We headed out getting there about 8:30ish, sat right beside the dance floor, and enjoyed a cocktail. Actually not a cocktail...a beer. Well ...my mom had a cocktail (jack and seven). We were having a great time watching all the dancers pass by. I got asked to dance once early on in the evening...great dancer. My mom was asked several times by the same man...older than her..great dancer.
We were seated again, at the same time, I looked to my left.....and there he was. We made eye contact, smiled at each other and he walked passed me. He was there with another guy (his best friend Josheph from Nashville) and a girl (a colleague from BOA). I really couldn't tell who was with who or if that was the case at all. I thought the way he smiled at me it wasn't him with her but I didn't really know. A fast song came on and of course I wanted to dance and somehow ended up on the dance floor and then somehow ended up dancing with an older couple...strange little older couple. The husband of that older became somewhat aggressive...drunk..maybe..not sure...but low and behold here comes Ben to "save my ass" as he so eloquently put it when I asked him what he was doing....meaning why is it that he assumed he could just step right in to my space and start dancing with me. That is called my guard shooting straight up. Yep....that was me...guarded even before I had a reason to be. There is so much more to that but its not for this blog...about my precious family...and our precious memories together.
Country music started playing again right after that fast song and Ben asked if I wanted to dance. I did! He was/is a great dancer!! Score 1 for him...actually score 2 for him...the first point was for being so assumptive in the first place. I asked him what he did ...for a living....and got the strangest response...."I'm a banker and a singer"...WHAT?!?!?! I instantly thought...please don't let this guy start singing in my ear. Not sure why I assumed it wouldn't be good...but I did. He told me he just bought a house in the Stone Oak area...wherever that was....and he asked if my mom and I would like to come to his housewarming party the next night. I said...sure maybe...knowing that wasn't going to happen. 1) My mom wouldn't go and I wouldn't leave her and 2) my guard wouldn't let me...you know my inner guard. We stepped off the dance floor, he offered to buy us a round, which we accepted..not knowing then he didn't drink..I met his friends...he gave me his card...the band card.... and we said goodbye.
That night I looked Ben up online to find out that he was actually a singer...and there was a picture of he and George Strait on his website. I was impressed to say the least. I called the next day to let him know that we couldn't make his party. I have no idea if he was disappointed or not but could only hope and that we would possibly see each other again. I got to talk to his roommate, Trent, as he is from Louisiana....super nice/sweet guy.....and he tried to talk me in to coming...but it just wasn't meant to be that evening.
We talked the next evening, for over an hour, and made plans to go on a date...dinner. The date was the next evening...Monday, June 27th. I picked Bohanan's...I have no idea why and either does he to this day...but I did. He says I was gold digging...maybe! HA! I met him at the bank, we got in his truck, and headed downtown. I was smitten!! Not sure how we got on the subject of bad habits but we did and he shared his was cussing. It is! Dinner was GREAT and didn't want the evening to end. We headed to a hotel near by for drinks and just sat and talked. Sitting at the bar while waiting on our drinks we even talked about marriage! What in the world!! Yes, marriage....we both said we didn't want a big wedding and Vegas would do!
We sat on the bar couches for a while and just talked...kissed..and talked. As we drove back to the bank for me to get my car he played his first CD for me and I was blown away! He really was a singer...so impressed. At the end of the night we kissed goodbye and hoped it would be sooner than later we would see each other again.
The next day at work I received the most beautiful roses I had ever seen. Pink....2 dozen and gorgeous! A friend of mine at work, Amanda, asked me who they were from and I told her "the guy" I went on the date with the night before...when I told her his name..she knew him...because of his band! Again..impressed...and sort of in awe. The card read...."just because...no strings attached". Thinking back there must have been a conversation surrounding expectations/relationships. We made plans to see each other the next night...meet at his house and then dinner at Reggiano's in Stone Oak..which sadly is no longer there.
I brought him Hershey's (hugs and kisses)...that was the sweet side of me...trying hard to pull that guard down. He loved them...something so small and he loved them...and that is so Ben. His house was beautiful and I was impressed how he had it together. I was not so together....and Ben was the man to make you want to get it together. We headed to dinner which was great! We were about done and Ben told me he loved me...LOVED ME! Again....surreal! Guard and all...I LOVED HIM TOO! He got up and came over to me and kissed me. We were crazy about each other!!!!!! How did this happen....where would it go....we didn't care ...as long as it was he and I figuring it out.
