The Story of Us

Every couple has a story. Sometimes it's extraordinary. Sometimes it's simple. Well, in our case, love came softly. It wasn't greeted with fireworks and instrumentals. It was pure and simple love. 

It all started online. I know what society thinks about online romance and how it's unconventional and for people who can't get a date on their own. That is so not the case. In both of our situations, it was pretty impossible to meet people on our own. Even set-ups were hard. (I had one set up through a good friend and that turned out horribly.) I'm VERY pick with who I date and he had 3 children. So obviously he wasn't going to go on random dates and I worked so much that I never had time to go out and meet anyone. Online dating is safe. You can get to know someone online through emails and chat and skype dates before you ever have to meet them. I actually prefer it that way because you're "friends" before you decide to date. It's pretty cool. And if you don't like their personality, you didn't really waste your time or money, now did you?

So here he was. The very first picture I saw of my boy...

We began talking in August of 2012. It was an every day chat... on my lunch breaks, as soon as I got home from work and up until we fell asleep. Talking to him was so natural. I could open up to him about anything and everything and not feel one bit of judgement. It was effortless. It was amazing. We talked so much that we knew each others secrets and daily routine. I could know what he was doing at any point of time and so could he. It all felt so real so quickly. We had talked and talked and talked about meeting. He was always so anxious for us to meet but I on the other hand was scared to death. My divorce has me literally on the brink of zero self esteem. Even though I left my ex 2 years before then, my methods of trying to gain self esteem were not working. So, I was scared that once we met in person he wouldn't like me. If I knew what I know now... I wouldn't have a care in the world. Everyday he would ask me, "When are we going to meet? When am I going to actually see your face in front of my face? When am I finally going to hold your hand?" It got so overwhelming so fast. We would talk about our first date all the time, what we would do, where we would go. All the talking and planning finally became too much for me and I decided that I was going to meet him.

September 18, 2010
We're in the middle of just another regular conversation and he asks me what my plans for that night were. I tell him that I need to run to walmart and get some shampoo/conditioner and dog food. To which he replies that he wishes he could go with me because anything that we did together would be fun. I decided right then and there that it was time. Everything that we had talked about had lead up to this moment. So I said, "Is there a walmart near you?" His response was instantaneous. It was happening. We were finally going to meet. So much built up to this moment and it was about to happen. 

It took me SO long to figure out what I was going to wear. I was so nervous. I was still facebook chatting with him while I was figuring out what I was going to wear. He kept asking me if I was serious? and if I was ok? It was so sweet. It would calm me down for a second and then the reality that I was meeting him began to sink in again. I finally picked out an outfit. This is what I ended up choosing. I didn't want to overdo it and dress super duper fancy (like I really wanted to). But I didn't want it to seem too casual. Just casual enough.

He lived in Waldorf, MD. (What was crazy about this is that my BFF Liz lived in Indian Head, Md, which is 15 mins or so from Waldorf and I had visited her frequently. So all the time that I was visiting her, he was right there? CRAZY!) He gave me his address and I was going to pick him up and go to Walmart. (super awesome first "date" huh?) Well calm down, calm down. The walmart trip was supposed to be an ice breaker. The real date was dinner and a movie. Dinner at Chipotle (our favorite!) and the movie we chose was Resident Evil: Afterlife. 

The entire drive to Waldorf was riddled with so much anxiety that I thought I was going to die. Literally. I couldn't stop shaking. I was so nervous. He talked to me on the phone the entire time, trying to calm me down. But with him saying "I can't wait to see you" repeatedly made it worse. It was SUPER sweet, but it made it worse! I reached the Maryland/Virginia bridge and that's when our conversation ended so he could get ready. During that time, I kept telling myself that I could do it, that I was going to be fine, he wasn't a serial killer, CALM DOWN! It was weird... as much as I was nervous to meet him face to face, on the other hand I was so flippen excited. 

He called me back just as I entered Waldorf. He gave me step my step instructions on how to get to his house. I drove super slow through his neighborhood. I kept saying "you can do this" over and over and over. (while he was still on the phone btw) Finally, the moment had arrived. I stopped in front of his house. We hung up the phone and waited for him to come meet me at my car. I didn't know what to do. Should I get out and meet him? Should I just wait for him to get in the car? I didn't know what to do. So I just waited for him to get in the car. I kept glancing toward the house to see if he had opened the door or not. It seemed like it took hours but in reality, he said it took 3 minutes. 

I watched him walk from the front door all the way to my car door. My anxiety level was through the roof! My heart felt like it was going to come out of my chest. And then he opened the door and sat down. And just like that, all of my nervousness and anxiety went away. He was the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life. I couldn't stop looking at him. And just like that, our first date began.

The date was effortless. It was real and fun and carefree and amazing. I have NEVER had a first date like that before. That's when I knew he was different. He was going to be an influence in my life like none other. The connection we had with each other spun us in a whirlwind, low key, epic romance.

We went on 6 dates before he "made the move."  (The product of a late night facebook chat conversation and me asking... "Do you want to kiss me?" the night before) On this particular date, we didn't really have anything planned. So we drove around and ended up at a park where there was a baseball game being played. We watched the game from inside my car for a while. Lee was playing me some of his screamo music that he thought I would like. The band is called Sleeping With Sirens. It's not a bad band as far as screamo goes. I'm used to country and pop and girly songs... not artists that SCREAM at me. Then, as we're listening a sweet song comes on called "Let Love Bleed Red." It was a nice change from all of the screaming and yelling that I was hearing. I made him listen to that song on repeat because it was so melodic and sweet and romantic.  Then he kissed me.


                        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5cd1tZYcfg
                                          (the link to our song on youtube.com)

That was our 6th date. On my way home, he calls me like he always does and we talk the whole time, expressing how much we mean to each other. I finally get home and we're talking on the phone and I'm browsing facebook at the same time (I'm an addict. I know.) and Lee begins talking to me on facebook chat also. It was weird but I went with it. The phone becomes silent and I see him typing and my heart stops. (and like a true dork, I take a picture of our conversation...)

..... silence on the phone. No words across the screen. I was in complete shock. Did he just say that he was falling in love with me? OMG! ....I was heaven. He said, well typed, what I had been feeling too. But I thought it was just too crazy because it had only been 6 dates. It's insane right? Well, not to us. Nothing about this relationship is normal. Without any further waiting, I said OUT LOUD "I love you too." We both just let out a huge sigh of relief and giggled. It was euphoric. It was the way I pictured a real relationship to be. It was pure joy. 

The beginning of a once in a lifetime love. The rest they say, is history. 

 Our one year anniversary presents to each other.

October 31, 2010 he asked me to marry him. :)

November  26, 2010 we moved in together. 

February 12, 2011 we got our first place together.

This is just the beginning to our story. I couldn't have been matched with anyone sweeter, genuine, caring, giving, laid back, loving, real, passionate and made for me. He's it for me. He is my world and my family now. Together, we will prove all "internet relationship" stereotypes wrong. Together we will conquer everything that is thrown at us. Together we will create world of love. I can't wait to see what the future holds in store for us...