March, 1999.... Grand Island Central Catholic speech team competed at the State Speech Meet in Kearney. That same day good ol' DCHS performed on the opposite hours of GICC. So while my students were waiting for their next round, I snuck in to watch a few kids that I babysat compete for a medal. Upon waiting for a round to start, Audrey Mathiesen introduced me to her assistant. We got to visiting, comparing stories about teaching junior high reading/English, and then it was time to get back to business.
A month later Diane intercepted a phone call at our apartment...a guy looking for me! Since this was pre-caller id, when I returned home that night we had to call *69 to get the number of the caller. It was a David City number. So, at 11pm, Diane and I sat in her bed, snuggled under the covers, combing the David City phone book looking for this number. No listing. The operator was willing to give me a number for a name, but not a name for a number. So our only solution was to call this mystery number, and pretend that it was a mistake. And, being the dear friend that she is, Diane got to carry out this very junior high plan.
"Hello."
"Uh, is Mary there?" (Why did she use my mother's name!?)
"No, there's no Mary here."
"Oh, well, who is this?"
"Jarod Ockander. Who is this?"
"Diane Hilger, Scott's sister, and boy do I have a story to tell you!"
And as they say....the rest is history! Jarod and I talked for 2 hours on the phone while we watched the coverage on CNN about Columbine, both shocked beyond belief that something that horrible could happen. We went on a date 2 weeks later....we both knew on the first date that we would be married....we dated for 5 months before getting engaged.....and were married the following June.
Ten years later I am here at home, caring for our children, and he is still off doing speech. It is his passion, his love, it drives him and haunts him at the same time. The ironic thing is that the activity that brought us together is now the very thing that keeps us apart for 3 months of every year. My dad always reminds me that I knew what I was getting into when I married him. He is right.... and Jarod is amazing at what he does. I am just not that amazing at being a coach's wife. I am very proud of all he's accomplished....but would be just as proud if he hadn't accomplished any of it! I am counting down the days till speech is over (13 to be exact), because any minute spent with us means 100 times more to me than any banner hanging in the gym! So knock their socks off, dear, but we'll be more excited to have you home for an evening than any piece of hardware you could bring through our door!
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