The anxious 7-year-old timidly entered her new Sunday school class and took a seat
as her teacher introduced her to all the new faces eyeing her from around the
rectangular table. Excitement filled her as she realized that for the first
time, she would know more than two children her own age outside of her own
siblings. Little did she know that one troublesome boy sat at that table who
was determined to make any little girl’s life utterly miserable if he could
find a way to make it happen!
I don’t think it was quite that vicious,
but Derek Evan Murray was my introduction into why “boys are gross, mean, and…
I DON’T LIKE THEM!”. The curly mop that adorned his head followed by the mischievous,
smiling eyes spelled trouble for any girl within playground perimeters. His
favorite pastimes were teasing girls mercilessly and being "un-catchable" by
said girls when playing tag. Apparently, his charms didn’t work on me
initially, since I proclaimed him to be a “dimbulb” one Sunday during playtime.
After church on his way home, he asked his mom what a “dimble” was, because “That’s
what Carianne called me!”
After
we finished our 2nd grade year of Sunday school, his family decided
to move on to another church, taking with them my tormentor. My young heart
heaved a great sigh of relief.
We
didn’t meet again until 6th grade when my parents decided to enroll
me in the same small Christian school that Derek attended. During those first
days of school, I decided that a girl has to have someone to like, because that’s
what girls do! I remembered looking around the room, perusing the selection of
gentlemen throwing spitballs and telling cheesy jokes, trying to decide who
would pass the test. Derek sat across the room with his best friend nearby,
both looking rather handsome. I quickly decided that I wouldn’t like his
friend, because he was a class clown and would always be trying to get
attention. Whereas, Derek was just funny in general and super cute!
So
it was decided. I would like him. But my little mind full of big thoughts wasn't done quite yet. I struggled over what to label this newfound decision. It wasn’t
a crush, because that was too flighty, nor was it love, because I couldn’t
know what that was! I don’t think I quite solved that dilemma. I
was only 11!! Whatever it was, he had me hook, line and sinker.
I will be celebrating five years of
marriage with Derek this year, and I can’t think of a better beginning to have
with someone. God has blessed me with a partner who knows me: who has lived my
past with me, and who will share my future as well. For years, I dreamed that I
might one day marry Derek, and spend every day with him until I pass from this
earth. Five years isn’t an extraordinary amount of time, but some day, I hope I
can say that we’ve been married for 62 years! I’ve only lived seven years of my
life without him, and I’m not sure how I did it. Guess he's "catchable" after all!
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