Marriage Monday: The Crazy Way We Met

"The Best Week of Our Lives" at
Malibu Club

When I was twenty, I found myself strolling down the weathered docks in a pristine boating environment on Canada's rugged west coast. Originally an exclusive resort, Malibu Club was built in a dramatic fjord-like setting 100 miles north of Vancouver, B.C. When it first opened, Hollywood stars like John Wayne and Julie Andrews cruised up the coast from Los Angeles in their luxury yachts to stay there.

I was at Malibu in late August, and the camp was crawling with college students attending a Young Life leadership retreat. Before we arrived, I had made the sensible decision to focus my attention on Christian youth ministry, and not on the numerous male leaders who were also attending the camp. Privately, I was quite resolved in my decision.

"Hi! Would you like to go for a row?" asked a good-looking dark-haired guy approaching with a new 35mm camera slung around his neck.

"Yes, I'd love to!" I replied without any hesitation. "But would you mind if I do the rowing?"

Obviously surprised, my future husband answered, "Sure. That would be great. I like to take some pictures of this spectacular scenery."

We lowered aluminum skiff into the water together. I pulled on the oars, while e-Dad sat in the stern wildly clicking his shutter and winding, until he had used up a whole roll of film.

e-Dad turned out to be an American, and I was impressed with his warm sense of humor.

"Ever heard of Walla Walla, Washington?" he asked. "The people there like their town so much they named it twice!"

Evidently, my future husband was also impressed with me.

"Wow, a Canadian girl that’s willing to row? Amazing!" he told me much later.

And so, that’s how our friendship began.

During our week at camp, we sat together at all the meetings. To my astonishment, one day at lunchtime e-Dad appeared at our girls' table wearing a very hairy gorilla costume. Amid whoops of laughter, he swooped in King Kong-style, tossed me over his shoulder, and carried me off like Fay Wray. Embarrassed but complimented, I concluded that e-Dad really had some chutzpah.

Later that week, the two of us agreed to sneak out of our cabins for a late night rendezvous at the beach near "Hamburger Point." We cuddled together on the cold sand laughing and talking for several hours. When it came time to say goodnight, my future husband kissed me more than once—even though we were barely acquainted! Hmmm, I thought to myself, now this guy might have potential . . .

Isn’t it interesting that a casual boating outing could have kindled our courtship and also set the stage for our successful thirty-year marriage? I’m so grateful my father took the time to teach his little girl how to handle the oars. It's too bad we’re unaware of the significant moments in our lives as they’re unfolding. So sad that there are no drum rolls in life.

That’s why I like to pay attention to the small details in every present moment. They slip by so quickly. One of the gifts of midlife is having lived long enough to look back. It’s easy to recognize those grand moments now. And I give thanks.

In case you missed it, here's a short preface to this story.

And here's a video clip of a typical week at Malibu. Shot in 2008, the faces are new, but the Young Life spirit remains the same from generation to generation.


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Welcome To Marriage Monday

Our topic this month is, "The Crazy Way We Met." Here's your opportunity to share the dramatic (or dull) opening moments of your dating relationship. Remember, the details of your story may be ancient history to you, but to us— it's news!

Please feel free to tell your story any way you want. You could even create a photo essay, or a song or poem. The idea is to reflect on how God moved to bring the two of you together to share the greatest adventure of your lives: marriage.

Feel free to add your permalink to Mister Linky (below) any time between May 5 -May 7, 2008.

If you're new to Marriage Monday, here are few easy guidelines.

June's Topic

June is the month of weddings, so don't you think it would be fun to share the story of our nuptials next month? How about sharing a video clip, a podcast, a photo slide show? Be as creative as you want. A good old "bedtime story" will do just fine too. (Tale as old as time... da, da, da, da, da.) This time, the title is up to you!

Photos: Google Images (1 & 3), gari.baldi (2) (Flickr)