Our Story
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We are fully aware that this may come as a shock to most of you but every relationship and engagment has it's story... here is ours. Here before you are both sides of the story, hope you enjoy...
One life changing week:
Saturday: started dating
Sunday: agreed to marry
Monday: told parents
Tuesday: ring shopping
Wednesday: house shopping
Thursday: Father's consent
Friday: offical proposal
Ed's Story:I don't know where I should start. I'll start back at the 25+ conference where we met.
Actually, it might be better to start back in August where I met Meaghann for the first time. My friend Janelle came to visit me in Calgary and we were at the institute building when Meaghann came by. Janelle was really excited to see her; she hadn't seen her in years. I remember Janelle saying to me, "Ed, you should take Meaghann on a date" I said, "sure, what's your phone number?" Meg gave me her phone number and email address and I put it on my computer. It was placed in the important documents file but I never acted on it. I was busy with beginning my first year of teaching at Hussar school and didn't really have time to do much. I hardly knew this girl so I didn't make that much...well actually no effort to get a hold of her. I must admit that she was cute.
And then....I forgot about her. Weeks went by and I continued my teaching and opening up my computer and seeing a strange email address. I forgot who Meaghann was.
It was sometime later in 2005, I think November, when I met Meaghann again. MJ was holding a party and invited me to sing a song at it. I agreed and brought my guitar to a good size party. The party was supposed to be an "animal" party where people dressed up like animals. I don't think anyone was wearing a costume...except for these two girls, Amy and Meaghann. Amy, the cat and Meg, the monkey...with a tail. I of course introduced myself, "Hi, I'm Ed". Meaghann was kind enough to not be angry as she said, "I know, we've met". You'd think that I would remember a monkey...but I forgot her again..!!!!
Months went by, a new year had come and it became March very quickly. In the middle of March, I attended a 25+ conference in Calgary. I was excited about the conference. Perhaps I would meet my future wife there. I actually told some people that my wife would be there. I was sure of it...
I helped set up for the conference and we completed the decorations in time for people to show up...One of the fun activities of registration was that ballots were handed out showing different 80's shows. Each ballot had a group of characters from an 80's show.
Meaghann came up to me and said, "Hi Ed, I'm in your group"
I guess I didn't hear it because all I saw was this really cute brunette so I decided to introduce myself: "Hi, I'm Ed"
"I know...we've met before...twice.."
I felt really bad...it's a terrible feeling to look like a fool to the girl of your dreams.
Meaghann didn't seem impressed at all. But I was...I told my friend Simon and others, that I had found my future wife. He asked if I knew who she was...and I said "yep" and with quotation marks, I said, "brown hair and blue eyes". If anyone is wondering...I was describing Meaghann. I pointed to her and said, "that's her". Now I thought Meaghann was really cute so I said it but I never thought it was really going to happen!
Meaghann didn't seem so interested; in fact, she didn't seem interested in even talking to me. A little stand-offish I would say. I couldn't help but be close to her side so I stayed by. She was talking to this guy for a really long time and I wanted to talk to Meaghann so I stood just to the side...I finally got the courage to ask her to sing some Karaoke with me...and she said "ok" but never did come with me.
I was very much in "like" with her and found some time to talk to her that night. I actually waited until she left the conference before I left. I'm so sneaky.
I told her that I would email her and I did. I emailed her at 1:00 a.m. just to say hi. To my surprise, she emailed me back that night! Really short email though.
I was already hooked. I really liked her. I was excited to see her the next day at the conference. But to no avail...she never showed up to the rest of the conference...Talk about let-down!!!!
She even missed my solo at the institute choir concert...Dang it...it seemed like all my attempts to impress her had passed!
So I did keep emailing her though...I thought they were lengthy emails, I told her about my day etc...asked her questions. she wasn't rude...she just didn't seem interested...I may have just been boring to her..lol
I did email her and ask her to go on a date with me to the Science centre, (I had overheard her talking aobut how it would be fun) and she said that was a good idea. this must have been the weekend because on Monday I got a phone call from Meaghann saying that she was getting sick and was probably not able to come on the date on Friday! I've heard brush-offs before but this didn't seem subtle...(Fortunately I found out she was actually sick) It was a hint if I ever saw one. I remember changing my msn address to "Ok,....I get it" I can take a hint.
