The Summer Goodbye

Shortly after graduation Big B and his family took off on a family vacation. One night after he got home he walked to my house in the middle of the night and sat on my front porch and wrote in my yearbook. When I went out to my car the next morning I found a little souvenir from his trip. a balloon from one of the car dealerships he passed on his walk, and a pack of my favorite blue gum from K-mart. When I found out that he had actually walked to my house rather than drive a car I was a little shocked....as it is a fair distance between our two houses...he said he wanted to show how much he cared. After that the song "I Would Walk 500 Miles" took on a deeper meaning, and eventually ended up as one of our songs on our wedding soundtrack.

That same day...or the next...however you look at it Big B told me some news I did not see coming. We had talked already that we could not spend every free second we got with each other. Big B had a lot to do to prepare for his mission. However, when he got home from his trip he said that his parents thought that we should limit our time together to once a week. And if you know Big B he is ever the stickler to rules.....so that meant no more IMing, no more phone calls, nada.....unless it was "our" day to be together. And when I say day, I mean DAY!! My mom used to joke that we could go to Mexico and be back before our dates were over! We just had a lot to catch up on! While at the time it was tough, it only strengthened our relationship as friends and prepared us for what the next two years would be like.

We took full advantage of our "day". Since it was only once a week, we left no string untied. We would plan super creative dates, and ask in super creative ways. Oh yeah that was the one rule you could break.....when you were asking the other person out for the special "day" of the week.

One of the dates that I planned was a scavenger hunt. Part of the date included eating dinner at a steak place in town that rings a cow bell and cuts your tie off and hangs it up in the restaurant. I made this tie for Big B to wear and I puffy painted our names and the date on the back. He was pretty embarrassed...but he claims my face was redder!

One date ended with dessert at "our" park....there was a pinata at this date that Big B had to break to get one of his "late" graduation gifts.

Hanging out with Big B often created the opportunity for adventures....this was a picture from a hike we did.

This date was our "Chinese" date. We went to a Chinese restaurant, set off fireworks, went to the movies and saw Mulan, and Big B taught me some Karate moves.....I remember being mad at him for taking a picture of me dressed like that.....and yes that is a stuffed Easter Bunny wearing Levi's. I am sure we did more on this date....this is just what I remember at the moment.

We did not take nearly enough photos of that summer. Like I said earlier, this was the day and age of film, so you did not really carry your camera everywhere you went. We had fun on our dates and spending time together. The summer passed quickly. At the end of July Big B got his mission call to the Saint Petersburg, Russia mission. We thought it was funny because he used to say that he was going to go on a mission to the Russian space station....he even carried around a magazine about the space station in his backpack in high school. The day Big B got his mission call he came to my work to visit me. I knew something had to be up because he was visiting me at work. He pulled me outside to the courtyard and read me his mission call and said that he would be reporting to the MTC in September.

Later that night he took me out on a date.....not "our" date but a special date. We went to dinner and then saw a movie....it was the Romeo and Juliet movie with Drew Barrymore. I remember that he held my hand the whole movie....which was not something he typically did. And then I remember him driving around, and around on his way to drop me off at my house. When we got up to the porch he kissed me for the first time. It was a special day!

Needless to say things got pretty busy after he got his call. A few weeks later I started my Senior year of high school. We continued to see each other.....but the rules changed a little....and we could see and talk to each other a little more. August rushed by in a blur....and then the dreaded month of September began....and it was a countdown to our goodbye.

Here we are on our last date. For part of our date we hiked up a little trail and watched the sunset....and Big B said something about how the sun was setting on our relationship.....but that the sun would soon rise again.....you know the stuff us girls eat up and get teary eyed about. He had made me a little box with pictures around it and a poem on top. Inside the box were little notes for me about things he loved and appreciated about me....there was one for every week he would be gone on his mission. I gave him a watch with the inscription "Our Friendship is Timeless" and a box with his name engraved that he could keep my letters to him in. I bawled like a baby, but we knew that if it was meant to be, that it would be meant to be when he got home from his mission. We had become best friends, we knew what the other was thinking without them having to say it, both of us knew that it was meant to be but did not say it out loud, at least not at this point in the story.

The next day was Big B's farewell. I remember going to it and being so impressed and proud of him. I knew he would be a great missionary. I went home after and was told to come to his house towards the end of his open house. I was so nervous driving there, knowing that the final goodbye was near. At the end of his farewell, before he was set apart as a missionary, he drove me home....his parents followed behind. We talked, I cried, we listened to the Micheal Mclean soundtrack...."We Can Be Together Forever Someday"....then he pulled into my carport.....and he walked me to the door....he hugged me and told me he loved me and gave me one last kiss....and turned and vanished into the dark to get into his parent's car. I went into the house I flung myself on my bed and cried a good cry.....it was going to be a long two years.....but I knew it would be worth it!

