Well, I had to see him! So I made a plan to go down to San Diego over the Fourth of July with my roommate. We were going to drive it. Even though I had ended my relationship with Bill, I was still really good friends with his sister in Anaheim. You see I am a bit vain......I couldn't stand the thought of the RS seeing me after driving for 12 hours, so we went to see Bill's sister, Sandy, first and stayed a day with her and her family. It was fun to see her and realize that no matter what, we would still be friends.
The next day we went to the RS's parents home in North San Diego County. I just remember bits and pieces of that night. There was his mom in the family room, finishing her perfect pedicure, the feeling of being home, the feeling of being lost, the feeling of needing a restroom after driving for 2 and 1/2 hours. So the RS suggest that he take my roommate and I for a drive around the area. We say, "OK." So off we go. He drove us past a couple of old ships that were turned into homes, past his old high school, past a bunch of stuff I don't remember because I never did use the restroom before we left and I am now feeling desperate. I finally have to say something and plead with him to find a place to stop. He takes us back to his parents home. He helps us bring bags in and gets us set up in one of the bedrooms upstairs. My roommate, Lacey calls the bottom bunk, so I throw my pillow on the the top bunk. Lacey then announces she is exhausted and is headed to bed. No way am I ready to sleep. I am at the point I would sell my kidneys for 10 minutes alone with the RS.
The RS and I head back down stairs to the family room where his mom is watching TV. We sit and chat with her for hours. She is funny and warm and loves to harass the heck out of this guy I'm dying to kiss. Around 1:00 AM the RS starts harassing his mom back, asking her if it isn't time for her to take her medicine and go to bed. (She was battling cancer at the time.) He continues to needle her for another hour before she decides to go to bed. I get up and get a drink as she heads up stairs. I wander back to the couch and make myself comfortable. The Rocket Scientist sits down next to me, sliding his arm around my shoulders. I have know idea what is on TV but I trying really hard to act like I am totally into it, even though my heart is pounding at this point. I don't know why, but suddenly I have a urge to look at the RS's face. I think I am hoping to read his facial expression when I am attacked with the warmest pair of lips and a bear hug. My head starts spinning. I start thinking maybe this guy really does like me.
The next day we go to a Padres game and other stuff I don't remember anymore, and somewhere in that weekend we end up watching fireworks off the side a road in celebration of the Fourth of July. With his arms around my waist, he tells me for the first time that he loves me. I mumble that I love him also. That is when I decide it is a good idea to back him against his car with no where to run and tell him he is going to marry me and he is gonna like it. Ya.......I ooze subtlety. He responds perfectly with a big smile and a, "You think so?" I smile and leave it alone then realizing I could benefit from a filter somewhere between my mouth and my heart.
Showing posts with label How it all started. Show all posts
Showing posts with label How it all started. Show all posts
Friday, September 12, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
How it all started......Part 4
I'm sorry if you are still reading this, I just feel compelled to have it out there. So here it goes...
The call came in the morning. The RS and his brother would be coming for lunch on their way out of town. I was thrilled. I called my roommate and she said she would be home for lunch as well.
Cooking has always come some what natural to me. At age 7, while my mom was giving piano lessons, I baked cupcakes from scratch and sold them to the neighbors, un-frosted. My poor mom was so embarrassed. I was too young to be embarrassed over something like that. When I was older I worked for a catering company for a few years and then a vocational training school for people with disabilities, teaching food service skills. I could cook decent. So I decided to make lasagna, green salad and garlic bread. (I knew there was no way I was going to have a chance at a kiss with his brother around, so I brought the garlic.) Everything is sailing along quite smoothly. This is not a difficult meal to make anyway. Just as the RS and his brother arrive, smoke starts to billow out of the oven. Then the smoke alarms start blaring. Garlic bread was invented to torture me, I'm convinced. The RS and his brother take it in stride, snickering a little here and there. I open the front door to let the smoke billow on out so that I don't have to hear that obnoxious noise coming from every direction in my house.
