December 24th – Remembering the Day We Met

I posted this story one year ago.  As it’s one of my favorite stories I’ll tell it again after making an adjustment for the timeline.

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It was Christmas Eve, 1977.  I was nineteen.

Earlier in the week I was preparing to play music at Midnight Mass.

Your sister and I had become close friends, having met at the church youth group.  She invited me to Christmas Eve dinner, mentioning your mother made her famous home-made tamales, and, oh, her brother would be there.

“Brother?  Your older brother and his family?  You have another brother?  Really?”

I arrived, guitar in hand.  I wasn’t planning on singing anything, but I definitely didn’t want to leave the guitar in the car.

I rang the doorbell and you answered.  I said hello and introduced myself.  I thought, hey, nice eyes…nice smile…nice looking!

Al, in 1976, the year before he and Cathy met.

The evening went quickly because I had to get to church early.  Everyone was trying to visit with you since you were on leave from the Air Force.  I know we only spent a few minutes talking.

Your sister asked me if I would sing something.

As much as I’ve sung in public I was always shy about singing in a close-knit setting.  Most people are surprised when I say that but it’s true.  After a little bit of prodding I broke out the guitar.  Knowing your parents spoke Spanish, I decided to sing Silent Night because I could sing it in Spanish and English.

I didn’t realize that my voice was part of what made you take notice of me.

I said my good-byes.  You asked me if you could carry my guitar to the car.  I said sure.

It’s funny how decisions that ordinarily are so minor can make a huge impact on our lives.

Cathy, in the late 1970′s

Normally I would say no when people asked me if they could help. I was always my own roadie.

It was a short walk to the car.  Once the guitar was in the trunk you said the most memorable line of the evening.

“Aren’t you going to give me a tip?”

I was thinking of making joke,”Here’s a tip.  Take this one from me!” but I couldn’t think of a punch line that quickly.  Instead, I looked at you, smiled, said thank-you and gave you a quick kiss on the cheek.  You smiled at me, wished me a Merry Christmas and we said good-bye.

I knew you were on leave from the Air Force, so I wasn’t sure that I was going to see you again.

Little did I know that we would go out later in the week while you were still on leave.

On that night I certainly didn’t expect to become engaged, break up, get back together, and finally marry you seventeen years later!

We met 35 years ago on Christmas Eve.  I’m glad I said yes to your sister’s invitation as it turned out to be one of the most important nights of my life.

Happy Anniversary, Al.

Love, Cathy

Cathy’s wedding bouquet.

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