Lucky Friday the 13th

Sabian, on our wedding day, waiting for me as I walked down the aisle.

Exactly six years ago today Sabian and I went on our first date. At the time I didn't know we were on a date but as they say, the rest is history.

As the story goes, Sabian moved to Troy, IL to assume the role of full-time youth pastor at Troy Assembly. Through the grapevine I'd heard that a new youth pastor was in the area but, to be quite honest, I wasn't really in the market for a boyfriend. Not that I was taken, but I wasn't actively looking, I guess you could say. I'd gotten to a point in my life where I'd finally been able to completely say, "Okay God, it's you, not me, in control of this." I was living my single life, doing some fun things and going some fun places. I suppose you could say I was open to a relationship but I wasn't putting out an ad in any papers.

Sabian had been in the area for a few months before I met him. My best friend at the time had already met him and so had a few others but I had only heard of him. I pictured, mostly due to the unique nature of his name, that he was short, brown skinned and dark haired. What a closed mind, eh? Later I would find out that his name is simply due to a hippie mom.

Our first meeting was brief. The youth pastor at my home church knew Sabian and somewhere along the way they coordinated a Six Flags trip for both of our youth groups. My friend and I were helping with our youth group and tagged along for the day. It wasn't until the middle of the day when we all met up for lunch that we saw any of the other group. Some guys went running by us and my friend said, "Oh hey, there goes Sabian." All I got a glimpse of was a white t-shirt and brown hair flapping as he ran.

When we got to the meeting point we were talking to a group of friends when Sabian walked over and my friend introduced us. Sabian's response was, "You'll have to excuse my appearance, I'm a little under the weather." His comment struck me as really, really odd. Please excuse my appearance? Who says that? And, now knowing Sabian, I'm not sure I've ever heard him speak so formally since!

That was our first meeting. The second took place at my church on a Friday night when our youth group was hosting a concert/hang out night. I was responsible for concessions and our youth pastor, Ray, had invited Sabian's group. Sabian "happened" to be assigned to the concession stand as well and so we got to know each other a little better over popcorn and candy bars. Toward the end of the evening, our conversation went something like this:

Sabian: So, we should hang out some time.
Me: Sure.
Sabian: Here, let me give you my number.
Me: (Pause) Um, that's not how it's supposed to work. YOU'RE supposed to take MY number.
Sabian: (Laughs) Why don't we trade numbers and we'll see who calls first?

We exchanged numbers on napkins (which I still have). Lest you think I was rude in my response to Sabian, I wasn't. I'd just gotten to the point in my life that if this was going to happen, it was going to happen right.

Sabian called two days later as I was on my way home from seeing Napoleon Dynamite for the first time in the theater and I was on my way to meet a friend for ice cream. He met us for ice cream (although Mardios was closed by the time he got there) and we stayed outside and talked for hours.

A week later, on a Friday the 13th, we had our first date. Because Sabian had asked me to "hang out" some time, that's what I thought we were doing. To me, hanging out was for friends. If he'd asked a little differently I think I may have picked up on the intention. Or, maybe I was just totally oblivious. Either way, he picked me up at my house and although I think I took him by surprise, I drove because, to me, I knew where we were going so I figured it made sense for me to navigate.

Side note: Sabian had already met my dad at this point. Earlier in the day of the evening we really got to talk he had been to my house (I wasn't there) so that my dad could fix his brakes.

Along the way to St. Louis we were talking and I asked Sabian, "How was your day?" He started laughing. I said, "What's so funny?" He said, "I thought you asked me how was my date and I was going to say, 'I'll let you know in a couple of hours.'"

It was then that I knew we were on a date.

To be honest, it didn't change anything for me. Sabian was (is) so easy to be around and played no games with me. We had dinner at Olympia and then saw the Japanese version of Godzilla at the Tivoli and had a great time. Well, obviously. Exactly a year later he proposed to me on the 13th. But, that's another story, another post.

So there you go, the beginning of the Chaneys. I am thankful for my husband and the fun memories we have of August 13th!