Shannon here: Betty Thomason Owens shares how she met her husband, plus a chance to win a copy of her Historical Romance, Rebecca’s Legacy, print or Kindle. Comment to enter the drawing. Deadline: Dec 4th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Betty:
On Labor Day weekend, 1974, a friend and I drove from Tennessee to my former home of Louisville, Kentucky to visit another friend, Pam.
After making plans to spend the weekend together, Pam found out her boyfriend was coming into town, so she came up with the idea to set my friend, Carol and me up with blind dates…so we wouldn’t be alone on Saturday night.
She found one of her guy friends who liked Carol’s picture and agreed to go. Then she started looking for someone among her college friends for me. But college guys tend to go out of town over holiday weekends.
While Pam called her list of friends, Carol sent me a steely-eyed gaze. “A blind date is my worst nightmare. I don’t want to go out with some random guy.”
“I understand.” I felt the same way, but Pam had already made the plans. Well, except there was no date for me. That part was still up in the air. Humiliating, too. After all, the first guy she’d asked had looked at both our pictures and chosen Carol.
I smiled at Carol through gritted teeth as Pam called yet another friend to ask him if he’d like to go out with me. I shrugged. “It’ll all work out.” Somehow.
When the doorbell rang, Pam put her little black book down and headed for the door. “That’s Bob. He wanted to come by and meet you before tonight.”
I trailed along behind. I’d met Bob Owens before. We’d lived in the same neighborhood, gone to the same high school, but he was a year behind me.
Pam opened the door.
I blinked. He looked nothing like the guy I’d known from high school. Shoulder-length hair, lambchop
sideburns, and a mustache covered most of his face. Wire-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. But when our eyes met, something odd happened. It was like that scene in It’s a Wonderful Life—when an angel gets his wings—a little tinkling bell, or a light bulb flashing on, or maybe both of those at once.
I had no idea what it meant, so I tucked it away in my heart as I backed slowly from the door.
I barely remember Pam introducing everyone, and then we sat on the sofa.
Pam told Bob the problem she was having—finding a date for me. More humiliation.
He shrugged. “Did you call Rick?”
Pam shook her head. “No, I was looking for someone more her age.”
Groan.
Bob waved it off. “Don’t worry about it. Rick can go. That’ll make four of us. We’ll just go as friends.”
Rick was Bob’s best friend and an acquaintance of mine. We’d sat at the same table in Physical Science. He’d laughed at my silly jokes. So, I was fine with Rick. I sent another reassuring smile toward Carol.
She rolled her eyes.
Bob and Rick stopped by our hotel later that evening. They were taking us to a Christian concert at an outdoor amphitheater. As Carol and I walked toward Bob’s car, we found the two guys in quiet conversation.
“I think you should just leave it as it is,” Rick said.
Bob shrugged. “Okay.” He opened the car door for Carol to get in.
Rick’s eyes met mine. He smiled and held up his hand.
Wondering what they were leaving as is, I looked from one to the other and then back at Rick. “Hi, Rick, great to see you again.”
If Carol spoke at all on the trip to the park, I never heard it. We arrived and sat down. I don’t really remember the order we sat in, but Bob spent most of the evening leaning forward, talking to me. Or rather, questioning me. He asked me everything from where I was born to whether I liked big dogs.
Much to my chagrin, by the next day, it was clear that he preferred me.
On Sunday afternoon, we were all together again at Pam’s house. She asked to talk to me in private. We went in the bathroom and closed the door.
“Bob likes you,” she whispered through a huge grin. “He asked me to find out if you like him.” She was nodding, as though she expected an affirmative answer.
I had reservations. “He’s a year younger than me.” And he had a lot of hair, more than I usually liked. He was personable though, and he liked big dogs.
Before Carol and I left to go home, Bob had my address. Back in those days, we wrote letters.
I fell in love with those sweet letters. I moved back to Louisville a few weeks later. In early November, he asked me to marry him. We were married December 21, 1974. This year we celebrate 47 years. Although he still has a mustache, his hair is no longer a problem.
About Betty: Betty Thomason Owens is a multi-published, award-winning author of historical fiction, and fantasy-adventure. An active member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she leads a critique group, and serves as Treasurer of the Louisville area group. She’s a mentor, assisting other writers, and co-founder of the Inspired Prompt blog. Learn more & connect:
Betty’s Website Betty’s Facebook Betty’s Twitter
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About the book – Rebecca’s Legacy (Legacy Series, Bk 3):
What will it take to teach a spoiled heiress about the greatest legacy?
Amy Juliana Emerson might be a cultured debutante, but she’s doing her best to follow her mom’s rebellious footsteps. Her desperate attempt to escape her father’s control, however, comes at the worst possible time.
