Do you want a fork or a spoon?

Bet you're already wondering what the heck that could possibly mean! This is classic. Classic what, I'm really not sure. But, it sounds like a great lead into a story!

After the wedding and the honeymoon, life began for the Dickerson Duo. Both of us worked in Tyler for the first two and a half months of our marriage. Like love-struck newlyweds, we rode to work together, met for lunch, rode home together, and spent every waking moment "in love" with each other. Let me stop here and let you in on a conversation between my mother and myself when I was much, much younger.

Mom: Shannon, come in here and help me cook dinner. One day you're going to want to know how to cook.

Me: No thanks! I'm going to be a rich doctor and pay someone to cook for me!

Mom: I'm sure you are going to be a rich doctor, but you still might want to cook.

Me: Nah, I can read. That's all you have to do to be able to cook, right? It's like a lab experiment.

Mom: Okay, maybe next time.


I'm sure some of you already know where this is going, but you're wrong. I did not mess up a meal...well, not that I'm telling you about now. I was smarter than that! I knew I couldn't cook. So, what does a young bride do when she has cooked both meals that she knows how, has gone to every restaurant in Henderson multiple times, and is trying to avoid another sandwich? Well, this nifty lady decided to provide her precious husband with Ravioli right from the chef...you know the one in the can from the grocery store by the last name Boyardee.


So, being the conscientious wife that I was, I asked Chad if he ate his ravioli in a bowl or on a plate. He very nicely responded, "it doesn't matter". I asked again only to get the same answer. So, I went with my preference--in a bowl. Still trying to measure up to his expectations, I asked him yet another question, "do you want a fork or a spoon?" to which Mr.Communication replied, "it doesn't matter". At this point, I began to get a little irritated with him because I wanted it to be like he was used to. I mean surely he had eaten ravioli before, right? So, our "first fight" ended with huge smiles and Chad eating ravioli from a bowl with a fork and a spoon!

What do ya think?

Ok, so we did see each other again and again and again. Clearly, he was smitten with me. I know, I wasn't surprised either. So we began spending what could have been our children's college education fund on phone bills. Chad made several trips to Arkansas, and I went home to East Texas some (though not enough to please my mother).

For Christmas that year Chad bought be an electric blanket. It was exactly what I wanted, but let me just say that when you get back to school in January and everyone asks, "What did he get your for Christmas?" the words "electric blanket" are immediately followed by "WHAT?".

But, let's back up just a moment...the day after Christmas 1999. Chad and I spent the day together. I honestly don't remember what all we did. I do know that about 8PM we went to an incredibly high-class restaurant called Taco Bell. We had gourmet tacos for dinner. Remember, we're poor kids at this point (now we're just poor old people). Afterwards, we went back to his parents' house and watched tv for a while. At some point they went to bed, and Chad pulled me into his lap in his father's recliner. He was so precious as he opened a small velvet box with a diamond solitaire ring. Remember, he is Mr.Communication. He said,

"What do ya think?"

Clearly taken by surprise (after all, I had only known this man about five months), I responded with, "That is pretty. Whose is it?" Apparently he didn't really appreciate my nervous humor because he just kind of laughed. Then he said, "ok, let me try this again" and went on to give me the sweetest speech that I don't even remember. Eventually in the speech, he asked if I would marry him.

I am sure you're wondering what my answer was, right? Obviously, I agreed to eventually marry him. I was no more of a risk taker then than I am now. June 2001 we did get married. (NOTE TO MY KIDS-->AFTER I finished college.) We just recently celebrated our 9th anniversary. I can honestly say the words "what do ya think" have been answered with the phrase "prolly, prolly so" about a thousand times in the last nine years, and every single time makes me smile with love for him.

How old did you say he was?

I don't pretend for a minute that Chad and I have the perfect marriage, but I will tell you it is quite fun. It all started approximately 11 years ago. Actually, it will be 11 years on July 30! Here's the story of the beginning of Bob and Bob....

{insert sweet kissing photo here, if I knew how to put it where I want it}

It was the summer between my sophomore and junior years at Lyon College. Luckily, I was able to work for Howe-Baker Engineers (Tyler, TX) during the summer breaks. I shared an office with a lady named Patricia. Patricia's husband worked for Dunn Transmissions, Inc. in Tyler. I was newly single from a two year relationship. Patricia kept trying to get me to meet this guy named Chad. I made it very clear to her that I was not interested in a relationship 400 miles away from school. I also was not interested in a relationship at school because that was 400 miles away from home! After several days [how stubborn was I?], I agreed to go on a date to meet Chad.

In the days leading up to "the date" Patricia told me everything she knew about this guy. We talked about his family, job, age, racing hobby, etc. So, Friday night rolled around, and I rode with Patricia and her husband to Applebee's to meet Chad. He was there waiting. She introduced the two of us, and we stood awkwardly chatting while waiting on a table. Finally, our table was ready. As we were heading to the table, I hung back with Patricia so that I could ask, "how old did you say he was?" because he looked MUCH older than I anticipated!

We enjoyed dinner, bowling, and then a game of dominoes at Patricia's house. The evening was enjoyable, even if he was old and walking funny because his back was hurting! Like a gentleman, he asked me to call him when I made it home safely. Like a fool, he kept me on the phone until 4AM before we had cell phones with no long distance charges! Yep, that was an expensive first date!

Then....

Really, a blog in my spare time....

Well, this is the beginning of a new project...a blog. I have been thinking of starting a blog for several months. However, I really struggled with ideas for a title, subject, etc. I finally decided to just jump in and see what happens.

So, I'll start with the title, "Bob and The Girls". If you have ever been around my family you will quickly figure out that Chad and I both call each other Bob. Therefore, technically, it should have been "Bobs and The Girls" but that seemed hard to say. Hence, I couldn't remember where to find my own blog! Now you understand "Bob". What about "The Girls"? Yes, we have three daughters on purpose! Obviously, they were not all girls on purpose, but we had three children on purpose. You will get to meet each girl individually in the days to come. After all, I've got to have something to blog about, right?