My roommate walks in and hears the smoke alarms going off in every direction. She laughs and says, "Karen, making garlic bread?" Yeah, took a while to live that one down. Lunch was nice. I don't remember much about it, other than I really wanted some more time with the RS, alone. Oh well, wasn't happening that trip. I wasn't ready for him to leave. He seemed like he was anxious to hit the road, but he promised to call me when he got home. He mentioned he would continue to write me. I wondered if I had imagined things while laying on the floor in my great aunt and uncle's house. There was certainly the chance I would never hear from him again. I hugged him good bye and realized he was taking a piece of me with him. How could that be after such a short period of time, face to face.
Sure enough, the next day when he arrived home, he calls. He is tired from the trip, but still makes the effort to talk to me. I am thinking in my head, certainly this counts for something. We talk for a while and he tells me he will be dropping another letter in the mail to me the next day. Smiling, I say that I will be watching for it, not knowing if this guy is interested or just passing the time. I'm not certain myself if I'm in love, just certain I don't like not being near him. And then there is still that moment so real in my head, reminding me that I know I will marry him.
A few days later I get the letter. It's a thank you note. He thanks me for the lunch and mentions how much he enjoyed getting together. Then he mentions how much he wants to see me again. My heart starts throbbing. I was getting a little worried I had no affect on him. He invites me to come visit him in San Diego. He assures me that his parents have a spare bedroom that myself and a friend/sister could stay in and to let him know if and when we would be making the trip.
To be continued..............
The call came in the morning. The RS and his brother would be coming for lunch on their way out of town. I was thrilled. I called my roommate and she said she would be home for lunch as well.
Cooking has always come some what natural to me. At age 7, while my mom was giving piano lessons, I baked cupcakes from scratch and sold them to the neighbors, un-frosted. My poor mom was so embarrassed. I was too young to be embarrassed over something like that. When I was older I worked for a catering company for a few years and then a vocational training school for people with disabilities, teaching food service skills. I could cook decent. So I decided to make lasagna, green salad and garlic bread. (I knew there was no way I was going to have a chance at a kiss with his brother around, so I brought the garlic.) Everything is sailing along quite smoothly. This is not a difficult meal to make anyway. Just as the RS and his brother arrive, smoke starts to billow out of the oven. Then the smoke alarms start blaring. Garlic bread was invented to torture me, I'm convinced. The RS and his brother take it in stride, snickering a little here and there. I open the front door to let the smoke billow on out so that I don't have to hear that obnoxious noise coming from every direction in my house.
My roommate walks in and hears the smoke alarms going off in every direction. She laughs and says, "Karen, making garlic bread?" Yeah, took a while to live that one down. Lunch was nice. I don't remember much about it, other than I really wanted some more time with the RS, alone. Oh well, wasn't happening that trip. I wasn't ready for him to leave. He seemed like he was anxious to hit the road, but he promised to call me when he got home. He mentioned he would continue to write me. I wondered if I had imagined things while laying on the floor in my great aunt and uncle's house. There was certainly the chance I would never hear from him again. I hugged him good bye and realized he was taking a piece of me with him. How could that be after such a short period of time, face to face.
Sure enough, the next day when he arrived home, he calls. He is tired from the trip, but still makes the effort to talk to me. I am thinking in my head, certainly this counts for something. We talk for a while and he tells me he will be dropping another letter in the mail to me the next day. Smiling, I say that I will be watching for it, not knowing if this guy is interested or just passing the time. I'm not certain myself if I'm in love, just certain I don't like not being near him. And then there is still that moment so real in my head, reminding me that I know I will marry him.
A few days later I get the letter. It's a thank you note. He thanks me for the lunch and mentions how much he enjoyed getting together. Then he mentions how much he wants to see me again. My heart starts throbbing. I was getting a little worried I had no affect on him. He invites me to come visit him in San Diego. He assures me that his parents have a spare bedroom that myself and a friend/sister could stay in and to let him know if and when we would be making the trip.
To be continued..............
Thursday, August 7, 2008
How it all started....Part Three
I was looking forward to seeing the Rocket Scientist when he came up to Salt Lake City, but I wasn't dying to see him. I was definitely looking forward to it just the same. We had established a good friendship and I really did enjoy his sense of humor.
