…I hoped he would be there…and he was.
In December 2005, a friend told me I had to get on MySpace. And, I responded, What is MySpace? So, reluctantly, I created a profile page and in a few days I was addicted like everyone else…posting pictures, sending glittery greeting to friends. I’m not gonna lie, I was having fun. Soon after, I was invited to attend a birthday gathering of a new friend I had made online. Well, on that new friend’s profile page I spotted a guy’s profile by the name of ‘Skylimiter.’ I thought he was REALLY cute and when I clicked on some of his photos, I saw this weird word, ‘Jere,’ which I pronounced ‘Jair,’ and thought what the heck is that?! I think I showed everyone that would look that profile picture…my mom, my grandma, my aunt, my brother, my friend, Marlene, strangers on the street…everyone. By the night of the birthday I had recruited Marlene to come with me to Mickey Finns where everyone was meeting for Wing Night and pool. I wasn’t even sure if he was going to be there…I hoped he would be there…and he was.
We flirted back and forth over games of pool, and the whole night I wondered if he liked me. I found out much later that the whole night he was wondering if he smelled! Turns out, he had sold his house and had spent the day packing up a moving truck. Thinking it was going to be a simple dinner with some close friends, he hadn’t stopped to shower. Well, I never smelled a thing (thank goodness) but he obviously wasn’t too worried about it because he gave me a hug goodbye…and asked for my phone number. As I gave him my number he typed it into his phone, and then my phone rang. I looked down to see who it was, and he said now you have my number. We’ve talked and texted ever since.
Jere (Jair), I’m so happy to have not only met you 4 years ago today, but to have also married you two years ago today! I love you so very much and I thank God for bringing you into my life.
This is a photo taken in February 2006. It was our first all-day date at Universal Studios. You know, stuck with this person all day-wonder if you’ll run out of things to talk about-not have anything in common-flat out not like this person by the end of the day date. We had just walked through the gates when we stopped to take this picture. It ended up being one of the best days of my life. We rode ALL the rides, ate lunch at Margaritaville, wandered around City Walk. Yeah, good day.

by Jere Dotten
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