We're Getting Married!

May 26 2017 - It was 4:30 p.m. on a Friday evening and my sister-in-law (Emilie) was begging me to go with her to some outdoor concert event at the Daytona Speedway. I was against going because I didn't have anything to wear and didn't have enough time to get ready (first show was at 6). After much persuasion on my sister in laws end, I grudgingly agreed to tag along. Little did I know, this small decision changed the course of life for many people. Emilie and I walked around the venue and along the way, I noticed several charging stations which was important to me because as most of the people around me know, my phone constantly dies. As the night went on, Emilie happened to spot some of her friends and I let her know I was going to track down a charging station because my phone had finally died. It was dark at this point but I managed to find a station. This particular one was next to a few little buildings selling food so I plugged my phone in and stood by, watching the show. Shortly thereafter in the shadow of the building on the other side of the charging station, I heard a mumble come from someone I didn't even realize was there. I distinctly remember rolling my eyes because I didn't want to be bothered but I also didn't want to be rude. So, I spoke up and asked what the person had said. Out of the shadows, comes the man I would come to know as my (soon to be) husband. From that moment, DJ and I hit it off. We stood there and talked for what seemed like an hour while he (incidentally) waited for his phone to charge as well and also while he was waiting to find his friends (which I would later come to meet Carlton and Stephanie). We ended up spending the remainder of the evening together, riding the ferries wheel and soaking up every minute. We exchanged numbers and before I even got home, DJ was already asking if I wanted to come back on Sunday with him before he went back home.

There was just something different about DJ, a connection we couldn't ignore. I knew I would never be able to forgive myself if I turned him down. So on Sunday morning, I drove out to Daytona, he and I had brunch and spent the remainder of the day together, learning quickly that we had so much in common between music and general life desires. We had fun watching the different concerts throughout the day, getting to know each other and making memories with his friends. One of the most poignant moments for me during the entire time was when DJ, Carlton and I were wading through the crowd of attendees and I started to fall behind due to the large number of people but when I looked up, DJ had blindly reached his hand behind him for me to grab. He probably doesn't remember it and to most people it might not mean much but it was in that small gesture that I just knew I was safe with him.