The next day Big B finished his packing and had a little B-day celebration. That day in my locker I found a note from him.....he knew it was going to be a hard day and it was just what I needed. His little sister slipped it into my locker for me!

Here is Big B on his flight to the MTC.....he was already exhausted.

We were both nervous, we did not know what the future held but we both knew we had some growing to do and that the next two years would serve that purpose. We had also decided to only write each other once a month....with the exception of the occasional package. Time would only tell where we would stand when the two years had past.....but one thing was for certain.....we had no regrets!

Our Year

Ok....where did we leave off?? Oh yeah, the summer came to a close and the new school year started. I was a junior, and Big B was a senior. With my new junior status came a student ID with off campus privileges. My dad was not too keen on the idea of me leaving at lunch, so I found myself often sitting with my freshman sister and her friends at lunch or at the seminary building eating lunch with my mom, who happened to be the secretary at the time. It was one day, near the beginning of the year, that I was eating lunch with my mom in her office when Big B came in to eat his lunch in the classroom. My mom told me to go tell him that his dad had come and taken his car. I was really nervous and tried to get my mom to just go tell him. In the end I went into the classroom and offered him some of my gummy bears and told him about the car. He seemed upset and said that he was planning on taking the car to go get an animation book from the library that he had on reserve. I ended up sitting in the classroom talking to him the remainder of the lunch period. Later that evening, I was sitting on the computer with my new AIM chat window open, when "Tunefreak" signed in. Nervously I clicked new message....and sent "Tunefreak" his first AIM message from "Starblurre". (if you have not caught on Tunefreak was Big B and I was Starblurre). I told Tunefreak that I was going to take one of my siblings to the library and that I could pick up his book for him, he responded thanks but he had already picked it up. We then conversed in some small chat....mostly about animation...before we went our seperate ways to do our homework. After that we seemed to notice each other in the halls, and say hi here and there. It was not uncommon for Tunefreak and Starblurre to have brief conversations now and again....a friendship was blossoming.

I remember asking Tunefreak if he was going to go to the next stake dance....he said maybe. He said it was his birthday, and jokingly asked me what I was going to get him. I thought....well gees I could get him something and just give it to him at the dance. I knew he LOVED Marvin the Martian so I got him a Marvin the Martian water bottle thing and a little lunch box.....on a side note, he always had a cartoon lunchbox....and to this day still takes his lunch in one. He was suprised when I showed up to the dance with a gift for him. I remember sitting on the floor (it was a pants dance) and talking to him and his friends that night. I also remember dancing with him and talking about his job and how he has to push all the carts. From that night on his nickname was "cart boy." It was also the start of.....what Big B calls the stalking....and what I like to just forget....or at least just call the visiting at work.

Every Friday night Big B worked at Kmart....I would often go to the H.S. football game and then go to Kmart. Sometimes, I would go through his line and just buy a pack of my favorite blue gum. One time, I did not have much money, and had an ABUNDANT supply of gum, so I bought two green beans from the produce section. But some nights....I would leave something on his car....cookies, a note, smiley faces, toilet paper....etc. It almost became a game.....and I secretly know he looked forward to it every Friday night.

Sometime in the midst of all this he asked Starblurre out on a date. We were IMing when he asked me to go to the dollar movie with him to see Hercules. I had a soccer game earlier and had showered and put on my pj's, but when he asked I could not help but say yes! I remember he wore his green Marvin the Martian long sleeve shirt, and my little brother J TOTALLY attacked him and grabbed his leg and would not let go....I was SO embarrassed.

Around October Big B's sister had a sleepover for her friends....one of her friends happened to be my younger sister (Aunt C). Anyway, it was Halloween and around midnight I got a call on my clear, see-through, totally awesome phone in my room....on the internet line.....it was a computerized voice telling me to look outside. I looked outside and our house had been toilet papered....someone had set off a firecracker under my window.....and someone had toilet papered my car!! The next morning when Aunt C came home, it quickly slipped that she and the other girls along with Big B and his friend were the culprits! Needless to say we made fun of Aunt C for toilet papering her own house.....but at that instant the war began!! Big B and I took turns decorating front yards and cars....I got caught more often than not...but it was fun. My signature became paper-chains and smiley faces. You can not believe how many trash bags full of paper-chains I would make....just to get him back!

Shortly after Halloween Big B asked me out on another date, he sometimes claims it was our first date. He took me downtown to listen to his friend play his sax. That date was interesting to say the least....but Big B jokes it was when I "fell" for him....LITERALLY! We were walking around and I saw a bum sleeping in a doorway so I was going around and stepped through a opening in the stoplight sign and I tripped and fell flat on my face. Big B kept walking and did not notice at first. I on the other had scrapped up my had and arm....but tried to play it off and act cool. I thought he probably would never ask me out again after that one.....I was SO EMBARRASSED!! Luckily he found it endearing and stuck with me!

