--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Early the next morning, I was driving…" description: "\"“Early the next morning, I was driving westward toward the ranch. Marlboro Man had called the night before--a rare evening we’d spent apart--and had as..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/ree-drummond-818_future-wife_early-the-next-morning-i-was-driving-wes_1439015.jpg" --- # Early the next morning, I was driving westward toward the… ![“Early the next morning, I was driving westward toward the ranch. Marlboro Man had called the night before--a rare evening we’d spent apart--and had asked me to come out early. I’d just turned onto the highway that led out of my hometown when my car phone rang. It was dewy outside, foggy. “Hurry…” quote by Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/ree-drummond-818_future-wife_early-the-next-morning-i-was-driving-wes_1439015.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/ree-drummond-818_future-wife_early-the-next-morning-i-was-driving-wes_1439015.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/ree-drummond-818_future-wife_early-the-next-morning-i-was-driving-wes_1439015.jpg) > ““Early the next morning, I was driving westward toward the ranch. Marlboro Man had called the night before--a rare evening we’d spent apart--and had asked me to come out early. I’d just turned onto the highway that led out of my hometown when my car phone rang. It was dewy outside, foggy. “Hurry up,” Marlboro Man’s voice playfully commanded. “I want to see my future wife.” My stomach lurched. Wife. It would take me a while to get used to that word. “I’m coming,” I announced. “Hold your horses!” We hung up, and I giggled. Hold your horses. Heh-heh. I had a lifetime of these jokes ahead. This was going to be loads of fun. He met me at my car, wearing jeans, boots, and a soft, worn denim shirt. I climbed out of the car and stepped right into his arms. It was just after 8:00 A.M., and within seconds we were leaning against my car, sharing a passionate, steamy kiss. Leave it to Marlboro Man to make 8:00 A.M. an acceptable time to make out. I never would have known this if I hadn’t met him. “So…what are we gonna do today?” I asked, trying to remember what day it was. “Oh, I thought we’d drive around for a while…,” he said, his arms still grasping my waist, “and talk about where we might want to live.” I’d heard him mention before, in passing, that someday he wanted to move to a different spot on the ranch, but I’d never paid much attention to it. I’d never really cared much where he lived, just as long as he took his Wranglers with me. “I want it to be your decision, too.”” [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A spontaneous, playful encounter leads to an unexpected romantic connection, highlighting how small moments can shape future choices. **In simple terms:** A chance meeting sparks romance and future decisions. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected opportunities. Themes romance spontaneity decision making future planning Mood joyful anticipatory intimate Type narrative personal romantic When to use this quote - first date - road trip - early morning meeting - planning future living arrangements Key Concepts relationship dynamics serendipity personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What small moments have changed your life direction? - How do you balance spontaneity with long‑term planning? A Different Perspective Romance may overlook practical considerations like stability or compatibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-wife/) [Ranch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ranch/) ## Related quotes > [“Early the next morning, I was driving westward toward the ranch. Marlboro Man had called the night before--a rare evening we’d spent apart--and had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/early-the-next-morning-i-was-driving-westward-toward-the-ranch-2/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“Despite the rocky start, I wound up enjoying a beautiful day on the ranch with Marlboro Man and his parents. I didn’t ride a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/despite-the-rocky-start-i-wound-up-enjoying-a-beautiful-day-on-the/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“In the meantime, I tried my best to acclimate to my new life in the middle of nowhere. I had to get used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/in-the-meantime-i-tried-my-best-to-acclimate-to-my-new-life-in-the-3/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [I want people to see how hard my husband and kids work on the ranch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-want-people-to-see-how-hard-my-husband-and-kids-work-on-the-ranch/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [Now I live in the middle of nowhere on a working cattle ranch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/now-i-live-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-on-a-working-cattle-ranch/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“What I cannot understand is how your uncle could consider these two men suitable when they aren’t. Not one whit!” “ We know that,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/what-i-cannot-understand-is-how-your-uncle-could-consider-these-two/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [- So my own sister will not promote me? Speaking of which, weren't you supposed to find me a beautiful future wife with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/so-my-own-sister-will-not-promote-me-speaking-of-which-weren-t-you/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“She very much feared that if she stayed with Maximus, this awful taint – this terribly wrong act – would, day by day, year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/she-very-much-feared-that-if-she-stayed-with-maximus-this-awful-taint/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [Dear future wife, wherever you are, I promise to love you unconditionally, to never cheat, and to treat you like the princess you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-future-wife-wherever-you-are-i-promise-to-love-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Stevie: "Oh, Adam, don’t let her hurt my pussy. You love that pussy as much as I do." Adam: "Marley, if you so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-k-schiller/stevie-oh-adam-don-t-let-her-hurt-my-pussy-you-love-that-pussy-as/) [M.K. Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-k-schiller/) > [“He is the kind of person I should expect to rescue one from a mad dog at any risk but then insist on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/he-is-the-kind-of-person-i-should-expect-to-rescue-one-from-a-mad-dog/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I've met my soulmate. the love of my life. my current fiancee and my future wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-met-my-soulmate-the-love-of-my-life-my-current-fiancee-and-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was a superlate bloomer, and I was kind of a prude. I always wanted to be able to keep the number of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/i-was-a-superlate-bloomer-and-i-was-kind-of-a-prude-i-always-wanted/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) > [“One stood behind me and ran her hands down my chest, her breasts rubbing against my back. The next stood in front of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-grubor/one-stood-behind-me-and-ran-her-hands-down-my-chest-her-breasts/) [Sadie Grubor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-grubor/) > [When I was 17, I broke up with my future wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-allen/when-i-was-17-i-broke-up-with-my-future-wife/) [Kris Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-allen/) ## More by Ree Drummond > [“What else haven’t you told me?” I thought for a minute. “Actually, yes…there is,” I replied, pausing to consider my words carefully, “I eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/what-else-haven-t-you-told-me-i-thought-for-a-minute-actually-yes/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [Butter, cream, and bacon. That's such a great foundation right there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/butter-cream-and-bacon-that-s-such-a-great-foundation-right-there/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“More and more, I began helping around the homestead. I learned to operate my John Deere mower so I could keep the yard around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/more-and-more-i-began-helping-around-the-homestead-i-learned-to/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I walked proudly out of the church, the new wife of Marlboro Man. When we exited the same doors through which my dad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-walked-proudly-out-of-the-church-the-new-wife-of-marlboro-man-when/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“When we arrived at the wedding at Marlboro Man’s grandparents’ house, I gasped. People were absolutely everywhere: scurrying and mingling and sipping champagne and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/when-we-arrived-at-the-wedding-at-marlboro-man-s-grandparents-house-i/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“What is it?” I asked, pasting a magazine photo of a football--found in an old Seventeen magazine spread--on my beloved’s collage. “Well, a bunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/what-is-it-i-asked-pasting-a-magazine-photo-of-a-football-found-in-an/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“When I arrived, I immediately saw the mother of an ex-boyfriend, the kind of ex-boyfriend that would make you want to look as good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/when-i-arrived-i-immediately-saw-the-mother-of-an-ex-boyfriend-the/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“At times the differences concerned me. Could I ever be with a man who’d never, in his entire life, eaten sushi? Could I, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/at-times-the-differences-concerned-me-could-i-ever-be-with-a-man-who/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“You did not do my homework assignment for me,” he said, grabbing the collage again and looking it over. “I had insomnia,” I said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/you-did-not-do-my-homework-assignment-for-me-he-said-grabbing-the/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I couldn’t bear the thought of a ham sandwich. Imagining milk trickling down my esophagus almost sent me over the edge. Even the saltines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-couldn-t-bear-the-thought-of-a-ham-sandwich-imagining-milk/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“Marlboro Man picked me up the next evening, exactly one month before our wedding day. Our evening apart had made the heart grow fonder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/marlboro-man-picked-me-up-the-next-evening-exactly-one-month-before/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I’ll send the nurse in here in a minute, okay?” Waste of time , I thought. “Okay, but…do you think there’s anything we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-ll-send-the-nurse-in-here-in-a-minute-okay-waste-of-time-i-thought/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“How come I wasn’t riding around in his middle seat? Was I supposed to initiate this? Was this expected of me? Because I probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/how-come-i-wasn-t-riding-around-in-his-middle-seat-was-i-supposed-to/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I’ll see you in the morning. Oh, and hey…if I don’t answer the door right away it probably means I’m doing some weight training…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-ll-see-you-in-the-morning-oh-and-hey-if-i-don-t-answer-the-door/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“Minutes later, we were back at the sliding glass door that led inside the house--me, leaning against the glass, Marlboro Man anchoring me