july 8: two years!

william and i had our first date two years ago this past sunday. william started the whole thing; i have to give him the credit. except for a few exchanged looks and smiles, i had no idea that he had any serious interest in me.
after leaving the kilipino's house late one night, he walked me to my car, and i offered to give him a ride to his (it was parked kind of far away). as we drove, he asked me what i was doing that weekend. i told him i was going to my parents' cabin for the weekend. without missing a beat, he said 'so we'll go out to dinner after you get back?' i sputtered a super-not graceful acceptance back. later he said to me, 'not exactly a vote of confidence, kate.'
when i got back home, we did go out on a date. we had dinner at a swanky supper club in northeast minneapolis--jax, for those around town--where we managed to talk about how we both get stomachaches all the time. stimulating conversation! but i think we were both hooked. i remember my dinner--it was halibut covered in a malibu sauce. i got a keepsake--a matchbook, printed with a funny phrase on it that william chose, that goes something along the lines of "one nerdier than the next," since we were in steep competition to see who was the nerdier person. (still a toss up. william: captain of the math team, captain of the engineering team--he even designed the T-shirts. william editorial comment: we went to nationals with engineering team. give me props! also, i designed the french club T-shirts! me: band nerd, marching band lover, winner of spelling bees). we had drinks at the local, a bar in downtown st. paul, until it started raining, and then went back to my house, where we talked late into the night (i swear! it was talking!). although i will tell you that i kissed him first. but he will tell you that he kissed me first. yet another topic of debate between us.
it was a wonderful first date. after awhile you stop numbering the dates, but we've been together ever since--730 days worth of dates.
we still talk late into the night, we still laugh at each other like it's our first date, we still try to get each other's attention. and here we are, careening toward another anniversary. instead of counting up, it's a countdown, and the feeling i get is not unlike that feeling you get a split second before you kiss someone for the first time.