I never really understood the Pythagorean Theorem.

Ever.

I mean, I wrote it on my paper. I copied it from the blackboard. And after all these years I can even recite it now:

a2 + b2 = c2

But what does it mean exactly? What is the point and why do we need to know the area of shapes and why in the world did anyone care about finding a square in the middle of a triangle?

I still remember sitting in the middle of geometry class with a furrowed brow and a paper covered with erased pencil marks and contemplating why in the world I needed to know that the sum of the squares of the two legs of a right triangle equaled the square of the hypotenuse when everyone knows what’s really important in life….

…the best way to accessorize stirrup pants.

But truth?

Just between you and me and a right angle?

I owe a lot to Pythagoras and his theorem.

It’s all because of him that I fell in love with an Angry Lemon.

In our highschool’s fifth-period geometry class, I sat two aisles over from a boy with the cutest pair of twinkling brown eyes. He lived in the country and drove his father’s tractor and tended horses and was hands down the smartest boy in the entire tenth grade.

He wasn’t a big talker.

A man of very few words.

He was the strong silent type with dimples and brown wavy hair and big brown eyes that kind of looked like Johnny Depp’s and he had his own Oldsmobile Cutlass…..

…all the really important things in life.

He’d walk into class with a set of drumsticks in his back pocket and somewhere between finding the area and perimeter of a polygon and an in-depth discussion on the how’s and why’s of isosceles triangles…

…he’d take out those drum sticks and beat a rhythm on his textbook.

Sometimes it was Hotel California or I Would Walk 500 Miles or Stairway to Heaven.

The song changed from day to day, but the beat remained the same. He’d close his eyes and hum a tune and softly drum out the song to an imaginary audience and a girl sitting two aisles away wearing red lipstick, an add-a-bead necklace, 4″ high bangs sprayed with Aqua Net hairspray and a prairie skirt with a concho belt.

At the risk of stating the obvious? I looked amazing. I took extra time to make sure my red lipstick was perfect and then my friends and I would laugh and giggle and whisper and try in vain to get his attention

But he never looked.

Not once.

He only had eyes for Led Zepplin.

Geometry class ended later that year.

I barely passed.

He got an A and one of the highest grades in the class.

Two years later, our time in high school ended and we packed up our graduation hats and our dreams and hopes and plans for life and headed to college…

…never to meet again.

Or so we thought.

The next summer I was home on break and a friend of mine invited me to attend a concert in a barn at a local farm miles outside of town. The venue was packed and rowdy and loud and full of smoke and hay and dim lighting and a spotlight on the stage where the band was assembled.

The Angry Lemons.

That’s what the band banner said.

And when The Angry Lemons started to play, I saw my geometry class drummer.

There he was–on stage playing with his eyes closed, lost in a world of music and notes and tunes that swirled around in that crowded, smoky venue with the smell of hay and summer in the air. My friends and I laughed and giggled and cheered and clapped in his direction and tried in vain to get his attention.

But he never looked.

Not once.

He only had eyes for Van Halen.

That next Christmas I was home for break and out of the blue, I got a call from an Angry Lemon with Johnny Depp hair and twinkling eyes and a pair of drumsticks in his back pocket who asked:

Did I want to go out?

Did I want to look at Christmas lights?

Could I be ready in an hour?

Me?

Ready?

Ummmm…yes.  Yes. Yesssssss. Extra yes with sprinkles on top.

I’d only been waiting on him since I figured out that a2 + b2 really does = c2

He drove in from the country and picked me up in his Oldsmobile Cutlass and we looked at Christmas lights and then he kissed me silly under the stars on the curb outside my parent’s house. And on that first date, I discovered something amazing.

All those times I thought he was drumming?

All those times I thought he didn’t notice me or my Aqua Net bangs?

All those times I thought he was listening only to Pythagoras?

I was wrong.

He let me know when he laughed and grinned and told me with a smile full of dimples…

….that he’d been paying attention all along. 🙂

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Posted On: March 12, 2020

Written By: KariAnne Wood

Comments

  1. Image for Deb in Oklahoma Deb in Oklahoma

    Awww, thanks, Karianne! This kind of sweet story just makes me smile! And with pictures of a tractor all dressed up for spring? Even better!

