High School Sweethearts and how it all began.

It has now been 25 years since our first date. Little did I know at the time this would also be my future husband. This story is long, but I feel like every last detail is important. Here is how it all started. On December 7th, 1995, my husband and I started dating. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 15 and he was 16 almost 17. Something that may surprise you is that I actually chased him. Yes, me. I was a quiet and shy girl. So the fact that I chased him came as a shock to my friends and family.

Different towns and different Schools

Jason and I lived in different towns. About twenty minutes from each other. We also went to different schools. Crazy right?!

A friend of mine who I went to school with was actually from the town Jason lived in. He started going to my school and we became friends. He introduced me to some of his friends from his hometown. I started dating a friend of his who lived there. We will call this boy B. One weekend my friend, B and I went to a party in his hometown. Turns out I wasn’t B’s only girlfriend and all of the people at this party told me about it. Yep, that relationship was about to be over.

The Jock

So as the evening went on, I spotted Jason, my now-husband. He was sitting on the edge of the couch with his elbows resting on his knees. He was wearing a school jacket. The ones with the last names on the back. This jacket was covered, I mean covered in medals. He was seriously the hottest guy in the room in my opinion. And the jacket just put me over the edge!! Can you say, Jock?! So I asked my friend who he was. He told me his name was Jason Tinnin, but he was dating the girl who was throwing the party. As soon as he said that, I stopped right there. He was taken. I won’t try and act like I wasn’t disappointed, because I was. But he had a girlfriend and I went on my way.

Gas Station Drama

Later that night, B asked if I would take a ride with him to talk. Now B was only 15, also. So our friend (the one who went to my school) was going to drive us. Before we left I had a strange feeling. I can’t really describe it. I asked the girl who was having the party what her phone number was, just in case something happened. I wrote the number down on my hand and left. After driving around for a while, B and I talked and decided we weren’t going to continue with our relationship. Before going back to the party we stopped at a gas station. I went inside to use the restroom and when I came out my friend and ex were driving away. Yes, they left me at a gas station. I was in tears and terrified. I was in a town I knew nothing about. I couldn’t have even told someone how to get to where I was. Remember when I said I had a strange feeling and I wrote down the girl’s phone number? My senses were correct. So I used the payphone and called the number. After I explained what happened they sent some people to pick me up. Billy who happens to be one of my husband’s best friends pulled up and wouldn’t you know, Jason was in the car too.

Cheerleader

Fast forward about two months later. I was cheering at a basketball game at an away game. It just so happens to be the town I was left at a couple of months prior. As I was cheering I was eyeing a boy in the stands. He looked so familiar and I thought he was so cute! I just couldn’t place where I had seen him before. It was driving me crazy. I then noticed he had several girls sitting around him laughing and talking to him. I was sure one of them was his girlfriend.

Pick Up Line

At halftime, I went to the concession stand to get popcorn. As I was about to re-enter the gym, a boy walks up behind me as asks me if I had been left at any gas stations lately?! I turn around and the boy I had been eyeing in the stands was standing right in front of me. All the pieces are coming together. I finally figured out how I knew him. I was so embarrassed and caught off guard that I just answered no and giggled. I then turned around and ran back into the gym.

Jason still talks about how lame his “pick up” line was and how I just left him there. I personally thought it was a great pick up line. 🙂

On the bus ride home all I could do is think about this boy. For the life of me, I could not remember his last name. I needed to get a hold of him. I needed to talk to him again.

After I arrived home I called my friend (the one who’s from Jason’s town) to see if he knew Jason’s phone number and his last name. He did not know his phone number but did know his last name. I grabbed the phone book and started thumbing through the white pages. Anyone else remember using the phone book? As I got to Tinnin I quickly realized there were a lot. I then asked my friend if he happened to know Jason’s dad’s first name so I could find his number. Luckily, he did.

Am I really going to do this?

Am I really going to do this, I thought to myself? Am I really going to call a boy, this boy? The one who’s jacket is covered in medals? The one who had girls swooning all over him? The one who I think is so hot? I picked up the phone and dialed the number. The phone number was long distance so I was already being a daredevil calling him. I normally would need to ask for permission before making a long-distance call.

The phone rang, then rang a second time. By the third ring, a woman answered. It’s late and I think I actually woke her up.

Woman: Hello.

Me: Is Jason there?

Woman: No, he is at his moms’.

Me: Oh, do you happen to have that number?

