I was nervous. I was anxious. I have always been an introvert, and this was not something introverts usually do.
The year was 2006. I was a radio newscaster in south-eastern Ohio. But on this particular evening, I wasn’t working. I had taken a vacation day, to meet a girl—at an airport.
Let me backtrack a bit.
I moved to Ohio on January 1, 2001. I had lived in New York State for more than 22 years at that point. I moved to Ohio to finish my bachelor's degree, and hopefully better my life.
In early 2001, as a poor college student, I responded to an ad on the college web-board, seeking someone willing to wash dishes in the cafeteria. It didn’t pay much. But beggars can’t be choosers. I responded, and for a month or two I was a dishwasher in the college cafeteria. I had spent over a thousand hours at my pervious college in the “dish pit” and so the work came naturally to me. The job at this school was almost forgettable. I remember showing up to work, and I remember one supervisor in the kitchen, but apart from that the memories are a blur. As far as I remember, we never spoke directly.
Fast forward to 2005. I was set up on a blind date with a girl by a co-worker's wife. Through the date, I met a few people who I connected with in person and online—through a now defunct blog site. While things didn’t work out with the girl I met on the blind date, a series of events were set in motion that connect us to the present.
By the fall of 2005, things had not worked out with my blind date. However, I continued to be in contact with some of the mutual friends I had met through her. Through these connections I was reconnected with the woman who had been my supervisor in the college kitchen more than 4 years prior.
By late November 2005, I had interacted with my former supervisor on the blogs of mutual friends several times. Then, on November 26, 2005, while I was working as a radio newscaster, I noticed the blogsite showed her AOL Instant Messenger was currently online. So, I took a small risk and sent a quick, friendly message. A few hours later, she responded. You see, I was working overnights at a radio station in south-western Ohio, and she was now living in Japan—which was 13 hours ahead. At that point we started communicating directly.
For the next couple of months, we chatted online. I vividly remember chatting on Christmas day, which I had to work, and she was stuck in Japan. I recall it was a rough day for both of us, as we both felt lonely as we were separated from our families. Apart from that, I don’t remember too many of our conversations before late January 2006. While we were chatting, on or around January 26, 2006, Tricia mentioned it was her birthday. Her grandmother had sent her a birthday card with $27 (U.S. dollars) which made her laugh. Living in Japan, U.S. currency wasn’t of much use. During our chat, I joked that she could use the money to call a boy in the U.S. She asked who she would call, especially at such a late hour (I believe it was afternoon in Japan, and very early morning in Ohio). I jokingly said my roommate was single. I gave her a phone number, which she knew wasn’t his but was mine, and on a dare, she called the number. When the phone rang, my heart skipped a beat. She was calling me. I answered. I don’t recall how long we talked that morning. But I know that over the following months our phone bills were costly.
At some point, Tricia mentioned that plane tickets from Tokyo to Ohio were fairly cheap for her spring break from school. She said she had thought about surprising her family, by “just showing up”. At that point I said, “if you need a ride from the airport to their house I can help you out.” I didn’t know how serious I was, and I didn’t know how serious she would take me.
Tricia knew of my previous relationship, with a relative of our mutual friend. So, doing her due diligence, she contacted our mutual friend to do a background check on me. Thankfully I passed. She said it was OK for me to pick her up at the Columbus Airport, and drive her to her parents home near Mount Gilead, Ohio.
I was able to get the day off, thanks to a coworker covering my shift. I drove to the Columbus Airport, not knowing what to expect. I was nervous, as I waited for the flight from Tokyo to arrive. The flight eventually arrived, and I waited eagerly for the women I thought I knew from 5 years before and had only seen in a picture or two since, to arrive. When she arrived, I recognized her.
When we had chatted, beforehand, I had tried to alleviate my stress by asking her to “tell me about” aspects of her life on the drive. After stopping for food, and driving an hour towards her parents home, Tricia finally stopped my incessant ramblings, asking if I wanted to hear her story. As someone who talks non-stop when nervous, I welcomed the interruption.
At about 10 p.m. on March 29, 2006 Tricia arrived at her parents' home. She burst through the door, taking the family by surprise. I, on the other hand, slowly walked through the door, not particularly desiring to draw attention to myself. Tricia’s entrance drew attention. I, on the other hand, stood quietly in the corner, and didn’t garner much attention for a bit. But then, questions arised about the “young man” standing across the room. Eventually I had to come out of the shadows. And, a few minutes later, I was used as a prop to surprise Tricia’s mother who happened to be int the shower when she showed up.
Long story, as it is, already longer, a few days later, on April 1, 2006, Tricia and I had our first official date. We met at Easton shopping center, before she returned to Japan. Little did we know that 7 months and 2 days later I would officially propose to Tricia, while I was visiting her in Japan, high atop a local mountain top.
Eighteen years ago today we had our “unofficial first date.” But today, 3/29/24, 6,576 days have passed since that day, and 6,357 days have passed since the day I asked Tricia to be my wife. And, 6,076 days ago today, Tricia and I said “I do” in a public ceremony.
I’m grateful, at 27 year old Randy took risks on a cold March day. And I’m grateful 29 year old Randy was willing to take risks saying “I do” on a warm August day in 2007.
As the years have passed, I want the world to know that I love 2024 Tricia more than I loved the 2006 Tricia I proposed to, or the 2007 Tricia I married. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Tricia then. But the Tricia I know now is superior is countless ways to the woman I fell in love with back in the day.
On this, the 18th anniversary of our first unofficial date, Tricia, I want you to know I love you now more than at any time before, and I hope I love you know less than at any time in the future. You are my best friend, and I love you more than I could ever have imagined.
