As you can guess, after a few weeks of drinking every night I gave in to Debbie's wishes and we went to bed together. When the guys came back to the house to start the new semester, they were half-expecting to hear about me having given Deb an engagement ring for Christmas. Instead, I saw jaws drop as I told my story. Debbie was very soon after accepted into the fold when she brought over a pan of chocolate and coconut bars for the guys in the house. (The way to a man's heart, right?)

On one of my reserve weekends that winter I ran into, of all people, Susan, my very first girlfriend... now 19, all grown-up and prettier than ever. She was just promoted to manage the store at which she worked in the mall. She said she'd like me to give her a call when I came down the next month... go out to supper and a movie or something. I thought about it for the entire month, but when I went down I didn't call... I had just started seeing Debbie for more than a few drinks and knew I'd feel guilty going out with someone else. I never had the chance to reconsider. The following month Susan was killed in an accident on her way home from work.

Over the summer, Debbie and I became an item. At long last, I actually had a sexual relationship. I was welcomed into Debbie's family... she was a townie, not a student at UWSP, and her entire family lived in the area. I was meeting second cousins of hers before she really knew my family at all. Engagement was expected.

Now, I do have to backtrack just a bit to get the full flavor here. Growing up, my family quit going to church (except for weddings and funerals) when I was five. I was looking for fulfillment in life at age 22 beyond a meaningful relationship with a girl, so I took adult confirmation classes one night a week. One Sunday early in November at my church I'd seen Deb there, and I think that drew out the idea that she may be someone to ask out on a date... similar belief structure and all. I was confirmed in mid-December.

Continue...