by Ricky Doc Sauceda
Song of Songs 1:5-6
Dark am I, yet lovely,
daughters of Jerusalem,
dark like the tents of Kedar,
like the tent curtains of Solomon.
Do not stare at me because I am dark,
because I am darkened by the sun.
My mother’s sons were angry with me
and made me take care of the vineyards;
my own vineyard I had to neglect.
I was the boyfriend of Amy DeGroat at Willowridge High School. I was asked by my friends Mike Rupert and Marie Fletcher to join them for a day at Astroworld...a Saturday. I asked my girlfriend to join us but she had to work. She was a cashier at a local grocery store.
So, I opted and asked my friend Yolanda. She had to ask her mom for permission. It was given.
I picked up my friends and we headed over to pick up my companion for the day. She came out carrying a biscuit. She ate it in the car ride to the theme park.
We were all having a good time. Then, it started to rain. I was wearing a wind breaker. I took it off to cover my friend and me.
What took place next stunned me. She screamed and ran for her life. Mike and Marie turned back and said,"Doc, what did you do?"
I responded,"All I was trying to do was protect her from the rain. Then, she freaked out!" My friends looked back at me point blank and said,"Sure, Doc, sure." (In a sarcastic manner.)
We later found her at the main food court sitting with Ruth Fletcher. I asked her,"How are you?" She responded,"Oh, fine. Everything is okay." She had a pleasant smile on her face.
From that point on I began to be fond of my friend. Then, I fell in love with her. I decided that she was the girl for me.
I caused a stir in our school at that time. Students were aware that I was both Amy's boyfriend but giving a lot of attention to Yolanda. This became the talk of the school.
I never broke up with Amy. I simply stopped spending time with her. I was entranced with my eventual wife and mother of my three children. She had captured my heart.
She was a senior that year. I was a junior. Due to our gap I broke up with her. A year later she returned and we began a life journey that lasted 26 years.
My daughter told me,"Daddy, you're weird for being attracted to mom after she ran away from you at Astroworld."
If not for that moment in time, I would not have my three wonderful children. She challenged my heart that day. I needed to love her.
I'd do it all over again for my children.