Last Updated on October 25, 2022 by Fadra Nally
Yes, this is part 2 of 2. Let me catch you up. Part 1 was yesterday. Go read it.
I last left you after my first date with Sean. He had said goodbye and so on without so much as a meaningful brush against my arm. So I was pretty sure I was going to be single forever.
Sunday came and it was a quiet day all day. A loser from work called me. I knew he liked me but he was one of those that just likes to hang on the phone.
Him: “Hey. What are you doing? I’m doing laundry.”
Me: “REALLY? I’m REALLY glad you called to TELL me that.”
Thank God for call waiting. At exactly 6pm on Sunday, another call was coming in and I gladly ditched laundry man. It was Sean. My heart felt all giddy. He told me he had a great time and asked if I would like to go out again sometime. I cooly said that I would like that. So we made plans for the next night. A Monday night.
Who dates on a Monday night? It turns out that neither one of us could wait to see each other so we planned a casual evening of Chinese food at one of my favorite restaurants followed by some pool at a dive called Fat Daddy’s. Not really wanting to hang around a dive, we headed back to my apartment, which was fairly close by.
Guess what? It started snowing again. Remember when I said snow does occur in North Carolina but it’s not a regular thing? I meant that. So two snow events so close together was kind of rare. Without giving a second thought to the snow, we carried on with our plans.
We sat down in my living room because that was pretty much the only room I had in my apartment. I closed the lovely apartment-issued vertical blinds on my sliding glass door for some privacy and we began to talk.
And talk. And talk. And talk. We talked for hours. It was a wonderful evening but we realized it was 2am on a worknight. He got up to leave and that’s when we realized that the snow had been falling quite heavily for hours.
For those of you that lived in North Carolina in 2000, you may remember the big blizzard. For those of you that don’t live here, it might sound funny that people would remember one storm from 10 years ago. But it was a big one. And quite memorable. In fact, it shut the city down for days.
Okay you nor’easters. Laugh. You think that we can’t handle the snow way down here in the south. Well…YOU’RE RIGHT! We don’t plan ahead. We don’t have the equipment and so a few flakes will literally shut down the city.
This was not a few flakes. This was a record breaking storm.
“It wasn’t until January 24, 2000 when that record was broken by another tenth of an inch- 17.9 inches on the ground IN ONE DAY.” – NewRaleigh.com
Sean was not going anywhere. He tried desperately to maneuver his Beetle out of the snow. But with 18 inches of snow and 4.2″ ground clearance, that adorable Bug wasn’t going anywhere.
Ever the gentleman, he insisted he would sleep in his car. Instead, I made up a comfy couch for him where he slept. For the next 2 nights.
After our wonderful date, I was ready to crawl in bed and dream about future dates to come. Instead, we were snowed in together for 3 days. He saw me in the morning in my bathrobe and with my glasses on. He saw me without make-up. He sampled my cooking skills. And we talked. And talked. And talked.
We sat on the couch and watched the 24 hour news coverage of Winter Storm 2000. We saw them stretch to keep the news going but there is only so much you can say about snow on the ground. Instead, we made fun of every reporter, every newscaster, and pretty much anything we saw on TV.
We talked about our families and our histories. We talked about what marriage means. We ate my meager meal of spaghetti and drank cheap red wine that seemed fancy because I bought it in Paris. We basically crammed months of “getting to know you” time into 3 days.
So how did I know he was the one?
We finally dug his car out of the snow. He returned home on Wednesday and I missed him immediately. He went home to tell his sister that he had just met her future sister-in-law. I called my sister to tell her that I met my future husband. I saw him again Thursday night. And Friday night. And most nights thereafter.
We got engaged 3 months after our first date. We got married 3 months after that. When you know, you know.
And I’m happy to report that even though Brad and Jen only lasted 4 1/2 years, we are now officially at 10 years and counting. I knew we’d outlast them.
That really is such a good story!! I'm so happy for you all and your 10 years of marriage. BTW what does “FTW” mean?
Beautiful story and a lovely couple. Thanks for sharing this. And Happy Anniversary! It's also the day Lady Di we'd Prince Charles in 1981. 🙂
What a great way to get to know one another! Getting trapped in a blizzard! He totally planned that. I agree – when you know you just KNOW. Jacob and I got engaged after dating for a month. I knew immediately that he was the one.