My sister and I had a trip planned to go visit our great-aunt and uncle in Chico, CA. I have three sisters who are all very different and I love them all for very different reasons. One of the reasons I love Kim is she has a very funny sense of humor. This makes her a lot of fun to road trip with, though I digress. Kim and I take off and drive to Chico, CA. We were having a lovely visit. My great-aunt and uncle were always so much fun to visit. They were very political and educated mixed with warmth and a delightful sense of humor. They were honestly like another set of grandparents to us.
The day before we were to return home, I started to feel sick. I not talking about drooling on the RS's first date kind of sick, I'm talking about puking my guts out, sleeping on the bathroom floor kind of sick. Some of the details are foggy now, but I think Kim got it too, before we left. Sometime in the middle of the night lying on the floor moaning, I suddenly knew, without any doubt in my mind, that I would marry the RS. I'd like to say that I was in love with him at this point, but I'm not sure that I was. I just knew it was him and it had to be him.
When I was starting feel well enough to think about driving home, I wrote the Rocket Scientist a letter. I never flat out told him I knew we were meant for each other, but I did tell him that it had been a very enlightening trip and that one day I would have to tell him about it. (He has since then 'fessed up and said that when he read that, he then knew what I was enlightened about.)
Some time passed and it was finally time that the RS was in town. He called and asked if my roommate and I would meet him and his brother in North Ogden at a friend's house. Of course we would. We hung out. Mostly we watched a bunch of guys play pool in his friend's basement. It was a rather awkward evening. (Not that you would expect anything else at this point.) I wasn't sure really what to do with myself. I knew things. Everything in me had changed since our first date. The chemistry was suddenly right, instead of all wrong. I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. I so badly wanted to wrap my arms around him that I was contemplating how soon we could leave so I had an excuse to hug him good bye. As it got dark, my roommate and I decided it was time to go; she had to work in the morning. The view of the stars that night was amazing. People were pointing out the "Big Dipper" and "Orion's Belt." Then the Rocket Scientist was having a hard time finding the "Little Dipper." I kept pointing and trying to explain where it was. It just wasn't working. I finally thought, maybe if I see it from his vantage point I could show him where it was and have a great excuse to flirt with him at the same time. I maneuvered behind him, slid my face slightly to the right of his and pointed to where the "Little Dipper" was. He still didn't see it, but if you have ever had the misfortune of hearing him tell his version of this story, I'm not sure he could see anything at that point. I tried for a minute more, letting my cheek "accidentally" brush his or let my breathe brush his neck as I gave up and stepped away. My heart was pounding like I had run a mile. I was a goner. There was no doubt at this point that I was "in love." I hugged him briefly then and invited the RS and his brother for lunch the next day. He said, he'd let me know in the morning since they were headed home some time the next day.
As my roommate and I climbed in the car that night, she starts laughing hysterically. She spits out in between the laughing and gasping for air, "Smooth, Karen, real smooth." I was pretty sure she was being sarcastic but I had to ask anyway, "Do you think he noticed?" She wondered if it was possible for him not to notice.
To be continued.........
My sister and I had a trip planned to go visit our great-aunt and uncle in Chico, CA. I have three sisters who are all very different and I love them all for very different reasons. One of the reasons I love Kim is she has a very funny sense of humor. This makes her a lot of fun to road trip with, though I digress. Kim and I take off and drive to Chico, CA. We were having a lovely visit. My great-aunt and uncle were always so much fun to visit. They were very political and educated mixed with warmth and a delightful sense of humor. They were honestly like another set of grandparents to us.
The day before we were to return home, I started to feel sick. I not talking about drooling on the RS's first date kind of sick, I'm talking about puking my guts out, sleeping on the bathroom floor kind of sick. Some of the details are foggy now, but I think Kim got it too, before we left. Sometime in the middle of the night lying on the floor moaning, I suddenly knew, without any doubt in my mind, that I would marry the RS. I'd like to say that I was in love with him at this point, but I'm not sure that I was. I just knew it was him and it had to be him.
