Say It With A Love Song

Earlier this week, CreoleInDC wrote about the moment she knew that the man she was dating COULD be the one.  Many others replied with their moments and it’s a fantastic post to read if you get some time.  MrTDJ and I dated in high school, so I’m not really sure that I could define THE moment.  It seems that he’s just been a part of my heart for as long as I can remember.  Hell, I’m getting old and he’s been around for almost 20 years.  *lol* 

Along a way, there have been times when his behavior was so unexpected and shocking that I was rendered speechless.  Yep, me.  Ya girl, MrsTDJ.  Speechless.  I know, I know.  It doesn’t happen often, but yep, he’s had that effect a few times.  

One of those moments occurred very early in our history, 1993 – at our 12th grade prom.  At the time, we were just friends, but I knew that he wanted to date me.  We had spent countless hours on the phone (when I was allowed and only until 9pm, ya dig?) and were really deep into the “getting to know you” phase.  The guy that I had been “dating” showed his azz by cheating on me was no longer in the picture and hadn’t been for months.   By Christmas, the thought of attending the prom alone made me feel like a first class loser made me feel strong and independent.  MrTDJ wasn’t having it.  “Let’s just go as friends.”   Ummm hunh.  Famous last words, huh?

Anyway, we made plans to go “as friends” and we had a fantastic time.  Our prom was onboard the Spirit of Washington cruise ship.  We laughed with our friends and danced the night away to fast music like R. Kelly, “Vibe”, A Tribe Called Quest, “Award Tour”, and Dr. Dre, “Nuthin’ But a G Thang”, and ended the night with slow songs like Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You” and H-Town, “Knockin’ Da Boots”.   (Damn, I miss music from the 90’s!!)

At one moment, MrTDJ disappeared.  I was talking and didn’t notice.  It was almost 1am and the prom was drawing to a close, which was evident because we were no longer cruising down the middle of the Potomac, rather drifting slowly toward the docks.  I heard the scratchy song of an old, old record, followed by the notes of a singular horn.  I spun around toward the DJ, while MrTDJ leaned into my ear and whispered, “May I have this dance?”  I smiled at him in a way that I’d never smiled at anyone else.  MrTDJ winked at me and I was too stunned to say anything.  As we made our way to the dance floor, only one other couple was there.  I heard rumblings of, “What’s this old ish they’re playing?” and “I ain’t never heard this song before.”   Ya’ll, I hadn’t ever told MrTDJ that this was my favorite love song of all time. 

I first heard it when I was eight years old.  My parents used to have monthly bid whist parties at our house.  (Anybody in the DMV play bid whist?)  About 20-30 family members and friends would come over.   The adults would play cards, while the kids played board games and Atari.   Then, at 10pm, we were sent to basement to go to sleep and the adults danced for awhile.  One such night, my cousin AT and I snuck out of our sleeping bags and crept up the steps to the family room.  Since we always had to go to bed, we were dying to know what we were missing.  Nothing too exciting!  *lol*  But we did see five or six couples swaying slowly to the sweetest song I’d ever heard.  It stuck with me and I asked my dad about it weeks later. 

In an attempt to make our prom night perfect, MrTDJ had pumped my mother and BFF for all kinds of info on me.  I was 16 at the time, so I sure didn’t know what to call the feelings I had for MrTDJ, but I knew in that moment that we definitely were on the road to somewhere.  When we got married years later, we didn’t need to discuss our first dance song.  It’s kind of a “lost in the crates” oldie, but I’m sure most of you have heard it at least once or twice during a Quiet Storm program.  A la AR Gal, “And now for a musical selection, we have ‘This Must Be Heaven’ by Brainstorm”.

What’s your favorite love song?  And for those of you that are married, what song did you pick for your first dance as husband and wife?