Woman: Yes, it’s 7xx-xxxx.

I hung up the phone and dialed the second number. Again, making another long-distance call. I am such a rebel.

Woman: Hello.

Me: Hi, is Jason there?

Woman: Can I ask who’s calling?

Me: This is Amy…Amy Henson

Woman: Hold on just a second.

She got back on the phone and told me he was in the shower. She asked if I could call him back in ten minutes. My hands were still shaking as I hung up the phone. He was in the shower? WHAT?! Who takes a shower at 10:00 at night? On a school night, too. I was so embarrassed. I just knew he didn’t want to talk to me and the “I’m in the shower”, is the most obvious excuse in the book. I decided I was NOT calling him back. Nope, not going to do it.

My second attempt

I kept watching the clock. Five minutes had passed, then seven. Ten minutes passed and I picked up the phone and dialed the number again. I caved, I just had to try again. The phone rang and on the second ring, he answered. Turns out, he really was in the shower. Like I said it was after 10:00 and I was not allowed on the phone this late. My parents thought I was in bed. So I had to talk quietly. After two hours of talking on the phone, my mom caught me. She saw the red light on the cordless phone charge stand on. She barged into the room and grabbed the phone and hung up on Jason. I was mortified. I was also in trouble. The good news is we had our first date planned for December 7th.

Payphone Call

The next day I got to School around 7:15 a.m. I used my lunch money to call Jason from the payphone. Remember, its’ a long-distance call so it cost $1.50. Maybe it was $2.00. I honestly don’t remember. I just had to tell him I was not the one who hung up on him, it was my mom. Unfortunately, his answering machine picked up and my lunch money was gone. I then went to plan B. I had a teacher who had a phone in her room. I decided to ask, no beg her to let me use it. I even offered to pay for the call the next day with my lunch money. Being the nice teacher she was, she let me call him. I can’t even tell you what that meant to me. This time Jason answered and I was able to explain. He laughed and said he figured that’s what happened. I was relieved he didn’t think I purposely hung up on him.

Our First Date and what I wore

The day was finally here, December 7th. I decided to dress nice. I already had a love for planning outfits even at the young age of fifteen. I wore a pair of plaid stirrup pants, a cream-colored turtleneck sweater, my black hills gold necklace, and a pair of gold hope earnings. Black hills gold jewelry is sort of like what Kendra Scott jewelry is today. I twisted the back of my hair up into a clip. Sort of like an up-do. My hair was to the middle of my back.

I told my mom I really thought this boy was different. He’s not like the others. I remember her looking at me and asking why I always pick boys from other towns? Well, she did have a point. I always seemed to have those long-distance relationships. I told my mom I really thought this boy was different. He’s not like the others. I am sure she was rolling her eyes at my response.

Prince Charming on his White Horse

Okay, not really. But he did pull up in his white 1987 Honda Accord. There was a knock on the door and I quickly answered. I was grinning from ear to ear. He was wearing a plaid flannel button-down top, light color Levi jeans, work boots, and a hat. He was just perfect. I introduced him to my mom and sister. I asked my sister, Ashley, if she would take a picture of us. We used a camera that took film. You know what I am talking about. It was a 35mm Cannon. There were no retakes, or let me check the photo. Little did I know that picture would be something so meaningful. I now look back and can’t believe I didn’t scare him away by asking if we could take a picture on our first date. Here is the actual picture from our first date.

As I got into his car I noticed a bag phone on the floorboard. You know, a cellular phone in a bag. I looked at him and asked if he was rich. Only rich people had bag phones. At least that’s what I thought. He laughed at me and told me no. It was his mom’s phone and he had it for emergencies. But still, I thought. 😉

Jason told me to pick where I wanted to eat. I chose Steak n’ Shake. Of all places, that is where I picked. lol I ordered the club sandwich with fries and a strawberry milkshake. Still one of my favorites. After dinner, we headed to Blockbuster and rented two movies. We then headed back to my house. The rest is history.

25 Years Later

Twenty-five years and three kids later, here we are. Never in my wildest dreams could I have picked a better man to be my husband and the father of my children. I still get butterflies when I think of him. My heart still skips a beat when we are together. I’m certainly not saying it was an easy road. I think marriage is hard. It takes work, hard work. Not to mention, I was only 18 (just shy of 19) when I got married. I’ll save that story for another time. We have had plenty of bumps in the road, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I am beyond grateful to have this man in my life and I look forward to many more years with him.