When I was starting feel well enough to think about driving home, I wrote the Rocket Scientist a letter. I never flat out told him I knew we were meant for each other, but I did tell him that it had been a very enlightening trip and that one day I would have to tell him about it. (He has since then 'fessed up and said that when he read that, he then knew what I was enlightened about.)
Some time passed and it was finally time that the RS was in town. He called and asked if my roommate and I would meet him and his brother in North Ogden at a friend's house. Of course we would. We hung out. Mostly we watched a bunch of guys play pool in his friend's basement. It was a rather awkward evening. (Not that you would expect anything else at this point.) I wasn't sure really what to do with myself. I knew things. Everything in me had changed since our first date. The chemistry was suddenly right, instead of all wrong. I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. I so badly wanted to wrap my arms around him that I was contemplating how soon we could leave so I had an excuse to hug him good bye. As it got dark, my roommate and I decided it was time to go; she had to work in the morning. The view of the stars that night was amazing. People were pointing out the "Big Dipper" and "Orion's Belt." Then the Rocket Scientist was having a hard time finding the "Little Dipper." I kept pointing and trying to explain where it was. It just wasn't working. I finally thought, maybe if I see it from his vantage point I could show him where it was and have a great excuse to flirt with him at the same time. I maneuvered behind him, slid my face slightly to the right of his and pointed to where the "Little Dipper" was. He still didn't see it, but if you have ever had the misfortune of hearing him tell his version of this story, I'm not sure he could see anything at that point. I tried for a minute more, letting my cheek "accidentally" brush his or let my breathe brush his neck as I gave up and stepped away. My heart was pounding like I had run a mile. I was a goner. There was no doubt at this point that I was "in love." I hugged him briefly then and invited the RS and his brother for lunch the next day. He said, he'd let me know in the morning since they were headed home some time the next day.
As my roommate and I climbed in the car that night, she starts laughing hysterically. She spits out in between the laughing and gasping for air, "Smooth, Karen, real smooth." I was pretty sure she was being sarcastic but I had to ask anyway, "Do you think he noticed?" She wondered if it was possible for him not to notice.
To be continued.........
Friday, July 25, 2008
How it all started...part two
Because the Rocket Scientist reads my blog and well, he actually proofs it for me. If something is not punctuated or spelled right or a word missing, that is because the RS was not around to help me. I never have been very good at proofing my own stuff, but it has gone down hill since children. The distractions of motherhood leave me wondering how my brain looks. (Is it oatmeal, like it feels?) OH, back to to my point here. The Rocket Scientist saw I was using a fictitious name of Stan for him. You could say that he is not fond of it, so I will from here out refer to him as the RS or the Rocket Scientist. (Can you hear the occasional sarcasm when I use his chosen name?)
It is an April night in 1993. The Rocket Scientist and I have spoken once on the phone briefly a few days before to firm up our plans. Turns out Jed and his soon to be fiance will be joining us on what can only be described as one of the most embarrassing nights of my life.
Before my children were so kind as build my immune system into Fort Knox, I used to manage a couple of really good colds a year. This April evening was one of them. There was no breathing through my nose, I could barely hear my ears were so plugged, and I was definitely mouth-breathing. If that wasn't enough, my color was off and by the time I was trying to pull myself together to have dinner with this guy, I didn't have time to get the right color of foundation. So I had a choice, no make-up, foundation way too dark, or foundation a bit too light. In my cold medicine delirium, I chose too light. (That had to be pretty.) I was pushing as much cold medicine on myself as I dared. I have never consumed alcohol, other than NyQuil, when necessary to control a cough and get some sleep. Now I should have canceled, being as sick as I was, but in my cold medicine induced state, my judgement was a bit impaired. Some how, I thought it would be perfectly acceptable to go out.
The door bell rings as I am doing a few dishes. Wiping my hands on a dish towel, I answer the door. I would like to say it was love at first sight, but it really wasn't. He wasn't bad to look at, just really, really not my type! I asked him to come in, sounding lovely I'm sure, so I could quickly finish up the dishes. (Why those darn dishes had to be done that minute, I am still not sure. All I can say is, remember the cold medicine.) He is very patient while I deal with my momentary obsession with the dishes.
