Coincidence or Not?

So it all started by accident. Or was it knowing the right people at the right time? Let me start about 15 years or so back. My father had just got out of the Marine Corps and we moved back to Texas when I was about 4 years of age. We were in Arlington, TX for a while as went to kindergarten. Then we moved to the H-E-B area, where I would finish the first through twelfth grades. I had a young girl named Elizabeth. We were friends in elementary, after all you're stuck with the same kids in your class year after year.

When Junior High started Elizabeth and had band together. We were still just friends. She was dating one of the other tuba players anyway. Well one day I sent her an instant message like I usually did except this time something different happened. Elizabeth did not reply. A young girl named Katie replied in place of Elizabeth. So Katie and I were talking for a few minutes, until Elizabeth returned.

At this point I was intrigued by this Katie girl. So I decided to call Elizabeth's house. The two girls got on the phone and we were talking for a while. Well we spoke for hours actually. I was throwing everything I had out there. Trying to make this girl laugh, and become more and more interested in me. I was trying to woo her. I had received her phone number and needless to say we spoke on the telephone several times there after.

One day I was at my friend Alex's house. He was off and on with Elizabeth at the time and she wanted to go to the movies. Well to my surprise Katie was at Elizabeth's house. Seeing that I had never met this girl before we quickly decided that I was spending the night at Alex's house, and Katie would stay at Elizabeth's house and we would go out to the cinema. Things went really well. I think I got one of those pity hugs at the end of the "date" kind of saying something to the effect of "well it was nice to meet you even though you were too shy to talk to me...". We went our separate ways and continued to call each other pretty much everyday.

That was our Freshman year of Junior High/ High School. That summer my Mom took us (Keep in mind I was 15 so I had not obtained my driver's license yet) to a Starbucks and that is where I officially asked Katie out. Our status had gone from dating to going out. Which in the mind of a Freshman is a big deal.

When Sophomore year started I was going to a Public School and she was attending a Private School. I was busy with Marching Band, and Concert Band. She had Competitive Figure Skating. We still had some weekends together. She came to every football game to hear me in the band and watch the half time shows. I went to her skating competitions.

By our Junior year I had talked my Mom into letting me attend the Private School that Katie was at. Now we had every class together, for the most part. Plus our class was only 23 students strong. Our relationship kept growing and growing. We had talked about me joining the Military here and there.

By our Senior year I had enlisted in the Marine Corps, only to find out that the job I wanted was handled by the Navy. So I went to the Navy, and they could not give me the job I wanted either. I decided to go College after graduation. So I signed up for all kinds of classes. I was interested in the medical field. I was doing alright in school, yet I still wanted the Military. After my first semester I went to the Air Force recruiter to discuss my options and found out that they were not accepting medical positions in that area at that time. So I signed for a second semester of College. Once again, I was doing well in school and still wanting the Military. I had gone back to the Air Force recruiter to see if anything had changed. Nothing had changed at all.

I decided to change my career, or reevaluate what it was that I was interested in. Upon completion of my medical examination at the Military Entrance Processing Center I learned that I was colorblind. This obviously limited me in my selection of jobs with the U.S. Military. I decided that going into Human Resources/ Personnel would be a fine choice for me.

Now Katie and I had been together for almost 5 years now. Her parents had been wanting to take a vacation before I left. A last hoora if you will. So we went on a cruise. Well to go back a little bit. A few weeks before the cruise I had spoken to her parents and asked her father for her hand in Marriage. He said it would be fine if we waited to get married for a little while though. Fast forward, we were on the cruise just living it up like royalty. There was one night in particular where dinner was formal. I wore a suit and Katie wore a dress. I gave the ring to her brother to hold so she would not notice it on me. After dinner but before desert the head dining room gentleman came over with the microphone and told everybody that I had an announcement. I got proceeded to get on one knee and told Katie " I want to grow old with you, will you marry me?". She said yes twice. It was an even more momentous cruise from that moment on.

Well that was in November of 2007 and I left Basic Military Training in December of 2007. I missed Christmas and New Years. Then I was in Technical School for Valentines day. By my second week in Tech School I had received my first assignment. I knew where I would stationed for the first time. I was so excited to find out after all of this time. When I heard my Instructor say Kunsan, my left eyebrow jolted in the upward motion. Then it hit me. I was going to Korea. To top it off this was a remote assignment so if I was married my spouse would not be able to join me. The killer is that this assignment is a whole year.

Katie and I decided that we would have to do something within the next few weeks, for i would be on my way to Korea in six weeks. We moved the wedding date up to the week of my Technical School graduation. This way she would be able to come and visit me, and we could get her on my Permanent Change of Station Orders when I was to leave Korea. She already knew what colors and the theme of the wedding was going to be. It was finding the prefect venue and videographer/ photographer, caterer etc. Well she with the help of some family of course got it all done in four weeks.

I graduated Technical School on a Tuesday, came home Wednesday had the Wedding rehearsal on Friday and got married on Saturday. We had Sunday then had a few days together before I had started Recruiter's Assistance Program and then departed to Korea. Alot to take in during such a short period of time. I have been in Korea ever since. Katie came to visit me for a little while, then I came home for Christmas. I had a grand old time. We are very excited to be together again soon. And start living like a normal married couple.

So is it a coincidence that Katie just happened to be at Elizabeth's house at the right time and we met by accident? Or did God place Elizabeth in my life early on so that we would develop a friendship. Which would later on allow me to meet the love of my life, my Wife.

Well to make a short story long, there you have it. The story told from my perspective. The Mrs. might remember a few details I forgot.