Robert Emerson has received a threat against his family in an attempt to take over his company, Sanderson Industries. To guarantee his willful daughter’s safety, he sends her to work on a produce farm run by her Aunt Rebecca.
Maybe her quiet strength and unconditional love can work on Amy, keep her from becoming the prodigal daughter she seems insistent on being. Matt Wordsworth is the man Robert calls upon to make sure his daughter stays in line. His only interest in the beautiful girl is purely part of his job. Purely. Amy considers him a fuddy-duddy which suits the situation perfectly, allowing him to stay close to her without concern for her losing her heart to him. And his own heart … well, his feelings didn’t matter. This was business.
Humiliated and angry, Amy contemplates a path that will lead her even farther from home and away from Dad’s protection. Rebecca’s influence begins to change her feelings about everything, even about Matt, but Amy might find she’s playing into the hands of the enemy.
Rebecca’s Legacy – Amazon Betty’s Books – Amazon
Question for Readers: Have you ever been on a blind date? If so, how did it go? Do you know any married couples who met on a blind date? Tell us about them.
Come back Nov 30th for Brenda & Sarah Anderson!
My blind dates were never that exciting. But, my parents met on a blind date and were married six weeks later. They had a strong marriage that lasted 58 before my mother passed.
Wow Connie, a short courtship turned into a lot of years.
That’s wonderful, Connie! I love those stories. Thanks, and happy holidays!
Blind date, well about 35 years ago an acquaintance called and asked a favor. She had a friend and a co-worker of her husbands coming to visit them for a little while, and wanted to know if I would be gracious enough to show him around the Heber Springs area. I was tired, working full time at a billfold factory, but young enough to say “I guess so.” We arranged for me to pick him up the next afternoon, after work. I was exhausted that afternoon, didn’t really want to go, and payday hadn’t come and funds were short. I certainly wasn’t going to let him buy my dinner because I had made up my mind this was not going to be date. I would be nice, show him a few sites and be done with it. So up I rolled and out walked this huge, tall, dark, and handsome guy. Hmm, I could have at least dressed a little better I thought. I was somewhat embarrassed to say “Does McDonald’s sound ok?” He just quietly agreed and as we sat across from each other, you could hear crickets chirp. I thought oh dear, we have nothing to talk about. Wait a minute, mechanic, he said he was a mechanic, cars, we can talk about cars maybe, so it was. I opened a dialogue that has continued for 35 yrs. I just asked him how our blind date went, he smiled and said “We’re still working on it.” He bought my hamburger.
I love that story, Tracy. I wondered how y’all met. I assumed high school. Glad y’all are still going strong.
That’s great, I’m glad he’s still working on it. 🙂 Wonderful story. Sometimes the best things happen when you’re not looking.
Yes, I met my first husband on a blind date! We were married 4 months later and for 18 years until the Lord called him Home.
I had just found out I was not being rehired at the school I had been teaching for the past year and was really distraught. My friend decided I should go on a date with a good family friend of hers. Even though we had a plan in case there were no sparks, we didn’t need it! We hit it off immediately!
Sweet story, Joan. I never went on a blind date. Mine was love at 1st sight. I was 14 and he was it for me. We dated all through high school and married a year after graduating.
What a sweet story, Joan. Sometimes you just know! 🙂
No I never have been on a blind date but my sister’s best friend went on one with my sister’s now husband.my mom knew she was going to Marry my dad in 8th grade and they got married at 18 now they have 13 children,2 grandsons and 2 granddaughters.They just had their 28 year wedding anniversary.My grandpa and grandma where married 70 years before she passed away at the begging of the pandemic.
Wow that’s some longevity in your family, Kendra. My husband and I are going on 37 years. My parents are closing in on 60. One set of grandparents made it to 62.
Sounds like your parents grew up together. I love stories like that. What a long marriage your grandparents had. Thanks so much for sharing.
Not exactly a blind date but I met my husband when my sister’s boyfriend brought him over to the house. They were best friends. He asked me out on the spot. We dated almost exclusively through highschool and hot married two years after graduation in 1969. We have been married 52 years.
I’m enjoying these blind date stories.
Maybe not a blind date, but still a great story, Paula. I love happily-ever-afters!
I love hearing this story, Betty!
Thanks, Gail. It’s a work-in-progress. LOL
I lol’d at his hair no longer being a problem 🙂 My best friend from college was set up on a blind date who turned out to be my husband’s cousin. Now we’re not only friends but we’ve been family for over 20 years!
I was hoping someone would get that one, Beth! I like your blind date story, too. I know they sometimes go badly, but it’s amazing how many times those dates turn out to be destiny. Thanks for joining the conversation!
I love “how we met” stories. The short version of ours is that we met in an elevator and our life has been a series of ups and downs every since! We just celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary last September.
I have a winner! Connie Dunn won the drawing. I appreciate Betty for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.