How we Met
It was a rainy day in August- way back in 1991. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was my first day on the job at the Physical Education Building at the University of North Texas. Julie Lane and I were working the door, checking student ID's, and making sure each person who came through was a legit student at the University. I remember looking down the long hall and watching the most handsome guy I had ever seen coming towards us. I looked at Julie and literally said that day, "I am going to marry that guy!"
Would you believe when Trey got to the door he did not have his student I.D. on him! I was so upset because I fell in love right there and I had to tell this hunk of a guy, "I am so sorry, but you have to have your I.D.?" I remember he was very kind, but he did ask us to please let him in, not to mention it was storming outside so he was going to have to walk all the way back to his dorm. I felt horrible, as did Julie, but we were new to the job and we just couldn't do it.
As luck would have it, Trey figured out real quick that the dorm I lived in was the sorority dorm full of women and our cafeteria was the best! For the next three months we would see each other at the gym or in the cafeteria and EVERY time I saw him my heart would skip a beat or two! Not kidding. Slowly but surely we started talking and in December I finally got the guts to invite him out on the town with my friends and I. It was December 13, 1991 and I remember it like it was yesterday.
Circa 1992….Trey, Hogan, and I
I found this dog and wanted him to meet her. He probably thought I was crazy because I snuck her into my dorm for the next few days until we broke for Christmas break, but he came over, we went out on the town, ate pizza and returned back to the dorm to let my adorably ugly pooch out. It was there that we had our first kiss. I remember that like it was yesterday! I was holding Hogan, my dog, and he said, “Have you ever had a Hogan Bologna sandwich?” I turned to look at him confused and right there with Hogan between us I had my first of many Hogan Bologna sandwiches and I saw and felt fireworks in my heart and in my veins. I knew that day he was mine….but as with anything else in life it was a long hard road to get to where we are today.
NINE YEARS to be exact! I won’t bore you with all the details and maybe someday I will share more of the powerful stories that shaped us into the couple we are today, but yes NINE years! We were together from 1991-1994 when we broke up for many reasons. Trey then went into the US NAVY and I was out on that! I still remember my dad saying, “Amy he is going to land planes on a moving ship in the middle of the ocean!” Want to know what my ignorant response was? I am embarrassed to tell ya, but here ya go: “Dad, Top Gun was in the 80’s! It is not cool anymore and not part of my plan!” WHAT THE WHAT! Yep pure ignorance because I do understand today what a badd ass my husband is and was…..sorry for the curse word, but I had to get my emphasis across because he truly is remarkable!
During the next 5 years we did a little dance of get back together, break up, make up, break up, meet other people and get involved, call one or the other, get back together, break up….you get the picture. Bottom line we had a lot of growing to do individually and spiritually and every person we met along that road was not in vain. We both became better for ourselves and for each other. I truly believe that.
FINALLY in November of 1999 Trey asked me to meet him at his Fly In, which is when the guys who have been overseas come back and fly off the ship back into the squadron. Pretty neat experience. I basically said, “Um, we are not dating and I have plans!” Cold blooded I know! I was scared and fear makes us do things that are not healthy, but fear can also push us in a good direction if we just embrace it. I am happy to say I did and guess what….I surprised him at the fly in!
Y’all, I remember walking into that hanger with my now mother in law and her parents and sister and thinking, “What the hell have I done! I bet one of these pretty chicks are here for him! I bet he called the next gal in line!” What was I thinking? There it is again….irrational fear!
I assure you it was irrational because there was no other woman there for him, but me and what a reunion we had! I remember his Grandpa at dinner the next night kept saying, “This is going to be THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!” At the time I just thought he meant because “his Trey” was back. NOPE! It was because he knew Trey would be proposing…..