We meet Jed and his date at a local diner for dinner. I don't remember to much of that part of the night, other than I ordered a chef salad that could have fed a large rabbit family. Jed and his date had to meet someone at the airport and were parting ways with us for a couple of hours. We were to meet up later at the movie theater. The RS and I now have some time to kill. We talk and drive. We end up in the town my family lives and where Jed and I went to high school. Now if you have ever been to Magna, UT, you know this is NOT where you take a date to impress him. I think part of me was trying really hard to scare him off. I'm not sure if it was because I was not interested or if that somewhere in my heart, I knew he was my true love. We talked with ease, never an uncomfortable silence. At some point, I tell him I want 12 kids and he shoots back with he wants 13, so he could have a whole baseball team. Then a little later, I tell him that I don't believe in divorce, but that I might believe in manslaughter. (Are these words of an uninterested woman? I am still not sure.)
We end up at my parents home. I introduce the RS to my parents and a few of my siblings. I can tell that my mom is impressed with him. She's giving me the, "What's wrong with you?" look, as she can tell I am not interested in this guy.
When we meet up with Jed and his honey at the movies, it is decided that we will see Forever Young, a movie I have already seen twice. I don't care though. The cold medicine is all the fun I need. As it would turn out, there is an empty seat to one side of me. This ends up being fortunate for whoever decided not to sit there. I am starting to feel a little drowsy. I can feel myself swaying a little. You know how it is when your dating and you don't want to give the guy the wrong impression? Well, I certainly didn't want the RS to think I was romantically intrigued. So, I was refusing to put my arm on the armrest between us.
Oh, the need for sleep was suddenly overwhelming. I was pinching the inside of my arm to stay awake. Didn't do any good. I realized my head is dangling in the empty seat next to me. I hurry and sit up trying to look like nothing has happened since it appeared nobody noticed. Feeling relieved, I discreetly wipe the drool off the side of my face with my sleeve. The adrenaline is starting to wear off from almost being caught, when I realize I am going to have to use some of the arm rest between us. It is the only hope I have to appear awake. I slide my elbows into the back corners of both arm rests, hoping to prop myself up. When I wake up this time, my head is dangling in my lap and I am drooling. (That no breathing through my nose thing was becoming a real problem.) I yank my head up. Not very inconspicuously either, I might add. Once again wiping my face off with my sleeve.
I am still not sure how it happened, but I wake one last time as the movie is ending. My head is on the Rocket Scientist's shoulder. I have managed to drool all down his arm. He has been very sweet to let me sleep. I try to very slyly wipe his arm off with my sleeve. (I know.......... Is this the most disgusting first date you have ever heard? I think I am gagging a little, just trying to tell it.) He never says a word about it. He drives me home. I invite him in. We talk for a few minutes. I have to be up early the next day for work, so he says good night. I walk him out and hug him good-bye. I can tell if I give him an opening, the man is going to kiss my socks off. Since I think he is a geek at this point, I keep my face as far away from his as possible. (Like I had any right thinking he was the geek after what I did to his arm.)
That was it. He left and I went in, crawled into bed and drooled on my pillow. I was actually very relieved that he lived so far away. There would be no need for me to explain I just wasn't interested.
A few days pass and I get a call from Bill. He wants to come over. I let him. (Why would I do that?) I must have missed him a little. Bill was still holding out hope that I would start to miss him enough to get back together. We talked a while. After he left, I knew there was no way I could ever go back to where we had been.
I cried a lot that night. Sometime that night the RS called. We talked for an hour or so. He mentions he will be coming back to Salt Lake in a month or two. He was coming up to see some friends. I am so comforted talking to him, that I am actually wanting to see him. As friends though, nothing else.
To be continued.......
It is an April night in 1993. The Rocket Scientist and I have spoken once on the phone briefly a few days before to firm up our plans. Turns out Jed and his soon to be fiance will be joining us on what can only be described as one of the most embarrassing nights of my life.
