the foot massage

OK, here’s the promised foot massage story.

Kim had recently transferred to Toccoa Falls College, where her cousins’ cousins attended.  I was friends with her cousins’ cousins, and even shared a suite with one of them.  They told a group of us that Kim was coming to school, assured us that she was wonderful, and that we’d love her.  Turns out they were right.

We’d been hanging out together, seeing each other every day in the context of group stuff.  But Kim was sweet on me, and decided to throw me a surprise party for my 21st birthday.  She had all our friends get together off campus and arranged for my best bud Phil to bring me over at the appointed hour.  I had no clue!  There was cake and ice cream, singing and general goofiness.  As the evening wore on, a movie was playing, and Kim’s feet were close at hand–literally.

I still have no idea what possessed me, but I found myself giving her a foot massage!  It’s not like I had rubbed anyone’s feet before.  It wasn’t part of the master plan to secure a wife.  But that foot massage worked like a charm.  Not too long after that, we were holding hands.  (I don’t remember washing my hands after the foot rubbing, but she must not have cared!)

A few weeks later, we both knew.  This was it–forever.  22 years later, she still loves to have her feet rubbed.  And I still love rubbing those feet.

There are pictures of that night tucked away somewhere in the house.  I searched high and low for them tonight, and lost about an hour looking through some of Levi and Lilly’s first photo albums.  I had no idea that a simple foot rub would lead to a house full of kids!  If those photos turn up, I’ll post a couple of them for you.  You’ll see me with a cheesy mustache and Kim with BIG HAIR–and both of us with huge smiles on our faces.

Oh love, what an incredible journey this has been.  Thanks for sharing birthdays with me.  You’re still the best party-thrower I know…