    Reply
    1. Image for Diane Ruebel Diane Ruebel

      Karianne, What a remarkably told love story. You gathered us in while we hoped for a happy ending. Thank you for your natural charming self. Diney on Camano Island

      Reply
  3. Image for JENNIFER R OSBORN JENNIFER R OSBORN

    OMG, Love this story! How long have y'all been married? My parents were high school sweethearts. But I didn't meet my husband until we were in our late 20's. I wish we had met earlier. There's something extra magical about teenage love.

    Reply
  8. Image for Debbie Debbie

    Oh, my, this is one of my favorites of all your stories. I love it. I have had a constant smile from beginning to end. Thanks so much.

    Reply
  10. Image for AnnTN AnnTN

    I failed geometry. 🤷 There also wasn't a guy in the class I would have given a second look. 😁 But I did get married three years out of high school and 37 years later we're still married. ♥️ I always like to read your love story.

    Reply
  11. Image for Debra Graham Debra Graham

    What an adorable, heart-warming story!! Loved it! Thanks for sharing that and lighting up What is looking like another gray, rainy day in Alabama!

    Reply
  13. Image for Donna Bray Donna Bray

    Oh my goodness❣️ when I read the title of your post the song "When I fall in love" came to mind by none other than Nat King Cole of coarse. Love visiting through time with you 😍. Now the song is most gratfully stuck in my head. 🎶🎵🎶🎶🚜

    Reply
  14. Image for Kris Kris

    What a fun story! Thank you! BTW, love the tractor--what kind is it? John Deere? Farmall? I anticipate Mr. Brown Twinkling Eyes will have to answer that for you. :) I have a soft spot for Farmalls, as my dad used to have one.

    Reply
  16. Image for Toni Toni

    What a delightful love story of lovers doomed to meet! Thank you for sharing.....we all need GOOD NEWS and fun stories in these crazy coronavirus days! Have a blessed day with your drummer!

    Reply
  19. Image for Lyn Lyn

    I can relate - only my story started at work - a guy in the cubicle across from me....oh, we will be married 50 years in May. He had a beautiful '56 Chevy.

    Reply
  22. Image for Katy Ford Katy Ford

    Loved it! I’m grinning from ear to ear. A lovely story needed on a day like today! Nice job GF! 👍🏻💕

    Reply
  25. Image for Donna Donna

    So very rom-com with a little bit of Hallmark thrown in. If I were you & even if he does read the blog, I would make a cut & paste card with your drawings of this, instead of photos, and make him this story in card form. It is a keeper. I did something like this for my parents' anniversary one year & got "oohs" and "aahs" & I don't have your gift of story telling. So sweet, so very sweet and what a weird name for a band. It likely got people's attention though. Geometry can be overrated.

    Reply
  28. Image for Leslie Watkins Leslie Watkins

    Oh, my goodness! I think this is one of my very favorite stories ever! I married a blue eyed drummer that I met after college— so the drumming I understand! I think you fared better in geometry than I did!!😂

    Reply
  29. Image for Cristie Cristie

    Your amazing, you know!? I love your reminiscing tales of old... and because I am myself, Old...I remember my own tales of old and Love walking down Memory Lane with you! Thank You dear cyber friend

    Reply
  32. Image for Ellie Ellie

    Sweet and nostalgic. We all need uplifting stories every day. Thank you for bringing a smile and wonderful memories to mind through your lovely stories .

    Reply
  33. Image for Margaret Margaret

    I am speechless! What a wonderful story! You have a gift for story telling ( among other talents!). Bless you, Bless you, Bless You!❤️💋

    Reply
  36. Image for Sue Sue

    Karianne, I am so happy for you and hope you have an everlasting love story, like some of my friends. My own first ended as friends, too young at the start, and he remains the best father to our three adult sons one daughter in law and baby grand daughter. And potential new daughter in law and who knows next? But then I met such a funny farmer, 75 miles away, got me riding along on the sh** spreader (never into the wind, lol) Turns out we went to the same two year ag college, he made up wonderful stories about how we met then (didn't happen, lol} and how he chased me, I was the one who got away, so funny, We met online, a dating site. So sad, I lost him in 2013, Truly the love of my life, But I am hoping to see some twinkling eyes, that special sweet smile, any day now.

    Reply
  39. Image for Nancy Nancy

    It was 1961, I was ten and John was thirteen.. He lived five houses away from me. But he went to public school and I went to Catholic school so we never talked to each other. One hot summer day in 1961, the neighborhood boys (all twelve of them lived on our block) cornered me in my backyard and threw a barrage of water balloons at me. I was a drowned rat and crying for my mom. John said to the guys, “ Aw, leave her alone, she’s just a big baby!” My hero! Fast forward to 1968, we married and he didn’t go to Vietnam. This April, we will be married 52 years. Your sweet story reminded me of my husband who has been my hero all these years.

