Thursday, October 7, 2010

A Sappy, Soapy Celebration



Twenty years ago this week I met my husband.

It was not love at first sight. As a matter of fact, neither one of us made a very good first impression on the other. We were both attending Glasgow University for our junior year of college and it was orientation week for new and foreign students. A student “mixer” was being held at the GU Union, a stately, 200 year old building with character and history. The large library and reading room had been converted into a beer bar for the evening. A space that was normally quiet and studious with its walls of books and large, red leather reading chairs had temporarily become abuzz with alcohol fueled conversation. I walked into the room with a bunch of Norwegian veterinary students I had befriended. There I saw my future mister sitting in one of those red leather chairs, holding two glasses of beer, wearing a fraternity baseball cap and t-shirt with a picture of drunk Bill the Cat, and in the company of a very loud American friend. If you could see me right now, you’d know that I have my fingers and thumb in the shape of an “L” on my forehead. I’m sure I shot daggers at him with my eyes. He thought I was a complete...ya know. We never spoke that first night, but I remembered him.

The next night there was a different event at the GU Union. This time it was a Céilidh, a traditional Scottish dance complete with fiddles, whistles and bodhráns. I grew up doing a bit of Scottish dancing because of that bagpiping thing I do, so this was not a new experience for me. It was, however, for most of the other foreign students in attendance. I couldn’t get anyone to try the dances with me, which I love (they’re a bit like square dances or Contra). The only person I could get to give it a try was that obnoxious guy from the night before. Turned out he was a pretty good dancer…and not nearly as obnoxious as he’d previously seemed from across the room. We danced and had a great evening. I also happened to have laryngitis and couldn’t really speak…not sure how much of a factor that was in us hitting it off. Hmmm.

Anyway, a few dances turned into dating, which turned into a trip to visit him and his family when he returned to the states a few months later, which turned into a long-distance relationship our last year of college, which turned into moving to Seattle together, which turned into marriage and three lovely children. It’s a good thing he was such a great dancer!



Because I feel that fate has been so generous to me, I am feeling generous in return. In celebration of twenty years and a friendship, partnership and love that has gotten better with time…I feel like giving away some soap! All you have to do to enter for a chance to win the give-away is comment on this post. My husband and I love watching movies together, so I thought it would be appropriate to have folks comment with their favorite romantic movie of all time. I couldn’t seem to narrow it down, so here are my top three:

#1 Across the Universe
#2 The English Patient
#3 An Officer and a Gentlemen

The winner will be chosen by a random number generator and will get TWO BARS of my soap in tins, varieties of your choosing. The winner will be announced on Monday, October 11th. Spread the word! I'm curious to see what everyone else's favorite romance flicks are!

25 comments:

Anne-Marie said...

The Princess Bride is a classic.

Unknown said...

I can't pick either, and this will peg my age:
Say Anything
Sixteen Candles
Sleepless in Seattle

Hey! All start with S, as do Skruben and Seattle Sundries! Creepy. Maybe that means I am destined to win? :)

kbovey said...

First of all, you guys are adorable. Secondly,
MOONSTRUCK is really so great
NOTTING HILL
ABOUT A BOY

Doyle Family said...

I'm going to go with About a Boy as well. I don't tend to go for romantic movies.

Marja/Glass Elements said...

Adorable is right! I also love watching movies w/my hubby - looking forward to clocking our 20th in about a decade. :)

Some Kind of Wonderful has my vote for my fave from the 80s

More recent: The Fountain

Britt said...

Congratulations and warm wishes! No entry from me - though I will put in a vote for Some Kind of Wonderful.

Bowermans said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bowermans said...

*The Usual Suspects
*Shawshank Redemption
The Notebook (Ryan Gosling...are you kidding?)
*Romance can mean criminal activity I hope.

I love you Anne...and your mister-Congratulations!

jb said...

BEST BLOG POST EVER!!!....except the part about the t-shirt. I still refute the notion that I was wearing that shirt that night.

Even though I can't participate here...

Casablanca
When Harry Met Sally
Moulin rouge

Unknown said...

Awwwwwww..... great story, even if I didn't know and love you both to pieces.

My movie votes:
Out of Africa
The Year of Living Dangerously
Moonstruck

Yo Mama

Wild in the West said...

Congratulations...
I get sappy over:

Moonstruck

Moulin Rouge....The greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return.

My big fat Greek wedding..Opa!

-alyssa said...

While you were sleeping, serendipity, just like heaven, 13 going on 30, the sweetest thing. I'm a sucker for a romantic comedy - what can i say?? Great post, btw, soap or no!

Jennifer Young said...

Love the post and would LOVE to win a sopa of yours! I am also a sucker for romantic comedy and my vote goes to - Sweet Home Alabama. So many of the movies mentioned in other posts are greats... Out of Africa and The Year of Living Dangerously are movies I love as well. I loved your post but the best part of the story was "and a love that has gotten better with time...". I think that is rare and wonderful. xo Jen

Chadd said...

You weren't wearing a Macalester Sorority sweatshirt? ;)
Grosse Pointe Blank, Moulin Rouge, Romancing the Stone.
Congrats on twenty, and to many more!

Tracy said...

A Walk to Remember, The scenery is beautiful also..

Unknown said...

OK - I already voted, but I want to give credit to the great taste of Skruben subscribers! So many movies I love and must see again. And some I haven't seen yet but are now on the Netflix queue. What a perk!

goodkarma said...

aww, you guys have such a great story!
i don't watch all that many romantic movies. but the first one that came to mind was 'Under The Tuscan Sun'. love that one.

Linda Wehner said...

I just found your blog, thanks to a friend. Love your story!
My favorite romantic movies are:
The Shop Around the Corner
Pride and Prejudice
French Kiss

ASBloom said...

Oh my gosh! I'm so tickled to see all the new folks chiming in! Welcome to Skruben, and thanks for your nice comments. There are some great movies mentioned already. Keep 'em coming!

Unknown said...

Love your story! So sweet...thanks for sharing it.
Movies...so many good ones, but here goes: Love Story, Chocolat, Date Night :)

Unknown said...

I think it is weird that we were at Macalester a couple of weeks ago with a friend who went to Hobart....

jgaenzle said...

Great to see a great couple in the beginning and now 20 !!! years later! all those phone calls!
Movies:
When Harry met Sally
Sweet home Alabama

Splurge Sisters said...

I love Gone With the WInd. Your story was a great read. :)

Lori Mercer said...

My three:

Pride and Prejudice (BBC mini series!)
August Rush (romance between child and parents)
Waking Ned Devine (can't have romance without humor)

Anonymous said...

Okay, chiming in way late here, but can't resist mentioning my favorite, as no one else has!

Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious, with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. A thriller AND a great romance.

And I'll second the mention of The Shop Around The Corner, one of my very favorite movies and a great romance.