My High School Sweetheart

I guess I will start with my love story. The person that if I had not fallen for, taken the leap with back in 2005 in High School, I would not have the life I have now. I potentially would not be a wife or a mother, and I would most definitely not have our half you half me babies we made together.

Believe it or not our story actually starts long before we even started dating. We first met in Elementary school in grade 4. My husband Mike quickly became best-friends with my then "boyfriend". He was cute with his Brad from Home Improvements undercut haircut and all the girls had a crush on the new boy at school. Other than that Mike and I knew little of each other, you could call us acquaintances at best.

A couple of years would go by. We then would head off to Junior High where in grade 7 we found ourselves in the same class, I no longer had a boyfriend. We dated because I was kind and shared my pencil crayons with you during an assignment, a week later we broke up, well because other than that one pencil crayon interaction there wasn't anything more.

Another few years later in grade 9 we decided we would go to grade 9 grad together because again we both had found ourselves single, and at this time we were friends and enjoyed each others presence.

We both were drawn to each others kindness I think. Night of grad we made sure to take a picture together, you were in a casual long sleeve shirt, jeans and a shaggy hair style. I was in a little black dress, heels and salon curled hair feeling like a grown up. We didn't drive to grad together, or have a dance and I'm sure we didn't even sit and eat dinner together.

After the summer of grade 9 it was time for High School. I hadn't seen you all summer, I remember when I first saw you I swear you had turned into a man. Well, as much of a man you could be at 15 with absolutely no facial or body hair. But you had grown about a foot in height, your hair 8 inches in length and rocked your aviator sunglasses and cigarettes. I was digging the dazed and confused look. Anyway, again years would pass. Our friendship really started to evolve in High School. Every time I would see you around school I couldn’t help but be happy, you would always put a smile on my face. We would always exchange tight hugs and sometimes I would hitch a piggy back ride to my next class.

At weekend parties I would try to either be your wing wo-man or "protect" you from unwanted attention. This led to celebrating birthdays together to hour long phone calls. You coming to my dance recitals and me to your Freeburn shows and jam sessions. I remember my friends always telling me you liked me and I would always brush them off saying, no he doesn't and that we didn't think of each other that way. We got to a point where we were such good friends that we talked about getting matching tattoos, with Aristotle's saying of the true meaning of friendship. "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies". All while I was dating someone else again. The more time we spent together and meaningful conversations we had, we formed such a strong foundation.

Then one day, it was just like a switch went off in me, I realized I didn't want to share you with anyone anymore or be your wing wo-man any longer. It was then I started to realize my true fear about taking a chance on a relationship with you. It meant the potential of losing my best friend if it didn't work out. That, and not knowing for definite if you felt the same. That's what really scared me and was holding me back. I actually remember having a phone conversation with you about these thoughts, being vulnerable, telling you my ultimate fear for us. I don't quite remember the response you gave me, but it must have been reassuring, as evidence shows.

The night when I decided the risk was worth it, worth finding out all we could be together. It was one night after one of your shows. We held hands all night, we both knew something was different and we shared our first kiss in your friend's basement. Since then the connection, the sparks, the excitement that happened during that first kiss has never been lost, never faded.

We have had our fair share of ups and downs as does any relationship. The ebs and flows of day to day repetition (which there's a lot of with small children, spontaneity is dead...for now) and from outside elements effecting us individually and collectively. I guess what has really made us stand up to time is not just one thing but many. The undeniable draw to one another . No, not just physical attraction but that energy we have between us, keeping us connected together or apart. The vulnerability that we share with each other, writing down our story reminded me that we have had that since the beginning, such as the phone call where I shared my fear with you about taking a chance on us. Our regular honest open communication, our foundation, the trust that we have built over so much time.

Yes we did end up getting matching tattoos, moved in together, adopted three fur babies, got married in Hawaii, had a huge celebration at home with friends and family (great excuse for two weddings). Created three perfect babies.

I guess I decided to write my first blog about our love story because not only did you and our love make me a mother. The one thing I desired most out of this life....but you constantly make me strive to be my best self, to express myself in a way that makes me happy and proud of who I am and what I do. I could not have done that without you.

If it were ever possible to see glimpses of our future when we were kids, while playing tag on the structure during recess in grade 4, if I would have known, I would have only loved you longer.

1997 - Meet Cute Gr.4

2000 - Sharing is Caring Gr.7

2002 - Grade 9 Grad

2005 - Our First Kiss

2005 - Took In Tomcat Mowgli

2007 - First Pupper Molly

2008 - First Home

2010 - Second Pupper Scarlett

2012 - Mike Proposed January

2012 - Married March in Hawaii, September Home Reception

2013 - First Baby November, Billie Anne Eva

2015 - Second Baby December, Jude Alexander

2017 - Purchased our first House

2018 - Third Baby March, Dylan Anne Delilah

---