    Reply
  42. Image for Sandy Sandy

    I was 52, he was 65, had sparkling brown eyes and gray curly hair. His was a piano keyboard, not drums. We were starry-eyed from the beginning, loved deeply as we never had before, and our only regret was that we hadn't meet earlier. He lived until just one month before his 90th birthday, I am grateful for all the happy years we had. Your sweet story reminded me of all the precious days we shared. You have a special gift with storytelling, please keep writing, you are delightful.

    Reply
  44. Image for Nancy Federici Griffiths Nancy Federici Griffiths

    This is the sweetest story ever! Life was so innocent and carefree back then! (Your back then being a much shorter distance than mine) Don’t ever stop telling your story Karianne... ❤️

    Reply
  45. Image for Carol Carol

    KariAnne, I love this story with the pics of the old tractor! Oh the memories!!! They just make me smile! Thank you, Carol

    Reply
  46. Image for laura@everydayedits.co laura@everydayedits.co

    You had my at stirrup pants. I met my husband at a party when I introduced myself I told him my last name spelled back wards spelled an alcoholic drink in a can. It was love at the first line. Thank you for sharing your story and reminding me of mine. good night friend, laura ps I was waiting for the tractor to roll into the story. get it? ;0)

    Reply
  47. Image for Joi W Joi W

    This is one of those stories that I could read again and again! Not many people know how to express themselves in such a captivating way but God has blessed you with that gift. In turn, you have blessed all of us who are faithful readers. Thank you!

    Reply
  49. Image for Michele M. Michele M.

    Your love story is unreal. Seriously so romantic I can hardly stand it. My heart just got bigger - like the Grinch when he finally discovered the truth about Christmas! ♥♥

    Reply
  51. Image for Rev. Suzanne Taylor Rev. Suzanne Taylor

    This is better than any romance novel. It's REAL! And it moves the heart toward love. Your ability to weave a story with words so that we get a mental picture of you, him and the drum sticks is amazing. Enjoyed this story so much.

    Reply
  52. Image for Kerna Kerna

    Kari Anne - Are you seeing the pattern of comments here?... beautiful love story! You absolutely need to write a romance novel. You’re so talented with your words. YOU CAN DO IT!!

    Reply
  55. Image for Sandra Sandra

    What a perfect sweet love story to brighten my day. It's like a Hallmark movie. Hey maybe they would use it? Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  56. Image for MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!)

    KariAnne, your love story is so beautiful -- just like you! You and your dear hubby have been so blessed with such a wonderful marriage. I just enjoy your stories so much. God has given you so many wonderful gifts -- and we are blessed that you share them with us! Have a wonderful week-end.

    Reply
  58. Image for Nancy Nancy

    Oh my; what a very wonderful and heartwarming story! Really needed that this morning after this past week of sad and scary news. Thank you for sharing your story in the unique "Karianne way" that always touches so many of us.

    Reply
  60. Image for Pat Pat

    I so enjoyed your love story! My husband and I were in the same ninth grade math class. I sat at the front of the room and he was at the back, making it so hard to sneak a look at him. Later that summer, we happened to be at the ball field in our town. I was watching a game when he approached me and asked if he could borrow a dime. To this day, dimes have a special meaning to us. Silly! We dated for seven years through high school and college before marrying our senior year of college. It has been forty seven years of marriage so far.

    Reply
  61. Image for Barbara Barbara

    I'm just now catching up on my blog reading and OMGosh- THIS IS THE BEST ONE YOU HAVE EVER WRITTEN!!! I choked up at the end...sooooo sweet. They oughta make a movie of ya'll's love story.

    Reply
  62. Image for Jill Brewster Jill Brewster

    Oh what a beautiful sweet story. I am a sucker for a great romantic story, and you just scored a 10. I loved it.

    Reply
  63. Image for Cheryl Foley Cheryl Foley

    Oh my goodness what a sweet story! I didn't know you had a time machine 😊Thanks for bringing me along 💋

    Reply
  64. Image for Cate Cate

    KariAnne, You are precious!!!!!!! I love reading your stories, and on these days of being isolated, you are like a breath of fresh air! Thank you for the giggles you bring to others. Bless your heart!!!!!❤️

    Reply

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