Meaghann called me that Wednesday and again on Thursday morning to tell me that she was still sick. I believed her this time...she really did sound sick. I did the noble thing and told her to rest up this weekend and maybe we could do something next week. She agreed.
Thursday morning's conversation was important. I was already at the school in Hussar so my phone kept cutting out; I had to keep calling Meaghann back and leaving messages. This happened a few times before we ended our conversation and I thought it ended well...she told me that she would be available next week and to call her...Sweet!
Until.....
The next night, Friday, I got an email from Meaghann. It was short and said,"I'm just curious. Did you leave a message on my cell phone on Thursday?" It seemed a strange email. I felt there was caution in the email. I was a little worried so I enlisted the help of some of my friends. It was good to talk to them and they offered various explanations. Here are a few:
"She's letting you know that there are other guys in the picture"
"She has a fear of commitment."
"She's testing you"
Anyways, I was worried and for the right reason. I emailed her back and mentioned that I did leave a message on her phone on Thursday but I meant no harm whatsoever. I had no idea what I might have said that would cause concern. I'll let Meaghann tell the rest of this story. But the email I got back was shocking...
"so someone stole your cell phone and is leaving my creepy messages? Give me an explanation!"
No greeting and no salutation..hmmm. She was really mad...and I was distraught. I really liked this girl and I didn't understand why this was happening. It was late on Sunday night and I needed to explain....so somehow I had to find the explanation. I looked up my phone log on the net and sure enough, there was a phone call from my phone to Meaghann's at 3:10 p.m. The disturbing part is, school is not finished until 3:45 p.m. One of my students must have called her!!!
I was really hurt. Here was this girl that I really really liked and from no fault of my own, I was going to lose her!!
Once I discovered what had happened, I wrote an email to Meaghann explaing what must have happened. I called her phone on the Monday evening and hoped to get a response..Nothing. On Tuesday, I confronted my juniour high class and told them how I felt. They ahd ruined my chances with the girl I really liked. I didn't yell at them...but I was obviously hurt. I really liked her...and it wasn't fair!
I let the class talk about it while I was out of the room and about 15 minutes later, a student came to get me. Before we went into the room, he confessed. It was a noble confession but it did not change the result. Meaghann didn't call me back on Monday. She didn't call me until Tuesday night at 5:00. She left a message and I called her back at about 8:00 p.m. She wasn't home but she did call me back after choir at 9:30. We were able to clear everything up and I was so relieved...
We continued on the phone for about an hour and I asked Meaghann if she would be my date for Honour night on the coming Friday. She said she couldn't make it; she had a date already. I was curious...I shouldn't have asked but I did. "Who with?" "with Catherine"
Great. If there were any a blow to a man's ego, it would be a girl refusing to go out with him....not for another guy....but for a girl!!!!
I usually could take a hint but I had a feeling about this girl and I wanted to pursue it. Despite the possibility of being rejected again, I asked Meaghann if she would like to come to Edmonton with our Calgary choir. She said that it might be a possibility but she would get back to me.
Friday night came and I didn't know if I would see her. I was invited to be part of the talent show that night so I brought my guitar. I was the last on the program. I saw Meaghann standing on the far side and I thought of a way to get over there to talk to her. The perfect opportunity was to check to see where I was on the program. Heh heh. I went to talk to her and invited her to sit with me. She agreed and we ended up sitting with my bishop.
I sang my song and sat back down. Talk about a girl that plays hard to get!...I asked her if she was staying for the dance..."I would really like you to stay for the dance" but she said, "I don't know...it's so boring". Hmmmm I wonder if that is another rejection...
She did end up coming back and I was glad to see her. She talked to me for quite awhile but there were so many guys coming up to talk to her that I was a little discouraged and I walked away a couple of times. I don't like to compete. She still wasn't sure if she was coming to Edmonton with me...Her friend Catherine wanted her to hang out with her instead.
