1 Year Ago Today....

One year ago today I met this 33 year old guy living in Provo. His name was Shane Dixon.

We had met on LDS Planet a few days earlier as a fluke since my profile was listed in Mesa, AZ and his was listed in Provo, UT. We exchanged a few emails, Instant Messanged each other once and talked on the phone once. I had turned him down several times previously to meet, but after IM'ing him I had a strong urge to meet him. I couldn't believe that I actually wanted to meet him. I was sworn off men for life. I didn't need them. I didn't want them. I was better off on my own...I was sure of it. Besides that, I had plans...big plans and none of them involved men. But I couldn't shake it. I had to meet him.

I figured out a way to meet him for one hour @ 4pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2007. I think I was near hyperventalation all day. He texted me "T-7 hours" at 9am. Butterflies danced in my stomach. It was exciting, it was fun, but most of all it was TERRIFYING!!! Not because I thought he was going to "chop me up into a million little pieces" as my brother-in-law Jere expressed was his concern moments before I met Shane, but mostly because I hadn't been on a date in over 7 years. And I didn't want to like him. In fact, my main reason in meeting him was so that I could rule him out. Poor Shane...he had to put up with a lot from me in the beginning (and even still) but he was a trooper about it.

When I pulled up to his school to meet him he was out front talking to some lady. As I walked up to him he gave me an awkward hug...awkward because I don't do that. I'm not really a first-time-meeting-you-hugger. He picked up on it right away.

We drove to Kneader's to eat. He chowed. I couldn't even think of eating. I can't recall the last time I was so nervous. I just sat there and smiled. He asked how I was able to get away for an hour. I told him I was ditching my counseling appointment. Nice Dixie. You're a crazy lady that can't do anything but smile. After about 30 minutes I think I relaxed a tiny bit and started talking a little more.

The crappy thing was, I liked him. I liked the way he talked. I liked the things he had to say. I liked the way he looked. I liked the way he listened. I liked the vibe I got from him. I liked all the things I could see that he didn't need to tell me--he had a glow. I knew he was good. I just knew it. And I was surprised that I knew it.

I had told him that we could move forward with our planned date for friday if this meeting went well. As he dropped me off at my car I said, "So, friday..."

"What do you think?" he asked...in a super cute and vulnerable way.

I told him, "You passed...just barely." Man I was a punk. But according to his mother, that's why he liked me.

It was a great day. I still didn't know that I had found my best friend.

I didn't know that until Friday.