Soulmate Contestants #4 Kathy and Danny

We will be starting our first day of voting for the Soulmates Contest tomorrow. I sat down this evening to start preparing for tomorrow's blog entry for the voting process when low and behold, one last entry for the contest pops up in my mail box. Thank you to all the wonderful couples who have shared their story with us over the past month. I have enjoyed each and every story, but in the end it's not up to me - I wish everyone the best of luck and we will be posting the voting polls tomorrow afternoon.

Couple #4: Kathy & Danny's Story

This story begins four and half years ago on May 19th 2005.

He was a high school senior just three weeks away form graduation and she was a freshman looking forward to the next few of years that would end her childhood. It was just two days from prom. Kathy really wanted to go with her friends but couldn’t because she wasn’t a senior. Danny wanted to go but his date canceled. They weren’t looking, but they found each other.

May 21st, 2005

Right before prom (on the right)

He was nervous when he picked her up. He was so nervous, it took him almost 10 minutes to open up the corsage box. Neither of them knew how the night would turn out or whether they would even enjoy it. It turned out to be one of the best nights either of them would ever have.

While Danny and Kathy were waiting to go home, they both saw a star dart across the sky. She told him to make a wish while she did the same. Danny would tell you what he wished for but then it wouldn’t come true and it holds great importance to his future plans. Her wish however was a little more obvious. She batted her eyes and puckered her lips, and who could blame her. But he was gentleman and he didn’t kiss on the first date, besides it was a lot more fun watching her squirm in anticipation. So that night ended with a nice hug and a “good night” at her doorstep. She was dying for a kiss, but for him it was a perfect ending to a great night.

May 23, 2005
Two days later, they were already on the phone talking about their feelings. It was obvious what Kathy wanted, but she wasn’t sure what was on his mind. So she asked, “What do you want?” He said, in the softest, most honest whisper, “I want YOU.” and that was it. One date and they were in love.

June 1st, 2005
She was in concert choir, and (lucky for her) he was in chamber choir. That meant that both of them would be going on the end of the year trip to Santa Cruz. The ride there was beautiful. It was great getting to spend time together before Danny graduated. Just ten more days until he would leave. Yup, leave. “Hey, Danny? How long will you be going for?” Someone asked. “Thirteen weeks,” he said quietly. “Shhh, she doesn’t like to think about it.” Kathy gave a glare and then pretended nothing was happening. She didn’t like to think about him going away to boot camp. In just 10 days he would be in the Marine Corps unable to see her, talk to her, or even finish getting to know her.

But that time they spent was enough. They wrote back and forth. They stayed and even grew in love. And after what seemed like forever, Danny returned. But the hard part wasn’t over yet. Danny was only there for the weekend, because on Monday, he had to be 3 and a half hours away for his first day at Chico State. He was already three weeks late, and couldn’t stay even a minute longer. And so, after all that waiting, they said good-bye again.

October 2006
A year and half went by and it became harder and harder to make it work. They were both in separate places. She was a teenager and he was a man. They wanted different things and in the end went their separate ways. Throughout the time they were apart they were the best of friends. And for 2 years, that‘s what they were. It was in that time that their love matured and became whole.

Being best friends, Danny went over to Kathy’s house to help her apply for college. They used Chico State as their foundation. Kathy went through the process and completed the form with no intention of attending. She saw it as practice and some could say a “back-up”. For even while Danny and Kathy dated, she had no intention of joining Danny. Since he was 3 years older, they would only be there a year together and that didn’t seem worth it.

October, 2007
Low and behold, Kathy received her letter of acceptance just two weeks after submitting the application. And after some careful thinking, realized she didn’t want to turn down a school that so obviously wanted her. Unfortunately, Kathy had some life difficulties during her senior year and did not qualify to attend, and assumed she was unaccepted and moved on with her life.

About three weeks before fall, Kathy received a letter informing her she was still accepted and welcome to attend in the fall. But Kathy had gotten a good job just two months before and didn’t want to lose it. Kathy told her boss, who then called their district, and that day Kathy was transferred to Chico; no questions asked! It seemed like it was meant to be.

September, 2008
Finally, Danny and Kathy were reunited. There was no discussion about it, it just was. It was a perfect fall and start to their new found love as adults. Kathy was looking forward to Halloween in Chico, when suddenly, her plans were interrupted. Danny was being deployed in November to Iraq. And the waiting begins.

December, 2009
Now back from Iraq, Kathy and Danny cannot wait any longer. Everything seemed to have fallen into place at the right time, effortlessly. They’ve had a great 4 and half years and now, there is no doubt in their minds that this is true love and that true love can last though the ages. No matter how much time passes, how many miles in between, or how many years apart they are in age, they have grown together; they have made it.


Marine Corps Ball '08