Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day

 “She's clothed in strength and dignity
She laughs at days to come
Her love for Jesus is why she's beautiful to me” – Proverb Doll

I’m writing this blog mainly for my wife, but also to tell you all how wonderful she is. I admit this a bit redundant because if you are reading this you already know how wonderful she is. Her strength, beauty and grace amazes me constantly and I anxiously await the times I can see her when we are apart. I look forward to going home as much if not more of anyone I have ever worked with. Not so I can stop working but because I know what I am coming home to. A warm house, a loving wife, and hugs from my kids. I will confess to you though that I surely do not appreciate her enough. I am impatient, hard headed, and insensitive amongst many others. Yet, she still loves me, nurtures me, patiently pointing me back to Christ when I get off track. Like I said she’s wonderful.

I’ve talked a bit about how we met before.

http://lindseyandglen.blogspot.com/2013/07/how-i-met-your-mother.html

I’ve also joked about how I knew she was one in that she was the only one interested in me so that made it pretty easy. 

For example this is what I looked like when we first met

Tell me that’s not the Grace of God? Not that I’m ridiculously good looking now. 

So how did I know she was the one? There were signs all along that lined up with prayer, scripture and Godly counsel. I’ll explain a bit more of that now.

So way back in 1999 I was 19 and she was 14. The obvious issues were apparent. It’s fine now that I’m 34 and she’s 29 not so much back then. Prior to us dating she invited me to come see one of her home soccer games so I went. There on the bleachers with me was her dad, David & Missy and several other church folks. Later on after the game this conversation happened.

David: Look at how many people you had come cheer you on today. Don’t you feel loved?
Lindsey: Yes, it’s very nice but Thursday is an away game and no one ever comes to them.
David: What time and where?
*Lindsey gives time & location*
David: Ok, we’ll be there!
*David then turns to look at me*
David: And Glen will be there to!
Glen: Huh? I will?
David: Sure, you already told me you don’t have any classes or work that day.
Glen: Uh… *By this point a bleacher full of church folks are staring at me*
David: You can ride with us. Then we can go get dinner.
Glen: Ok.
Lindsey: *trying to hold back a big grin* Great! See you then! *She walks off*

I’m not sure if that is 100% accurate of what happened but that’s how I remember it.

So, Thursday comes around and true to my word I show up at David’s house at the pre determined time coordinates. I’m awaiting a lecture about how she’s a great young lady and that I am too old and he will kill me if I do anything inappropriate. I actually wouldn’t receive this threat from him, oddly enough, until 2003. I may tell that story in a bit. In fact, he said nothing about any of this. We talked about all sorts of random things as I’m sure you have experienced in conversations with David.

So about 30 minutes later we arrive at the away game we start walking towards the field and we have this conversation:

David: I just have one thing to say.
Me: I knew this was coming! We are just friends. I know she’s too young.
David: What? No. I just wanted to say that I’m doing your wedding.
Me: Huh?
David: When you two get married. I want to be the one who does your wedding.
Me: Uh, sure whatever man.
David: Great! *pointing* Look there she is!
*David pulls a dollar out of his pocket and hands it to me*
David: Go buy a Gatorade from the concession stand, take it to her and don’t mention that it’s from me.
Glen: Umm..
David: Just hand it to her and say “you look thirsty.”
Glen: Ok.

And then I run off and do exactly as he said. Obviously it paid off. 

So that was really the first sign or so for me. They would build from there. I will mention a second one that was 3-4 years later. In January of 2002 Lindsey broke up with me. I was heartbroken.

I tried all manner of things in 2002. I threw myself into my job working overtime, covering for people, at one point I would rotate 1^st & 2^nd shift multiple times in the same week. That only lasted about 2 months. I tried managing a Christian Rock Band (Soul Purpose) that several of my friends were in. That lasted almost a year and it got all the way to the point to where someone heard them at a concert, liked them, and gave them some free studio time so they could record a 3 song demo. They finished the demo and the band broke up shortly after that. I still have that demo CD and every once in a while a song from it will pop up on my IPOD. I had a concert going phase in conjunction with the band managing phase and that was fun for a while, I met a lot of great people and made several friends. I met plenty of Christian girls about my age but none of them were Lindsey. I also at one point went on an inadvertent blind double date with a woman who neglected to mention she was married. That was awkward. 

