Sparkman Meets Latham

Class of '85 & '87. Seeing that we've known each other since high school you would think that we were "high school sweethearts". Negative. We met about 15 years later. It wasn't to cool back in the day for a senior to even date a underclassman. That really didn't even matter because we didn't know each other any way. He was a "jock" and I was a Duran Duran geek (still am). Over the years after graduating high school we both found our way into long term relationships with the result of one child each. Him a son and me a daughter. 

Jump to 2002........I was working at a Walk-in Clinic and he came in to have a DOT (dept. of transportation) physical.  I recognized him from high school and thought to myself, I want to say hi and see if he remembers me or even knows me at all. I made sure I was the one to call him back and check him in to a room. Sooo.....we talked!  He said he did remember me but I'm not so sure he really did. After chatting for quick time I had to leave the room.  I mean, I was at work, I had other things to do. Eventually my things to do lasted longer than his visit. I felt a little bummed because I really wanted to talk more. I guess it was a good thing he left his phone number with a nurse to give me!

Now, I couldn't call to soon. So I waited about a week.  To hear him speak of this now is kinda funny. I did eventually call.  We talked and talked and talked and talked. For weeks we talked. Finally *I* had to ask him out on a date.  I was afraid he would say no, because he had not even hinted around to the fact.  But he said yes! Our date was to a Predators game.  They were even giving out t-shirts that night so I have a momento from our first date. 

Couple years past and we discussed marriage.  Well, more than discuss. I had been pre-planning it with my best friend for the summer of  '04. We were going to go to her house in Naples, Florida and get married on the beach.  HOW EXCITING! Simple but beautiful. I'm not a frilly kind of person so always simple for me. SCREECH...............cancel that! Guess what? God decided we should have a baby. I definitely did not want to be the beached whale on the beach so those plans were off. Reschedule time. That being said we moved the wedding up to the end of winter on February 29th (leap day) 2004. We went to Gatlinburg. Gatlinburg has always been one of my favorite places. So the location was perfect. 

Now jump to......now. We are currently coming upon our 8th wedding anniversary (technically 2nd, with leap day and all). We are a blending family, yours, mine and ours. Always a busy but fun household. Our youngest is the leader of the tribe. Well, at least she thinks she is. 

This is our first picture taken together. It was at the Orange & White game in Knoxville 2003. Alysa (age 7) was the photographer.