Love Story -- Design Mom

Do you read Design Mom? Author Gabrielle Blair is fabulous and I want to be just like her when I grow up. I am so excited to introduce her to you via her Love Story. Enjoy!

Ben Blair and I are celebrating our 15th anniversary in August. Can you believe that?! I've been thinking of our (very short) courtship and I remembered a happy story. When Ben and I met, we had different levels of dating experience. I loved hanging out with boys and dated all the interesting ones I could find. Ben Blair had hardly dated at all.

One night, when we had just met, his friends and my friends started chatting about things like holding hands, good night kisses, and making out. What they meant. The level of seriousness they implied. (No sex -- we were all good Mormon kids.)

I was adamant that holding hands on a date was no big deal. In my view, it was just a simple way to show affection. Like greeting someone with a quick hug. Or taking your date's arm when you walk into the restaurant.

Ben Blair was adamant that holding hands was a very big deal. That you should never hold someone's hand unless you're seriously dating.

Cut to a few weeks later.

We still weren't dating, but we'd been hanging out more and more and I knew I wanted to date him. So I hatched a plan to let him know (so devious!). One night we were hiking in St. George. I was very familiar with this hike and knew there was a place where he would need to hold my hand to pull me up in a steep spot. Remembering our earlier "affection conversation" my idea was to keep holding his hand -- even after he'd helped me up -- so he would know I was serious about dating him.

Friends. It worked brilliantly! He took my hand to help me up. I scrambled up the rock and when he tried to drop my hand, I kept holding on. (What do you think? Too bold?). I remember he paused for a second, realized what I was doing, and sweetly held my hand for the rest of the night. In fact, we were engaged a few weeks later.

Not long after the engagement, I was telling this same story and Ben Blair said, "Actually. When you held my hand on the hike, I remembered our affection conversation too. I reminded myself that you thought holding hands was no big deal, so I assumed it meant nothing -- that you were just being friendly."

Cut to me. Blushing for hours.

We still hold hands all the time. No one knows what it means. : )

Such a sweet story. Thank you so much for sharing, Gabrielle. Do you think your Love Story is worthy to be featured? Email me at gwenisinlove {at} gmail.com.