1999 - Tucson & More Hockey

(originally posted 09/06/2009)

February 20 - I had to wake Natalie up when I got home from my date with Elliot last night. I hadn't even mentioned an interest in him to her, so I was worried about her response. I guess the wee hours of the night is the best time to approach Natalie on important subjects. She so weird. I was just so excited that I needed to tell someone and poor sleeping Natalie happened to be the one! She told me that I shouldn't throw myself at him, which I didn't think I was doing. I argued that I wasn't going to make it difficult for him because he didn't seem like the kind of guy who responded well to girls games. Look at me, already thinking I know him. I was right, by the way. As I left her room, she said, "Play hard to get!" I don't think I slept that night. I wanted Elliot to "get" me.

Elliot and several other guys helped a few girls from our ward move into a different apartment in our complex. They came over and invited us to go to Tucson with them to watch someone play hockey. We piled into Natalie's car (Elliot, Whitney, Mike, Natalie, Taylor, and Jayme Malloy) and headed to Tucson for Taylor to win some points with this hockey-playing girl (Mindy ???). We were kept occupied on the way by trying to guess the theme music to different television shows.

I don't remember watching the hockey game, but Elliot remembers it being a joke. Girls were either gliding very slowly across the rink or flying on their bellies after they stumbled over themselves. I wasn't prepared for the cold of the hockey rink, but Elliot was near to keep me warm. Everyone else was adjusting to our sudden public display as we were. It was probably weird for them because it seemed as though we'd all been friends for so long. In fact, it'd been less than a month.

We ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant and piled even more people back into Natalie's car for the ride home. Elliot and I sat next to each other, but we also had another person practically laying across us the whole way home. This was not the ideal situation for cuddling, but it didn't stop Elliot from trying to be close to me and even sneaking a little kiss on the cheek.

When we got home, we headed to someone's house to watch a movie. Little cuddling. As much as can be done in a room full of people. And goodnight. Hum, thinking more about that kiss I'm not going to give him. We've just got to get rid of all these people that are always around us!

February 21 - Bishop Dibble asked me to bear my testimony in sacrament meeting. I was so nervous because Natalie had just given a fantastically entertaining talk the week before and I was no where near as expressive as she was. I think that's when I learned that I was just OK being Whitney. So I became Whitney. And Elliot liked Whitney.

We went to Elliot's house for cookies that night, but didn't get a chance to be close to each other with his family around and Natalie as my ride. Natalie and I also made sure we made fun of their family for liking well-done (burned) cookies. We probably weren't winning any points, but it was fun to be able to joke around with Elliot's family.

February 22 - I was craving a little Elliot time BIG TIME! It seemed like it'd been forever since I had hugged him and that's really all I wanted. I wasn't going to kiss him.

I worked late, but made it to the end of Family Home Evening where everyone was just writing to missionaries. Elliot was writing to a friend on a mission and he let me read his letter. He is so eloquent. And completely adorable. In his letter he told his friend about me (you may think that even writing this whole 10-year story is too personal, but believe me, I'm leaving stuff out . . . this letter included). I needed to hug him. Now.

We tried to sneak away before the activity ended. He needed to hug me too. The moment after we left the building and seconds before we attempted to pull ourselves into our much-needed embrace, a flock of people came flooding out of the building to interrupt us. Natalie included. She was ready to go home, so we said goodnight. Hugless.