Before my children were so kind as build my immune system into Fort Knox, I used to manage a couple of really good colds a year. This April evening was one of them. There was no breathing through my nose, I could barely hear my ears were so plugged, and I was definitely mouth-breathing. If that wasn't enough, my color was off and by the time I was trying to pull myself together to have dinner with this guy, I didn't have time to get the right color of foundation. So I had a choice, no make-up, foundation way too dark, or foundation a bit too light. In my cold medicine delirium, I chose too light. (That had to be pretty.) I was pushing as much cold medicine on myself as I dared. I have never consumed alcohol, other than NyQuil, when necessary to control a cough and get some sleep. Now I should have canceled, being as sick as I was, but in my cold medicine induced state, my judgement was a bit impaired. Some how, I thought it would be perfectly acceptable to go out.
The door bell rings as I am doing a few dishes. Wiping my hands on a dish towel, I answer the door. I would like to say it was love at first sight, but it really wasn't. He wasn't bad to look at, just really, really not my type! I asked him to come in, sounding lovely I'm sure, so I could quickly finish up the dishes. (Why those darn dishes had to be done that minute, I am still not sure. All I can say is, remember the cold medicine.) He is very patient while I deal with my momentary obsession with the dishes.
We meet Jed and his date at a local diner for dinner. I don't remember to much of that part of the night, other than I ordered a chef salad that could have fed a large rabbit family. Jed and his date had to meet someone at the airport and were parting ways with us for a couple of hours. We were to meet up later at the movie theater. The RS and I now have some time to kill. We talk and drive. We end up in the town my family lives and where Jed and I went to high school. Now if you have ever been to Magna, UT, you know this is NOT where you take a date to impress him. I think part of me was trying really hard to scare him off. I'm not sure if it was because I was not interested or if that somewhere in my heart, I knew he was my true love. We talked with ease, never an uncomfortable silence. At some point, I tell him I want 12 kids and he shoots back with he wants 13, so he could have a whole baseball team. Then a little later, I tell him that I don't believe in divorce, but that I might believe in manslaughter. (Are these words of an uninterested woman? I am still not sure.)
We end up at my parents home. I introduce the RS to my parents and a few of my siblings. I can tell that my mom is impressed with him. She's giving me the, "What's wrong with you?" look, as she can tell I am not interested in this guy.
When we meet up with Jed and his honey at the movies, it is decided that we will see Forever Young, a movie I have already seen twice. I don't care though. The cold medicine is all the fun I need. As it would turn out, there is an empty seat to one side of me. This ends up being fortunate for whoever decided not to sit there. I am starting to feel a little drowsy. I can feel myself swaying a little. You know how it is when your dating and you don't want to give the guy the wrong impression? Well, I certainly didn't want the RS to think I was romantically intrigued. So, I was refusing to put my arm on the armrest between us.
Oh, the need for sleep was suddenly overwhelming. I was pinching the inside of my arm to stay awake. Didn't do any good. I realized my head is dangling in the empty seat next to me. I hurry and sit up trying to look like nothing has happened since it appeared nobody noticed. Feeling relieved, I discreetly wipe the drool off the side of my face with my sleeve. The adrenaline is starting to wear off from almost being caught, when I realize I am going to have to use some of the arm rest between us. It is the only hope I have to appear awake. I slide my elbows into the back corners of both arm rests, hoping to prop myself up. When I wake up this time, my head is dangling in my lap and I am drooling. (That no breathing through my nose thing was becoming a real problem.) I yank my head up. Not very inconspicuously either, I might add. Once again wiping my face off with my sleeve.
I am still not sure how it happened, but I wake one last time as the movie is ending. My head is on the Rocket Scientist's shoulder. I have managed to drool all down his arm. He has been very sweet to let me sleep. I try to very slyly wipe his arm off with my sleeve. (I know.......... Is this the most disgusting first date you have ever heard? I think I am gagging a little, just trying to tell it.) He never says a word about it. He drives me home. I invite him in. We talk for a few minutes. I have to be up early the next day for work, so he says good night. I walk him out and hug him good-bye. I can tell if I give him an opening, the man is going to kiss my socks off. Since I think he is a geek at this point, I keep my face as far away from his as possible. (Like I had any right thinking he was the geek after what I did to his arm.)