What a great story!!! And I have to say that I am impressed, I am not sure I could put up with anyone for 3 days during a storm! 😉
Such A GREAT STORY! But the real question everyone wants answered is..when you did the DEED! 😛
“FTW” = For The Win!!!!!
I had no idea about Lady Di and Prince Charles. I still remember my mom waking us up at the crack of dawn to watch the wedding on live TV. All I could focus on was how flat Lady Di's hair looked. It's funny to think about watching that as a little girl and have no idea that I would someday be married on the same day.
I don't believe in long engagements. Why wait? It's not about the event or the day (for me anyway). It was about a lifetime of happiness that I wanted to start right away. Okay, now I'm totally getting too sappy.
The worst part was I had horrible cramps so the last thing I felt like doing was being “on.” I think that's why it worked. I was just myself.
He was a TOTAL gentleman and slept on the couch for the entire 3 days. Then we got married 6 months later. That's all you need to know 😉
OMG, Fadra. Thank you for sharing that beautiful story. It gives me hope that one day I will also stop dating a string of losers (haha) and find love. Congratulations to you both and Happy Anniversary!!! 🙂
I love this story Fadra! Thanks so much for writing about it. I remember that snow storm too – CRAZY. Brian got snowed in at my place during that storm too, for days!
You and Sean are the perfect couple and always will be. I love that you saved the bottle of wine. I actually saved our bottle of wine from our honeymoon. Every so often I put some flowers in it. I guess we are both romantics at heart. Congratulations on your 10th anniversary and may you be blessed with a 100 more!
Wow you couldn't have made up a story like that! Awesome. 🙂
What a sweet two-party story — thanks for sharing. I'm a sucker for cute how-we-met stories. Looks like I need to schedule more dates for unexpected snowstorms…
great story! we learn so much about ourselves when we tell our story…and i am happy to learn about you and your love story!
For the win – I love that! And your story is such a good one – that winter storm changed your life! 😉
And I had to visit your blog becasue I so enjoy tweeting with you – I find that I get to know a blogger through Twitter and it begins a great convo which ullimately leads me to the blog – and you are a fab TMC girl so that is just extra awesome.
And so looking forward to meeting you at BlogHer!!!
Lovely, lovely story!
I thought FTW meant — for what it's worth. Either way, it works.
Blessings for many more years of a happy marriage!
Oh, and I just thought of something — do you think of him EVERY time it snows?
Holly – you will meet the right guy. Just wait for the next snowstorm 😉
Oh, I see. I'm starting to wonder if this “snow storm” was some male ruse to get snowed in with the woman of their choice. Well, either way, it worked out for both of us 🙂
I am super, super nostalgic (to the point where it begins to be called “clutter”) but it is nice to look back and remember the things that helped created 10 years of memories!
I agree. There is some magic to that story!
Karl – see my note above. I'm starting to think these blizzards are some sort of man-made event to snag a woman. However, I do highly recommend it.
I love the how-we-met stories too. I wonder why that is?
I love that story. I swear, I don't romanticize it. It really did happen that way. That's how I knew he was the right guy.
Isn't it funny how we carry on conversations with people on Twitter and then we finally click through to their blog and realize there is this whole brilliant world behind those tweets? I'm still trying to find time to read more blogs.
Thanks for stopping by. Definitely want to meet at BlogHer!
Are you questioning my use of internet slang? It's good that you did. Because it made me go and check just in case I was using “FTW” incorrectly and everyone was secretly laughing at me.
Straight from the internet:
“Answer: In 2010, the most common meaning of “FTW” is “for the win”, an Internet expression of enthusiasm.”
I will admit we both love the snow. But mostly I think of him when I pick up his shoes 😉
Do you secretly control the weather?
Because that'd be a great follow-up post.
I LOVE your love story. Wow. Do you smile every time it snows here now? I know I would!
Congrats Fadra and Sean for 10 years of marriage!
(we're up for our 10 year in September)
Love it!
That statement is so true! When you know, you know. I felt the same way when I met my husband. Congrats on 10 years! Our 10 year is next May!