Aria + Derek, How We Met

Joining Grace in her How We Met link up!

Aria + Derek (parto uno)

I don't really know where to start so I'll just start off how I always start off when telling people about how Arek came to be. Yes, that's our celebrity mashup name.

Thursday night, December 19th, 2008 was the date. We don't know why but somehow Derek and I can remember the date that we met. My best friend Kelcey and her fiance at the time (now hubby), Curtis, and myself all decided it would be fun to get a group of friends together and go walk through Winterhaven. Winterhaven is one of the largest light festivals in the country that happens every year in December. It's basically a neighborhood where people purposefully go over the top in decorating their homes for the holiday season. It's so much fun, if you're ever in Tucson in December, check it out.

Anywhoo, Curtis' friend Kyle invited Derek to come to Winterhaven with everyone. Derek was home on winter break from LU. I didn't know this part of the story until after we were married, but: apparently Derek was enroute to Winterhaven when Kyle called him and said he wasn't going to make it. Derek was also friends with Curtis and he was already like halfway there so he just decided to come along anyway.

Everyone met up in front of a pizza restaurant right next to Winterhaven. That's where Derek and I were introduced. *que the googly eyes*

I recognized Derek as the "cute drummer guy" from a youth group that we all had been part of years earlier, although we never had met. Oh and I did not tell him to his face that I recognized him as the "cute drummer". That would have been weird.

Well, we all made our way to the entrance and started walking through the neighborhood. I had made cookies to share with everyone and offered some to Derek (NOT as a pickup line or anything) but he declined.

I was minding my own business enjoying the pretty lights when Derek came walking up beside me and started asking me about myself. I think he was interested because prior to our convo he had been walking behind me, giving him a decent view of my rear end.

We had a great time talking; Derek was studying Telecommunications and wanted to be a cinematographer, I was studying Film Arts at Pima and at the time (I later changed my mind) wanted to be a production designer. He worked at Starbucks, I worked at a fast casual place. Derek was impressed with the fact that I'd worked with 16mm film and actually understood what he was talking about. I was impressed with his ambition and ability to carry on a good conversation. Derek also changed his mind about the cookies and asked for one. Smart man.

At the end of the night Derek asked if he could get my phone number "so we can ALL get together again", meaning the group of us peoples there, or so I thought. I didn't see how he could want my number for any other reason and was happy to oblige. It wasn't until after I drove away that I realized that maybe he wanted my digits for another reason. I had to call Kelcey to get some input and she was kind enough to educate me on the ways of how guys get girls numbers. Everything was confirmed when Derek texted me later that night saying that he had enjoyed our conversation that night and was looking forward to hanging out soon.

I went on vacation with my family the next day, so I was unavailable for a week and I'm glad I was. I think it gave me a chance to not go over board with the girly daydreams. We did text each other a little, so it's not like there was zero communication. I also told my parents while we were on vacation that I'd "met someone". My mom wanted all the details and we even stalked Derek on Facebook so I could show her a picture of what he looked like. I know, creepy.

When I got back Derek texted to see if we could hang out. I said sure.

Our first date was at Starbucks. We just got coffee and talked. It was wonderful, really. We got to know each other a bit more and quickly discovered that yeah, we liked each other.

I don't really remember the details that followed in the next few days but I do remember:

- Going with Derek to visit the church his parents attended, followed by meeting his parents, brother and sister-in-law and their little girl, Kylie.

- Talking on the phone a lot.

- Going to his parents house for an early birthday celebration/dinner for Derek. I gave him a box of cookies and a gift card to somewhere.

- Having dinner at an Indian food restaurant where Derek met my parents.

We only spent about a week or so together because at the beginning of January Derek moved to Los Angeles to attend LAFSC and do an internship. His last night in town we met up at Barnes and Nobles and hung out. He broached the subject of "so, what should we do about this?", meaning us. I told him that I liked how things were going so far and we should just keep getting to know each other. We talked and talked and then finally I had to go home. Before we parted Derek did what has gone down in our history as one of the sweetest things ever: he kissed my forehead. Very tenderly. It was so cute. I cried a little on the drive home.

The weeks that followed were comprised of lots of texting, late night phone calls, and Facebooking. We tried very hard to keep in touch and keep the romance alive, but alas, distance was the nasty foe in our tale of love. With Derek being super busy with classes, productions, and an internship, and I was in school full time and working part time, our schedules weren't coordinated and we sometimes didn't talk for days.  By April we decided to "just be friends". I was bummed and had a rough few days, but eventually I moved on.

Stay tuned for parto dos...
(part II)