That was it. He left and I went in, crawled into bed and drooled on my pillow. I was actually very relieved that he lived so far away. There would be no need for me to explain I just wasn't interested.
A few days pass and I get a call from Bill. He wants to come over. I let him. (Why would I do that?) I must have missed him a little. Bill was still holding out hope that I would start to miss him enough to get back together. We talked a while. After he left, I knew there was no way I could ever go back to where we had been.
I cried a lot that night. Sometime that night the RS called. We talked for an hour or so. He mentions he will be coming back to Salt Lake in a month or two. He was coming up to see some friends. I am so comforted talking to him, that I am actually wanting to see him. As friends though, nothing else.
To be continued.......
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
How it all started.....
I wanted to record how the Rocket Scientist and I met and fell in love, so that one day our sea monkeys can read/hear it and appreciate what geeks their parents are. (Names have been changed to protect the innocent and the not-so-innocent alike)
I was young and stupid. We all are at some point. I had been dating the same guy for three or four years. I loved his family and I think I might have still loved him a little. He was a good guy. We were toxic for each other. He could bring the worst out in me. I haven't seen the person I was then, since then. (Thank goodness!!) I didn't exactly bring out his best traits either. We had been engaged for a time. The engagement ended when I finally gave him back his ring after another big fight. Some how, I knew it was over, but I just couldn't let go and kept seeing him. For ease of telling the story, we are going to call him Bill.
I remember the biggest turning point. My best friend from high school was in Ireland serving a mission for our church. He had been there a while and knew of another guy who could use some letters. My friend, who we will call Jed, sent me this guys address and gave my address to this guy. Now, I have to disclose, I was crazy about this best friend, Jed, guy. If I had honestly believed I had a chance with him, I may have never dated Bill, the guy who's family I couldn't break up with.
So this guy needing letters sends me a letter. Very general, nothing too interesting, but a bit humorous. He mentions something to the fact that Jed mentioned there was a girl back home with the same sick sense of humor and that he ought to write her. So, I wrote him back. Four pages of non-sense. I read and re-read it. I just didn't like how it sounded. I think it was just too "cheesy." So I tore up all four pages into little 1 inch squares and put in the trash. I then re-wrote the letter, (two pages this time) and dropp it in the mail. The 4 and the 2 page letters could have not been more platonic if I had written them to my brother. Later Bill comes over to hang out (and think annoy me.) During the time while Bill was over, he found time to go through my trash. (Remember what I said about bringing the worst out in each other?) He finds the four page letter in teeny-tiny pieces.
Later that night I get a call from Bill asking me if he can come over. Me, hearing he is sounding a little upset, "Yeah, come on over." He arrives looking like he has been crying. I ask what's wrong. He proceeds to tell me that he took the torn letter out of my trash can, took it home, taped it back together, read it and now he is sure that I am in love with this guy and that I am going to marry him. HA! Funny Bill! Don't do stupid things, admit them and try to use them against your girlfriend. That was the end of any trust I had in him. The letter content was so benign that I could have read it in front of my high school algebra class.
A few months later, Jed has finished his mission and is back in town, I have finally ended things with Bill and I am still writing the guy with the sick sense of humor. Jed and I go out a few times. As typical for Jed when he didn't know how to handle a situation, he starts avoiding me. OK, whatever, I am so glad I am not dating anymore.
Now I am living in the greater Salt Lake City area at this time. The guy with the sense of humor is finishing his mission up and is headed home to the greater San Diego area. His last letter from Ireland includes his home address and phone number. I'm thinking cool, this guy might be fun to hang out with if we are ever in the same city.
Then one night I am bored out of my mind. My roommate is out on a date. Most of my friends are now engaged or married. So not a lot to do. So I decide to call the guy in San Diego. (Yes, I know, a healthy dose of shy could go a long way here.) "Hi, is Stan there?"
Voice clearing on the other side of the line. "Hello."
