I remember so many first dates, first events, first heart stopping moments, and so much more over the years. I was thinking about each of the stories I could tell you about. I thought I would begin with telling each of them to you – one at a time.
June 1973
Tonite, I am remembering back to the moment in time where I met Bryant. It was the summer of 1973 and I had taken a summer job at a Christian Youth Camp. I was 17 years old and struggling with all kinds of teenage emotions that many young girls struggle through. My parents actually sent me there with great foresight to see that I was surrounded by others my age who had strong values, confidence and self esteem. They knew something I didn’t know, that good company develops good morals. I was on a downward slope of self destruction. That summer was magical. I met so many people that I am still friends with today.
The camp had campers come in like sheep every Sunday, they would get their cabin assignments and schedules for the week. The camp counselors and directors would line up every Sunday to watch the excitement on the campers faces as they stepped away from their parents grasps and into the counselors welcoming arms. For some of the campers, it would be their first time away from their parents. The weeks started for elementary ages as young as 8 year olds, with many weeks for age groups all the way up through High School, scheduled throughout the summer. The days were full of summer activities, classes and devotionals in the evening around campfires. In fact, the love of a campfire was born out of my first times going to a summer camp.
The summer of ‘73 happened to be one of many years that David Myers Sr would lead a couple of weeks for the campers. When I first met him it was because I was trying to locate the director of the camp to clear up some confusion. I was supposed to be helping to check the campers in with getting their medical history and schedules for routinely administered medicines for the week. A lot of our campers had chronic health issues, such as, asthma, allergies and so on. Several other Junior Counselors (my age) were also being checked in and introducing themselves to me as I was very new to all of the checkin routines. I had already been there the week before and had met a whole group of high schoolers who were there for counselor training. So, it wasn’t a shock to see people come into the mess hall and sit down and chat. One person came in and turned a chair around and crossed his arms on the back of the chair sitting down in the opposite direction of the way the chair was supposed to be used.
Of course, I was not to be distracted by such an extravagant move to get my attention. I just kept working through the registration process with the campers. Finally, weary of trying to resist lifting my head, in order to avoid making eye contact with this guy, I looked up. He nodded his head and with a fairly deep voice proceeded to greet me with “Hi”. Pausing for a moment, while trying to find some restraint, I spoke back in my normal ‘smiley face’ self, “hey there”. Oh the restraint went right out the window and suddenly, I am filled with all kinds of second guessing “why did I look up”, “what was I thinking”. A few moments go by and I need to regain some composure back to actually glance that way again, not to mention, I was somewhat irritated that he was still sitting there with a great deal of persistence in making eye contact, again!
Wait! What? Did he just wink at me, really? Honestly, I should have known back then he was too bold and aggressive for me. Yes, it was over now, I am completely intrigued with this guy who seems to be overly confident with his prideful self. He moved his chair over to the edge of the table and continued to engage conversation with me. “Hi, what’s your name, are you going to be here all week, where are you from, what school do you go to, what grade are you in?” Oh, it was one question after another. We talked about where he was from and he said Westerville, what grade he was in and not once did I ask his name. I don’t know why I went on, but I told him I was supposed to meet a guy named Bryant from Westerville. I then proceeded to ask him if he knew Bryant. Oh that sly dog! He had a shy but slanted treacherous smile that should have been the most obvious give away… but of course, he proceeded to tell me he knew him very well. How long have you known him, I asked. “Oh, I guess I have known him my whole life.” Really? You would have thought that this would have been the ‘ah ha’ moment where I would figure out this guy was Bryant Myers. The story just escalates, finally, I ask “what’s your name”. Embarrassed, angry at being tricked – are just a few things I felt at that moment. He proceeds to tell me I could ask his father “the director of the camp” David Myers. Oh, down hill I went further and further into his trickery.
So, the summer of June 1973, I met the smartest and most clever man who stole my heart, for a lifetime. We will be celebrating 42 years in just a few days. He has been my rock, my best friend, my hero and our journey continues as we travel through the worst of times and the best of times. What an incredible story we have and more incredible is that we are still the two very young 17 year old kids who have grown old together with a love that still has the magic. He still has that sly grin and playful personality all of which I fell in love with – so many years ago.
Seems like only yesterday, he was picking me up to take me to my first dinner date at the Kahiki. Always and forever, to the moon and back, is my love for my sweet guy, Bryant Myers.