It was around this time that I realized that I was an idiot and that I should do everything in my power to get Lindsey back. 2003 rolled around and we got back together though the first few months were a bit shaky as we worked through some things. I can remember one thing in particular though. 

One Saturday I was hanging out with my friend Surge. We were talking about a variety of things and I don’t know how we got to the particular point we did but we were talking about what we were looking for in a wife. Surge remarked that a co-worker of his had said the following: “I want a woman who after I open the door for her to get into the car she leans across the seat and opens mine while I’m walking around to it. Then I’ll know I’ve found the one.” 

That night I had a date with Lindsey. I opened the door for her; she leaned around and opened mine. She had never done that before. I immediately recalled my conversation earlier that afternoon with Surge. I did not mention it to her that night but I’m sure I did sometime later. 

Well that is more than enough ramblings for right now. Happy Valentine’s Day Wife! I love you!

Glen

Where everybody knows your name

I recently found this website:

http://1000awesomethings.com/

It’s a cute site for the most part about taking the joy in the smaller things in life or appreciating the things we tend to overlook in our busy me now society. My favorite one on the site so far has been this one.

#15 Becoming a regular somewhere

That one made me quite nostalgic recalling places that I have been a regular at in the past. I’ve been a regular at a lot of places such as restaurants, comic book shops, convenience stores, parks and concert venues. I’ve enjoyed a lot of perks as a result. The best being free concert tickets, and getting to meet one of my favorite guitarists backstage before a show.

The first place I can recall is Pizza Hut. By the time I was in 6^th grade my parents were divorced. I would get to see my dad every other weekend. He started picking me up on Wednesday nights where I would spend the night and he would take me to school on Thursday. He would pick me up from school so I didn’t have to ride the bus. I would then sit in the conference room of his office building doing my homework while he finished his day. By 5:30 we would both be done and on our way to Durham for Pizza and either a movie or Putt Putt.

A gourmet restaurant per my 6th grade self

We consistently stopped at the same Pizza Hut, the one that was across from the Putt Putt near Riverview. Neither exist anymore nor have they for a while but in 1990 they were both in their prime. Pizza Hut was my favorite place to eat in elementary school. I loved the personal pan pizza (it was all mine!) and the cheese breadsticks are still a favorite of mine to this day. One Saturday we went with a larger group of Dad, myself, my sister and several of her friends. The college age waiter looked at my dad alone with all these kids and blurted out “Are all those yours?”  My dad laughed, we sat down, ordered and had a nice meal. The waiter took really good care of us. 

Wednesday just me and dad showed up at the same pizza hut and the same guy was there (we will call him mike since I can’t actually remember his name and Mike seems as likely as any) and said “Hey, welcome back!” We ordered and chatted with him. This became our consistent wed night place because of Mike’s friendliness and excellent service. I remember one Wednesday we came in (same time as always) and Mike looks at us and goes “The usual?” and we say “Yes.” It was my first experience with ordering the usual. I loved it. We did this for all of my 6^th grade year. I can’t recall why we stopped.

I never did drugs and I love pizza. Thanks TMNT!

After Pizza there would be a movie or Putt Putt depending on the weather and what was showing. More often than not we would go to Putt Putt but we typically didn’t play miniature golf. I was mainly interested in the arcade. Dad would go get about $5 in tokens and I would play the rest of the evening. Sometimes he would join me, most of the time he watched.

Very little putt putt was played.

They had a two player Operation Wolf, which was awesome.

That guy on my shoulder? He's gonna die soon.

We could always get to the final boss and defeat him but could never keep the Pilot alive. Most of the time, especially the late fall & winter, we were the only people there. I remember one night coming into the arcade after leaving pizza hut and the guy remarked “I knew you guys would come! You’re the only reason I stayed open tonight.” I can’t remember exactly when it closed but I remember being sad when It did. 

For the last 15 years when I have driven by there with no Putt and no Pizza Hut I still smile remembering all the good memories that I had at both of them. So, if you’ve never experienced being a regular sometime find a place you like and enjoy it.You'll be amazed at what you can learn about people when you take a few minutes to get to know them.