"Hi, guess who this is?" The man will not play along, He just would not guess! It wasn't like I was looking to be his girlfriend. Maybe he thought I was testing him. (I was testing him a little. For some reason I wanted to know if he was dating. The other thing, I was hoping to find out is if he had a big enough sense of humor to guess something ridiculous like Bat Girl.) We ended up talking for about 30 minutes. The conversation was witty, slightly flirty with zero depth. He mentions he is headed up my way to visit with some friends and ski. He then asks me if I would like to grab a bite to eat with him, if I am free one of those nights. It occurs to me for the first time, that he might be a little interested. I agree that it would be fun to meet the person I have been writing letters too for the past 9 months. So..........we set up a date.
To be continued....
I was young and stupid. We all are at some point. I had been dating the same guy for three or four years. I loved his family and I think I might have still loved him a little. He was a good guy. We were toxic for each other. He could bring the worst out in me. I haven't seen the person I was then, since then. (Thank goodness!!) I didn't exactly bring out his best traits either. We had been engaged for a time. The engagement ended when I finally gave him back his ring after another big fight. Some how, I knew it was over, but I just couldn't let go and kept seeing him. For ease of telling the story, we are going to call him Bill.
I remember the biggest turning point. My best friend from high school was in Ireland serving a mission for our church. He had been there a while and knew of another guy who could use some letters. My friend, who we will call Jed, sent me this guys address and gave my address to this guy. Now, I have to disclose, I was crazy about this best friend, Jed, guy. If I had honestly believed I had a chance with him, I may have never dated Bill, the guy who's family I couldn't break up with.
So this guy needing letters sends me a letter. Very general, nothing too interesting, but a bit humorous. He mentions something to the fact that Jed mentioned there was a girl back home with the same sick sense of humor and that he ought to write her. So, I wrote him back. Four pages of non-sense. I read and re-read it. I just didn't like how it sounded. I think it was just too "cheesy." So I tore up all four pages into little 1 inch squares and put in the trash. I then re-wrote the letter, (two pages this time) and dropp it in the mail. The 4 and the 2 page letters could have not been more platonic if I had written them to my brother. Later Bill comes over to hang out (and think annoy me.) During the time while Bill was over, he found time to go through my trash. (Remember what I said about bringing the worst out in each other?) He finds the four page letter in teeny-tiny pieces.
Later that night I get a call from Bill asking me if he can come over. Me, hearing he is sounding a little upset, "Yeah, come on over." He arrives looking like he has been crying. I ask what's wrong. He proceeds to tell me that he took the torn letter out of my trash can, took it home, taped it back together, read it and now he is sure that I am in love with this guy and that I am going to marry him. HA! Funny Bill! Don't do stupid things, admit them and try to use them against your girlfriend. That was the end of any trust I had in him. The letter content was so benign that I could have read it in front of my high school algebra class.
A few months later, Jed has finished his mission and is back in town, I have finally ended things with Bill and I am still writing the guy with the sick sense of humor. Jed and I go out a few times. As typical for Jed when he didn't know how to handle a situation, he starts avoiding me. OK, whatever, I am so glad I am not dating anymore.
Now I am living in the greater Salt Lake City area at this time. The guy with the sense of humor is finishing his mission up and is headed home to the greater San Diego area. His last letter from Ireland includes his home address and phone number. I'm thinking cool, this guy might be fun to hang out with if we are ever in the same city.
Then one night I am bored out of my mind. My roommate is out on a date. Most of my friends are now engaged or married. So not a lot to do. So I decide to call the guy in San Diego. (Yes, I know, a healthy dose of shy could go a long way here.) "Hi, is Stan there?"
Voice clearing on the other side of the line. "Hello."
"Hi, guess who this is?" The man will not play along, He just would not guess! It wasn't like I was looking to be his girlfriend. Maybe he thought I was testing him. (I was testing him a little. For some reason I wanted to know if he was dating. The other thing, I was hoping to find out is if he had a big enough sense of humor to guess something ridiculous like Bat Girl.) We ended up talking for about 30 minutes. The conversation was witty, slightly flirty with zero depth. He mentions he is headed up my way to visit with some friends and ski. He then asks me if I would like to grab a bite to eat with him, if I am free one of those nights. It occurs to me for the first time, that he might be a little interested. I agree that it would be fun to meet the person I have been writing letters too for the past 9 months. So..........we set up a date.
To be continued....
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