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| April Fools April 1,1995 |
As a young, single teacher in her late 20's I had recommitted myself to Christ and was hanging around in Christian circles. I "fit", but my real self was so fearful that I would have to forfeit my very liberal views of the world to find a man who loved me, Jesus, and beer. How could I find this man without selling out on one of these things? Did I believe in soul mates? I don't know. Not really.
When I first met Kevin at Deb's condo in November 1993, he sang off key and had a chipped tooth that made him whistle when had talked; but there was something about him that made me relax. "There is something about Kevin McKee" I told my girlfriends.
I can't remember who called who first, but the next thing I knew I was invited several times to go to his birthday party at Longboards on the wharf. The next was being invited to go skiing on a trip Kevin was organizing in Mammoth over the Martin Luther King holiday. Soon after, I found out that trip had been planned with the soul purpose of my going. It is lucky that I went even though skiing really doesn't float my boat all that much.
In the interim, we did have a few encounters. The first I can really recall was coming in very late on New Years Eve from a Young Life camp I had been working at over the winter break to a party at Tammy and Lisa's apartment. He came! He showed even though he didn't even know those ladies at the time. Wow! I am pretty sure that was the night Laura flashed around her new engagement ring from Craig. I don't know why I remember that. But, well... I do.
Our first official "date" was soon after. I paid for it. That New Years Eve a deal was made that Kevin would help me move my couch the next morning into the new house I was renting with Tricia on Cuna Dr. In exchange, I bought him dinner.
So, fast forward a few weeks to the day the earth shook, literally, in Northridge. We woke up in Mammoth to hear on the news that the quake had happened. Now, very conveniently I had ended up being the solo passenger in Kevin's truck that was loaded up with all the supplies for the trip. When we stopped in Mojave to eat and reconnect with the other cars in our caravan (this was before cell phones), the plan was to take the 126 to Santa Barbara. Kevin and I made it through the roadblock there somehow, but the other cars loaded with people weren't so lucky. They had to drive the I-5 all the way up to Bakersfield and cut across at Santa Maria! So, Kevin and I did what any young frisky late 20's, early 30's people would do... We made out on the couch until they all got there. That sealed the deal. He was a good kisser. He loved Jesus. He loved beer even more than I did at the time. He also didn't seem phased in the slightest when I told him honestly during those miles up and back from Mammoth who I really am.
Fast forward to April 1, 1995 and you get two very horny (Yes, we did wait until our honeymoon!) people who had a BLAST at their own wedding. We are no fools and it was no joke.
After we were married, I would often have a recurring dream that I was walking down the aisle of my own wedding so fearful knowing I was marrying the wrong person who didn't approve of or didn't even know who I really am. Then, I would wake up in the middle of the aisle and realize I didn't have to marry that man because, Thank God, I was already married to Kevin.
Do I believe in soul mates now? Maybe. If I did, mine would be Kevin. Do I believe God has a plan for my life and Kevin is a true gift from God? YES! I got the better half of this deal for sure.
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