I loved talking to her....we stayed past the dance until almost 2:00 talking. then she told me she was going to Australia!! Why!!!!???!! Just when I meet the girl of my dreams..she tells me she's going to Australia...Well..it didn't matter...I still wanted to get to know this girl. She finally agreed to come to Edmonton with me...I was so excited..
I got a phone call at 8:30 the next day...It was Meaghann waking me up...we talked for about an hour with just enough time to leave for the institute building...for the bus to Edmonton.
The trip there was so much fun...The more we talked, the more I liked this girl...but I also thought, she's just being friendly...she doesn't like me...
I wish I could have been in her group the whole time...I just wanted to spend time with her...but I was too nervous...
The trip back was interesting....The first part of the trip, someone else sat in my seat!!! He moved later so I was able to spend the rest of the ride home sitting beside her!!! When we got to the institute building, I thought I was going to get a chance to talk to her but she went to her car right away and after a very brief couple of seconds of talking, she was gone...
I saw no hint that she liked me at all...she was just being friendly...but I did enjoy emailing back and forth during the week...we also used msn quite a bit. I even talked to her on the phone...probably when I should've been working...
Meaghann invited me to have Easter dinner with her family on Sunday...I accepted...It was a little strange, I had invited to cook Easter dinner for her but she refused...sorta..."can only have scalloped potatoes" (and pronounce it right).
Meg also invited to an Easter egg hunt party on Friday...I thought it would be fun...I assumed I was going "with" her...but that was not the case...I guess...Talk about leaving a guy hangin'...unless I don't catch the hints well...
I had a chicken dinner planned with my badminton team(we won it at a tourney) and so I told Meaghann that I couldn't hang out with her and Jordan and Tashina. I did invite her to come to watch me play soccer. They did come...but I didn't want to cramp anyone's style so I didn't talk to her too much that night..even though I wanted to...I thought I was going to impress her with my soccr skills too..but I just ended up hurting myself...and she didn't even see me go down! grrrrrrr...
Meaghann had to leave before I did...and so I drove home alone...but to my surprise....she called me on the way home!!!! I was so excited...
Friday night was a little different I would say...I met her at the party...and well...there are always guys talking to her...I just didn't feel comfortable...We hardly talked the whole night...
I wanted to sit with her on the couch and the best I could do was sit in a hanging sack....lol...
But, I really liked this girl so I timed it so that we might be walking out the door at the same time. I remember one story about how someone's mom was able to retire because of who she married.. Meg said she wanted to retire...and needed to find someone that could tell her to retire...Josh Tagg said, "Why don't you ask Ed to marry you?" So Meaghann called me on my cell even though she was standing beside me...and asked, "Ed, will you marry me?" I was really quite nervous...I hope it didn't show...because I actually wanted to marry this girl...so I said, "yes...but you can't eat a lot" (meaning we won't have a lot of money)...I was so embarrassed...
I timed it right so that we left together...I walked her to the car and she was boxed in by someone so I offered to talk to her while she waited...
We started talking...
and talking....
and even after the car was free....we continue to talk...
and talk...
It was a great conversation!
We went to Denny's and had some tea about 2 a.m. and then talked some more...then back to my car(still in Meg's car) and talked more...
Bathroom runs and more talking....it was 6 a.m.
I was starting to fall in love with this girl...I was so nervous I could hardly look at her..
If I remember correctly...Meg said she liked me then...I said, "I appreciate your proximity" and she responded with "Ed, I really like you too"
This was followed by a hug and then we agreed we should probably get some sleep in preparation for the temple trip in a few hours..
I was so excited to tell the Bishop and everyone that I now had a girfriend. I rushed to the church and told everyone I had a girlfriend. The Bishop seemed excited to hear the news and promptly took Meaghann aside and asked her some questions.
"I've never seen Ed so twitterpated....how long have you two been dating?"
The answer came as a shock. "We're not" she answered...
The Bishop came to tell me quickly...maybe it was because I hadn't held her hand yet?
