Six years ago today I opened the door to meet my husband. Little did I know that he was going to be my husband at the time. Before I opened the door that night the only thing I knew about him was that I liked his strong name, Paul Gray. And I had seen a handsome mug-shot picture of him in the infamous 2002 Baylor Book of Residents.
So at my apartment door here began the blind date. If any of you have been on blind dates before you know they usually don’t work out…since Paul and I both had bad blind dates in the past, I think it is safe to say we both had pretty low expectations of this one as well. But I am a dreamer and I still had hopes that meeting this one guy for the first time would be the beginning of something more.
Before committing to this set up…I thankfully got out of a non-committal funk by watching Sleepless in Seattle…where Tom Hanks convinces his son Jonah that he isn’t planning on marrying the girl with the annoying laugh, but just getting to know her. I thought, “I can do that, I get to know people all the time”…so I said okay. Paul basically had to be convinced to put on different clothes besides scrubs. I think he can count the number of times on one hand when he wore “real clothes” for the first 6 months of residency. And I must say he looked very handsome in his khakis and button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I had on a very strategically picked out pair of jeans and black shirt with a tie at the waist, I still will not give away that outfit.
We went to P.F. Chang’s with Chad and Jennifer, the people who set us up. Thanks guys! I remember learning about Paul’s beliefs in Christ and his desire to be a surgeon overseas someday. (This was when “someday” was forever away and wasn’t “the-here-and-now”.) I remember going to play pool after dinner and being thankful that we had a pool table when I was a kid. My dad always said I would thank him someday for learning how to play pool. Because when you date a surgeon you can’t play the ditzy, “I don’t know how to hold this stick.” You have to know what you are doing, or at least look like it. (We did win the game.)
I remember calling and talking to my mom that night and she still remembers the conversation. I told her about my date…actually in her words I said, “Mom, I met someone.” And that is when she knew it was over for me. I told her I didn’t know if he would even call again (this bout of speculation went on for about 5 months…but he kept calling.)
Of course, I could go on and on, but you have been a trooper to read this far into my mushy story, so I will spare you. It has been a great 6 years and I will always look back on those fond memories of getting to know each other with joy and excitement of where we are now.
This is one of the first pictures we ever took. Paul was coming back from a rock climbing trip in Moab, Utah. He drove by himself, since his friends flew, so I surprised him and flew to meet him to drive back with him. This is still one of my favorite pictures…obviously…it is one of the few I dragged to Africa.
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February 10, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Patty
I just put makeup on and now the mascara is threatening to run! (I am such a sap 🙂 ). Becca, it was the way you said “Mom, I met someone” that I knew you were a goner. I know I had faith that if this were in God’s plans, Paul would keep calling and I think you did, too. BTW, I want to hear all about the bad blind dates! Now you have really started something:)
February 10, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Jennifer
As part of the other couple on this blind date, of course I have to comment on this story. I could tell Becca liked Paul…but was so cautious & didn’t give anything away. That’s probably one of the reasons Paul kept calling. He wouldn’t put up with a typical “Dallas” girl for one second longer than necessary. And many conversations were had in our office at Baylor overanalyzing everything. We all knew Paul would keep calling:) I remember Chad telling me (after Paul & Becca started dating)Paul thanked Chad for setting them up. He said Becca has such a strong heart for the Lord (hope I’m close on that quote). So I think Paul was a goner just as quickly as Becca…a perfect match! Love u guys!
February 10, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Sarah Gray
Hey, don’t knock the blind date. My parents met on a blind date…..That was 45 years ago……
February 11, 2009 at 3:17 am
grant
paul…you are a hot stud. it seems like yesterday when all of this happened. God is good.
February 14, 2009 at 4:27 am
Andreea
What a nice letter just on time for Valentine’s Day! Congratulations on your first beautiful 6 years together and wish you many, many, many more! Love, Andreea
January 3, 2012 at 4:49 am
Kim Hardy
Hi Becca,
I missed Karnes this morning due to a winter storm which cancelled flights and send them onto a different airport, but they suggested I contact you regarding another group who is going to SCH this week. I’d like to send something onto Dr. Mary….Please contact me at my personal email. Thank you
February 13, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Jen McAllister
Love it! My mom knew too when I emailed her about “this guy I met.” Her & Dad drove up to see me a month after we started dating (my mom had never been to Vancouver BC) and when she saw the mountains & ocean, she knew I wasn’t coming back. And then she met DH, and as she put it, “we fit together.” She cried the whole drive home. Funny how our mamas “know.”