Our Love Story: The Night We Met

This is how our love story began.

It was July 22nd, 1995. I was single and had recently graduated from Western. I was living back at home which was a huge adjustment, but I was enjoying life back in the big city working at Town Shoes in the TD Centre. I was lonely and ready to find someone special as a new chapter of my life was just beginning and I planned to stay in Toronto to go to York in the fall for a Bachelor of Social Work. This particular night, a bunch of my sorority sisters from Kappa Alpha Theta had organized an Alumni boat cruise around the Toronto harbour. A friend was house-sitting in the city, so I begged her to go without her new boyfriend so that we could have a girl’s night!

We pulled up and parked the car, excited to see all of our “sisters” again. A few of us gathered outside the boat and we were introduced to the new faces and dates. One of the girls had brought her friend, Paul, as her date and I was instantly attracted to him. He was dressed to the nines and looked like he walked out of a magazine ad or Boys II Men video. It wasn’t until we started talking that I fell completely head over heels. Hot AND nice? Not possible! Paul and I finally made an instant connection when we saw a man dressed in a yacht club crested jacket with knee socks…we both laughed at the same time. 

I wanted to be close to him all night and it seemed that the feeling was very mutual! As the night began, we couldn’t take our eyes off of each other from across the boat. I had never felt my heart pound like it did that night. A thousand butterflies took up space in my stomach and I gave into the feelings that were making me feel so amazing, but I was guarded too. The chemistry was electric from the start and even my other ‘sisters’ asked if we were together because of the way we looked at each other and seemed so comfortable together. 

We sneaked a visit on the lower level, had a glass of wine together and got to know each other better, away from the distractions of the other ladies. It turned out that we had lots in common; teaching Sunday school, recent graduations (he from Seneca Radio and Television Arts), a huge connection with kids and we both really loved music, including Boyz II Men (it was the 90s, who didn’t?). When it came time to have dinner, “I’ll make love to you” came over the speaker as a secret dedication. I knew it was just for me, as we locked eyes across the room and in that moment, he had me completely hooked. Was he incredibly romantic or just another smooth operator (to quote another 90s song)?  I was so worried that I may never hear from him again and I would be heart broken, like so many other times in the past. But this felt different. I trusted him with my heart. I not only hoped, but believed that he would call me and that we would have more nights as magical as this one. 

The night had to come to an end, so Paul and I secretly exchanged numbers and we all said our goodbyes in the parking lot.We drove away and I was full of emotion from total euphoria to panic and worry. It was the best night of my life and I just wanted more time with this incredible man of my dreams. 

Later that night, while I was sleeping over with my girlfriend’s house, my sister woke up to a late night phone call back at home. It was Paul checking to make sure I got home okay. 

20 years ago, on July 22, 1995, was the beginning of us. 

15 years ago today, July 22nd, 2000, I married the man of my dreams.

And this is us now…

We’ve learned to cherish and truly appreciate each other. We love harder, better and more completely. 

We’ve changed for each other, grown together, accepted each other and built a beautiful life.

We’ve been challenged at every turn. We’ve struggled and cried together, celebrated and laughed together and even picked each other up when we were at our deepest lows.

The odds have been against us from the start but today, we are stronger and better than we have ever been. We find time for our marriage, dance on the deck and kiss in the kitchen to embarrass the boys.

We look at each other with the same passion and love that we felt from the beginning, only now it’s filled with 20 years of incredible memories.

Our love story continues….