there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/minutes-later-we-were-back-at-the-sliding-glass-door-that-led-inside/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) [Explore all 361 Ree Drummond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) ## More Future wife quotes > [When I was 17, I broke up with my future wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-allen/when-i-was-17-i-broke-up-with-my-future-wife/) [Kris Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-allen/) > [“One stood behind me and ran her hands down my chest, her breasts rubbing against my back. The next stood in front of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-grubor/one-stood-behind-me-and-ran-her-hands-down-my-chest-her-breasts/) [Sadie Grubor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-grubor/) > [I was a superlate bloomer, and I was kind of a prude. I always wanted to be able to keep the number of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/i-was-a-superlate-bloomer-and-i-was-kind-of-a-prude-i-always-wanted/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) > [I've met my soulmate. the love of my life. my current fiancee and my future wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-met-my-soulmate-the-love-of-my-life-my-current-fiancee-and-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He is the kind of person I should expect to rescue one from a mad dog at any risk but then insist on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/he-is-the-kind-of-person-i-should-expect-to-rescue-one-from-a-mad-dog/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [“Stevie: "Oh, Adam, don’t let her hurt my pussy. You love that pussy as much as I do." Adam: "Marley, if you so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-k-schiller/stevie-oh-adam-don-t-let-her-hurt-my-pussy-you-love-that-pussy-as/) [M.K. Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-k-schiller/) > [Dear future wife, wherever you are, I promise to love you unconditionally, to never cheat, and to treat you like the princess you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-future-wife-wherever-you-are-i-promise-to-love-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She very much feared that if she stayed with Maximus, this awful taint – this terribly wrong act – would, day by day, year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/she-very-much-feared-that-if-she-stayed-with-maximus-this-awful-taint/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [- So my own sister will not promote me? Speaking of which, weren't you supposed to find me a beautiful future wife with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/so-my-own-sister-will-not-promote-me-speaking-of-which-weren-t-you/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“What I cannot understand is how your uncle could consider these two men suitable when they aren’t. Not one whit!” “ We know that,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/what-i-cannot-understand-is-how-your-uncle-could-consider-these-two/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [Hope my future wife knows she's getting like a ring pop or something. I'm not spending money on a ring you can't even eat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hope-my-future-wife-knows-she-s-getting-like-a-ring-pop-or-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dear Future Wife, the best part about you being with me when I have nothing, is being able to give you everything when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-future-wife-the-best-part-about-you-being-with-me-when-i-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You can’t promise this girl protection forever. What’s going to happen if Emilio sends you somewhere else? Huh? To another city or worse, another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-robinson/you-can-t-promise-this-girl-protection-forever-what-s-going-to-happen/) [M. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-robinson/) > [To my future wife: I appreciate the similarity, respect the differences, hope and pray that we both have the wisdom to understand each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/to-my-future-wife-i-appreciate-the-similarity-respect-the-differences/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [“As long as your father's alive, you aren't yet the duchess. All that deference isn't truly warranted, is it?" In an oppressive tone, Lady…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/as-long-as-your-father-s-alive-you-aren-t-yet-the-duchess-all-that/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) [Browse all 73 Future wife quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-wife/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Early the next morning, I was driving westward toward the ranch. Marlboro Man had called the night before--a rare evening we’d spent apart--and had asked me to come out early. I’d just turned onto the highway that led out of my hometown when my car phone rang. It was dewy outside, foggy. “Hurry up,” Marlboro Man’s voice playfully commanded. “I want to see my future wife.” My stomach lurched. Wife. It would take me a while to get used to that word. “I’m coming,” I announced. “Hold your horses!” We hung up, and I giggled. Hold your horses. Heh-heh. I had a lifetime of these jokes ahead. This was going to be loads of fun. He met me at my car, wearing jeans, boots, and a soft, worn denim shirt. I climbed out of the car and stepped right into his arms. It was just after 8:00 A.M., and within seconds we were leaning against my car, sharing a passionate, steamy kiss. Leave it to Marlboro Man to make 8:00 A.M. an acceptable time to make out. I never would have known this if I hadn’t met him. “So…what are we gonna do today?” I asked, trying to remember what day it was. “Oh, I thought we’d drive around for a while…,” he said, his arms still grasping my waist, “and talk about where we might want to live.” I’d heard him mention before, in passing, that someday he wanted to move to a different spot on the ranch, but I’d never paid much attention to it. 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