After the temple trip, we came back to Calgary and bought some Karaoke CD's for Sunday...apparently that was the activity for Sunday afternoon...
That Saturday night...we talked on the couch with her father conveniently in the seat beside us...lol...but it was fun...I hadn't even held her hand yet..
I came back the net morning in time for church. Meg wasn't ready...so I went with her dad. After walking toward my car, we decided to take his....lol
Her dad gave a talk and so Meg and her mom sat with me..
I asked if her hands were cold(okay...it's the best I could come up with) and she said yes..
Easter dinner was really good. I like "scalloped potatoes". Later that night, we sang some Karaoke, songs such as "I got you babe", "Born to be Wild" and "Sweet Caroline". I was already in love with her. We talked that night and decided to get married.
The rest of our "dating" life was used to finalize marriage plans.
Her dad was out of town until Thursday so we went ring shopping on Tuesday, house shopping on Wednesday, I asked her dad on Thursday and Friday we got engaged. The proposal went well I think...We went to Fish Creek Park and had a picnic, sushi and greek salad. After lunch...I felt I should do it then...so I said, "Meaghann, can you get up?"
"What?"
"Can you just stand up for a sec?"
She stood up and I stayed on my knee and asked her to marry me!!!! and she said yes!!!!! We're GETTING MARRIED!!!!
I can't wait...I'm so lucky!!!!
Meaghann is the girl of my dreams and I cannot believe that I am going to marry her. She makes me so happy. She is everything I ever wanted and everything I have ever dreamed. I'm so excited to be with her forever!
Meg's Story:So Ed got my number back in August 2005 but never called me. I wasn't surprized when he didn't remember me in November, I mean Janelle and I barely let him get a word in edgewise. However when he didn't remember me in March I was not impressed. I didn't see the point in making an effort to be friends with someone who couldn't bother remembering me. So anyway when he reintroduced himeself at the 25+ conference I made it very clear that I had met him two times before. I walked away planning on never having to introduce myself to him again... if you know what I mean.
Anyway the rest of the night he could be found periodically hanging around. I didn't quite get him. Then later that night I went home to email my friend to tell him how lame I felt at the conference when I found a new message from Ed in my inbox. I was quite surprized. To benefit everyone at the conference I opted to not show my face the rest of the weekend. So I ditched and didn't see Ed.
However Ed was persistant and continued to email and phone just about every day. I thought it was cute but I still wasn't interested... I mean I was only a visa away from moving to Australia and disapearing forever. Until one night just before a night shift I checked my messages and there was one from Ed. It creeped me out... lots of heavy breathing "I miss you... I just want to be close to you and to hug you...I love you..." I double checked that the message was from Ed's cell phone and being myself proceeded to tell everyone I knew about this creepy guy... I was sure that I knew why he was 28 and still single. As heartless as I am I felt that I should tell him for future reference that leaving a message like that isn't cool. So I emailed him and asked him about the message. Then I got email back from him where I felt he was playing dumb... pretending that he didn't leave that message. The next day I got a long drawn out message from him explaining to me what he felt had happened. He seemed so concerned about what happened that he melted my ice cold heart. After that I wanted to go out with him.
I still wasn't convinced that I should pursue anything, so I shared with him my plans of moving Australia. He still persisted and asked me to go to Edmonton with him and the IRC choir. Catherine was trying to convince me to go to the movies with her instead of going with Ed, but I had a good feeling in my heart like I should go wtih him. So I went and had a great time, he pretty much had me after that... he was so sweet and respectful. So we started talking on the phone more and more and I began to understand that he was the reason that I didn't have my visa to go to Australia.
Being an older girl who doesn't play games I shared with Ed on Good Friday how I felt about him and I was pleased to hear that he felt the same way. Easter Sunday I told Mom how I felt about Ed. By Sunday night Ed and I both felt that we were right for each other and should be married. We went ring shopping on Tuesday, he asked my Dad on Thursday and on Friday he proposed to me in Fish Creek Park (yes, I cried).
Now we are just waiting for the big day to arrive!
This sounds a bit like Pride and Prejudice doesn't it? What would we do without our Jane Austen?
