On May 21, 2011 the sun came out from hiding behind the shadows of heavy clouds and rain for a week. The sun came out announcing its return and peered through the curtains and blinds to wake me up early that morning. I checked my phone to see text messages from loving friends informing me about the forecast and I thanked God for blessing us with the weather. Today, too, though we find ourselves on the opposite side of the world from where it all began, I am thankful for the beautiful day to remind me of this day four years ago.

With each passing year, this occasion becomes something to truly celebrate (third anniversary post). Because let me be real for a second: marriage is no walk in the park. It's not always "rainbows and sunshines". But that's precisely why it's so worthy of celebration! We bask in sunshine because there is rain.

They say, "It's not about the destination but the journey" and marriage is exactly that, a journey, an adventure. And Y, I would not want to be on this journey with anyone other than you.

7 years ago today, Y asked me out on our first "official" date. And he did it in "grand" fashion.

Good Morning Grace!

How goes it? How are you feeling?

So here is a mission briefing for you today:

I’ll take you out to dinner @ 19:00 (7PM) November 8,2007 Thursday – 42nd Grand Central

Accept
Decline
Postpone

Once you respond… I’ll give you further information/direction.

Have a good day!

I obviously responded with 1. Accept and he replied with a detailed run-down of what my "mission" was. I was to meet him in Grand Central Station in the Main Concourse (he attached the following photo) and I had 5 yes/no questions to locate him in this bustling hub.

Recently, during my weekend shenanigans in NYC, I was on the subway. As we were briefly stalling at the Grand Central Station stop, I was brought back to that exact day. I remember vividly getting off the subway and walking up the stairs to Grand Central Station, butterflies in stomach. I made my way up to the Main Concourse slowly and called Y. If my memory serves me correctly, it only took me 3 questions to find him. [If you're curious, he was standing below the flag on the right shown in the above photo.] I remember he then told me about the architecture of the magnificent Main Concourse and how around a million people visit and travel through Grand Central Station (officially called Grand Central Terminal). To read more interesting facts about Grand Central Terminal, go here and here.

We then walked downstairs to the Oyster Bar & Restaurant. But before we walked in to enjoy dinner, he showed me the "Whispering Gallery" located at the entrance of the restaurant. Y explained to me that the architecture of this unmarked archway allowed for a strange acoustic phenomenon: when two people stand at diagonal arches and whisper, they can hear each other's voices from across the arch. My interest in architecture was piqued and my nerves had subsided as we walked into the Oyster Bar. I remember the red-and-white checkered table cloths and the twinkling lights above. We sat and feasted on New England Clam Chowder, raw oysters, crab cakes, and told each other corny jokes and challenged one another with riddles. Afterwards, we walked off some of that hearty dinner and made a quick stop into Starbucks. I remember the Starbucks red Christmas cups had already made their comeback. Being the gentleman Y is, he took the subway with me and walked me all the way to the door of my apartment. On the way there, we talked about qualities we admired in the opposite sex. And I remember secretly wondering, "Does he like me?"

Turns out he did. And I am grateful for it.

Thanks for the best first date a girl could ever ask for.

Happy 7 years of "dating"! And to many more years of "dating".