How We Met

Mike, especially, loves telling the story of how we met.
Both of us went to the same high school, although we didn't really know each other then. When Mike got home from his mission we were both living with our parents and went to the same LDS singles ward. The ward put on a Valentine's day dance, and though Mike was working late that night, he hurried over after work, determined, as he puts it, to "get himself a Valentine." We must have recognized each other when he walked in, because neither of us remember actually introducing ourselves; we just starting dancing. After that first dance, the DJ announced that there was only one song left and then the dance would be over, so we agreed to just keep on dancing. During the song, Mike decided to seize his opportunity, and very suavely said, "You know, I came to this dance tonight looking for a Valentine..." And Mary, being nervous because she liked him so much, not-so-suavely replied, "Well, if you would've come a little earlier you probably would have found one." 

Oops. Needless to say, the evening pretty much ended there.
 
Despite how it sounds, Mary was very interested in Mike, and tried to call him (using the ward directory to get his number) to ask him out - twice. Both were unsuccessful, especially the time when she called and Mike's 9 year-old sister answered the phone and asked, "Is this Karen?" But, not defeated, Mary went to all the ward activities hoping to see Mike. Unfortunately, he worked most nights and we didn't meet up again until mid-March, when we saw each other in church. We sat in the church foyer on the couch and talked...and talked...and talked. We sat on that couch talking for 5 and a half hours, no joke! When it got dark and we realized we should probably be leaving, Mike invited Mary to his house to play games with his family. A few games of Uno Attack later, Mary went home. We saw each other every day from then on, and were married just five months later. 

Turns out he did get himself a Valentine after all.