I thought we would never meet. A couple of weeks after we had started emailing, Danny invited me for coffee while I was staying in Bend. I really wanted to, but I also knew he was really busy. He was putting new seed down in his field and was spending all his daylight hours on the tractor. I didn't want to keep him from something that had to be done. So I told him we could wait until after he was done planting. However, I didn't know how many acres he had to seed, or that first the ground had to be prepped, or that the seeder would break. After another six weeks, (and giving him my phone number at least three times, haha) I thought we would never meet!
So on August 30th (or so) while I was at my friend's daughter's third birthday, I didn't keep my phone on me. I didn't even think about my phone. My friend, Jaina, drove me back to my car at the church and we sat in her Tahoe talking about whether I would ever meet this guy I was emailing, or if he was like the others and then would I ever consider online dating again. The answer was, "No! No, I would never email someone to get to know them again." And then we joked about the fact that he could have called while we were at the party. I checked my phone and had a missed call from a number I didn't recognize...and a new voicemail. Jaina let me sit in the car with her while I listened to it.
He had a great voice. I had been worried that he would have a high squeaky voice. I don't know why, but that's what I had been worried about. But he didn't. He had a normal voice to go with his kind eyes (which I had noticed from his Facebook profile pic). I'm not sure if I said bye to Jaina or not. I do know that she left and I sat in my car and returned Danny's call. He answered immediately and I asked if I could please speak to Danny. (Please note that this is almost always how I start a phone call unless I am ABSOLUTELY certain of who I am talking to. I hate those guessing games.) It was already him. He was changing water lines but was wondering what I was doing that evening.
Now mind you, I was still in Redmond. I asked him when he was thinking and he said about six. An hour from then! I had half an hour to drive home and then I had to get ready for our first meeting. He said he'd race me there. :) Our plan was for him to pick me up and then we'd go look at his goats that were staying on his parent's property a couple of miles from my house.
He was right on time. I had thrown on some appropriate goat viewing outfit that was nothing like I would have worn if I was going to go look at my goats. I had busied myself making garlic bread for dinner and had butter in my hand when he walked up to the back sliding door. Lauren quickly took it as my mom showed Danny in and we introduced ourselves. I shook his hand. (Please note that this is almost always how I start a relationship unless I know the person through someone else.) Then we left.
His Camry was very clean inside. I directed him (I think anyway) on how to get to the street where his parents property was off of. It turns out that he hadn't been that way until I told him of the secret shortcut. The driveway down to this property is one where you really have to breathe A LOT and just hope the driver knows that there is a cliff on your side. I did (breathe a lot) and he did (know there was a cliff), so we made it with no vomit or death. Good for both of us.
We got out to walk around. His goats were cute, but not as friendly as mine. Of course, he has quite a few more than we do. The property is beautiful and he walked me all around it. Danny's steps are about one and half of mine so mostly I just followed behind him.
We went to the edge of the canyon and looked over where the Crooked River runs into Lake Billy Chinook. He explained that he and his brothers used to take turns throwing rocks and trying to hit the other side. He demonstrated by throwing one. I wouldn't get as close to the edge as he wanted so I'm not sure if it hit or not.
Then he showed me the pivot line they had put in. I never knew how they worked and he explained and showed me everything about one. It was neat and way bigger when I was standing next to it than when I was just driving down the road.
I know we met the farm manager and his family when they came to pick up Mark's truck. Danny introduced me as his friend. It was still light when he drove me back home. I just smiled the whole way and hardly talked. (I know that is surprising!)
I can't remember if he stayed for dinner or not. I can't remember anything about after I got home. I do remember questioning everyone I knew about whether I could call him the next day, how long would he wait to call me, what if he didn't call me, etc. He did call me...but that's another story!
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