We headed back to his house where we sat on his porch and he played me the song he had written for me the night before...."Let Me Be the One". Yep...the song he wrote for me the night before. I was just overwhelmed with emotion and love for this man I barely knew. For some reason it just didn't matter whether we knew each other for 2 hours, 2 days, 2 months or 2 years. We were falling in love with each other and nothing felt more right in our lives at the time. I headed home to Boerne on cloud 9.
He was headed to Austin for work that Friday and asked if I would drive up and join him. I said YES! It was me, Ben and his friend John Justin. John was a major bachelor at the time...well so was Ben...and the two of them worked together as well as hit Vegas up together many times. We went to a great dinner at Eddie V's, and then went to 6th street. It was a fun night...an important night...and one neither of us will forget.
The next day we headed back home to SA, stopped in San Marcus at the outlets to do some shopping, and then home. On the way....now in SA...we heard a song, a hidden track, on a Rascal Flatts cd...called Sara Beth. It was about a young girl with cancer who loses her hair. Just sad and of course for me was a rush of memories...sadness. Ben had to pull over as he became so emotional...honestly I think it was all of the emotions we were dealing with at the time. How could two people that just met a week ago feel what we were feeling.
Sara Beth is scared to death
To hear what the doctor will say
She hasn't been well, since the day that she fell
And the bruise it just won't go away
So she sits and she waits with her mother and dad
And flips through an old magazine
Till the nurse with the smile stands at the door
And says, Will you please come with me?
Sara Beth is scared to death
Cause the doctor just told her the news
Between the red cells and white, something's not right
But we're gonna take care of you
Six chances in ten, it won't come back again
With the therapy we're gonna try
It's just been approved, it's the strongest there is
And I think we caught it in time
And Sara Beth closes her eyes
And she dreams she's dancing
Around and around without any cares
And her very first love is holding her close
And a soft wind is blowing her hair
Sara Beth is scared to death
As she sits holding her mom
Cause it would be a mistake for someone to take
A girl with no hair to the prom
For just this morning, right there on her pillow
Was the cruelest of any surprise
And she cried when she gathered it all in her hands
The proof that she couldn't deny
And Sara Beth closes her eyes
And she dreams she's dancing
Around and around without any cares
And her very first love was holding her close
And a soft wind is blowing her hair
It's quarter to seven, that boy's at the door
And her daddy ushers him in
And when he takes off his cap
They all start to cry
Cause this morning where his hair had been
Softly she touches just skin
And they go dancing
Around and around without any cares
And her very first true love is holding her close
And for a moment she is un-scared....
OHHHHH OHHHHHHH.
We were out and about on my birthday and we must have gotten on the subject of getting married....and though I can't remember why....we said ....let's just fly to Vegas now...meaning that night...and get married. We can just get the rings there we said. WHAT? I called my mom and shared our, what we thought to be brilliant idea, and while she was fairly calm...I know she was about to come unglued! She asked why we couldn't wait....well...we really didn't know...we just knew we wanted to be married. I think the rush that day was because someone must have been questioning our decision.
Over the next two weeks I had moved out of my apartment and in with Ben...and Trent. It was CRAZY! A whirlwind and one I was very grateful for. Me, Ben, Trent and my two pugs (Jacob and Rocky) now lived in Ben's house...our house....together. Let the fun begin!
We drove to Baton Rouge on July 15th to see my parents, for my dad to meet Ben...this man I was already living with....and for him to ask for my dad's blessing to marry me. Typing this it just seems ridiculous and I will literally kill Emma if she does the same. At least I think I will. That is such hypocrisy and I am completely comfortable with that. Its so funny....knowing Ben like I do now...it wouldn't have mattered really what my dad said...he would have married me without his blessing. I don't think my dad knew what to think about all of this. Ben brought his guitar and played the song he wrote me. Looking back my dad was probably thinking...what in the hell is my daughter doing....my how that thought changed. My mom felt blessed that Ben and I found each other...regardless of how fast it was all happening...just blessed.
We went to New Orleans the next day which was really fun. It was the day Ben would ask my dad for his blessing for us to get married....and he did...and my dad said yes. He did express his concern about how fast things were happening but also shared that if its what we wanted he supported us. We ended what was just a great day at Mike Anderson's ....which was so GOOD!
Two weeks later.........
