer a kind word to me... the shy new girl from Alaska.

My mom thought I was being dramatic, but it was true. Literally, Derek was the ONLY person in that school that talked to me. He was my only friend there for a long time. I cried myself to sleep almost every single night. That sounds ridiculous and pathetic now. But it really was a very lonely traumatic time.

Finally, around mid-October or so, Derek found the nerve to ask me out on a date. I'll never forget that day. We were at our lockers. And, he was acting all nervous. Finally he said, "Ummm...so...do you have a boyfriend?" And I said, "No." (Duh! No one even TALKS to me! I don't know a SOUL here! How could I have a boyfriend?) And he said, "Ok, so do you wanna catch a burger and a movie this weekend?" "Uh, ok!" I said, "I'd love to!" "Great. I'll pick you up at 6:00." And he walked away.

"Hey!" I called after him. "Don't you want my phone number?! Or want to know where I live?? Which night are we going out??"

To Be Continued...Part 2 Coming Soon... "The First Date"