Big B and I soon found ourselves meeting at the seminary more often for lunch, then some how in the process we started eating lunch together at school in one of the hallways. I say it was because I would always share my lunch and he liked my bagel sandwiches! On days he had tennis, I would stay with him until practice, or until I had to go to work. We just had fun, we could talk for hours and never get bored....it just felt so natural.....we just really enjoyed our time together! Oh and the picture above was taken at the seminary building in my nasty work shirt....Big B thought he was so funny for getting this picture of me!

Christmas break rolled around and we spent more time together. Our friend "W" had a party over the break and I remember his mom asking Big B and I if we were going to go to the Winter Formal dance together....I remember feeling so uncomfortable.....and answering "oh probably not." Christmas came and went, and then it was nearing time to go back to school. But before school started there was a New Year's Eve dance. My dad insisted on driving me and my sister to the dance because of all the drunks....and so we offered to take Big B and his little sister. We picked them up and went to the dance. We had fun and danced and talked. I danced with Big B the first dance of the 1998 year. He said, "I did not want to ask you a year in advance....but will you go to winter formal with me?" I of course said "YES" but the whole time knowing my mom was going to kill me since the dance was only a WEEK away!! Needless to say I found a dress and everything worked out well. Except....what do you do with your chewed favorite blue gum at a fancy restaurant with only cloth table clothes??? Well when I was 16, I would have told you....put it under your chair of course!! Anyway, we had TONS of fun at the dance....it was a rainy night....but before we went to the dance Big B made me play goofy golf in the rain under and umbrella. In a way Christmas break was the beginning of us wanting to spend a lot of our free time together.
From then on, every Saturday evening you would find Big B sitting here with me watching "Space Ghost Coast to Coast" (a cartoon talk show). My parents un-blocked Cartoon Network just for him so he could watch his favorite show. My mom would always stalk up on his favorite ice cream, or have cool aide and rice crispy treats for him. We spent a lot of time here watching movies and of course Space Ghost!

As the end of the school year approached so did the prom season. Big B knew he wanted to ask me to prom, but when his mom told him that a girl from his ward mentioned asking him he felt like he couldn't. So he called me and told me that if I wanted to go to prom with him that I should act fast, because there was competition. I took the hint and asked him to prom that night. However, since I asked him, I had to plan the whole thing. I decided I wanted to get him back for taking me goofy golfing in the rain in my formal dress. So I booked us tickets at the dinner theater I talked about in an earlier post (you know the one we won the staycation from??) Anyway, it is a totally casual melodramatic, slapstick place. I KNEW we would stick out like a sore thumb....but I knew it would totally embarrass him! So I took him there and we watched a goofy show and had pizza before prom. We both think it was perfect....it was embarrassing at the time.....but it made for some good memories! We had a great time at prom, but it was a little bitter sweet since it was Big B's last school dance, and I secretly wondered if it was mine as well.

The school year quickly came to a close. The picture above was the best we have of us together on his graduation night....and yes I know my eyes are closed...but this was pre-digital so you did not know if a picture turned out until it was too late. Anyway, I was in National Honor Society and they asked for some Juniors to be honor guards for the graduation. We somehow managed to get on the same row. We knew Big B would be on a mission for my graduation the next year....so this was our little celebration. The grasshoppers this night were a nightmare....they were flying everywhere dive bombing faces. We were sad that this stage was over. Knowing that the next few months would be bringing a lot of changes.....but ever so grateful that we had meet each other and had a FABULOUS year. After graduation.....Brian drove me home.....but first stopped by our special park.....and talked to me. He held my hand for the first time......and told me he loved me for the first time...it was a night I will never forget!

In The Beginning

Has it really been 12 years since we first meet?? Crazy but true, it was the summer of 1997! Summer lovin' had me a blast....not quite...at least not at first.

So I just asked Big B when the first time we meet was....he struggled to remember....so I better begin in the beginning. It was the end of my sophomore year and the end of Big B's junior year of high school. I knew who Big B was,but we did not run in the same circles. At the end of my sophomore year I was having a little bit of a hard time. I just was not sure where I fit in. Anyway, at the time my cousin (far, far removed cousin....not even exactly sure how we are related) attended the same high school as me. She gave me a ride to school every morning. Given that she was older she took it upon herself to share all her wisdom with me....her little cousin. She recognized I was struggling and decided to take me under her wing. Anyway, I was not sure I really wanted the help...but I went along with it since I had nothing else to do. Near the end of the year our seminary was having a big Super Saturday or S-Day with another high school in the area. My cousin dragged me to the event, when the dodge ball game erupted my cousin dragged me to the hall and confessed her "love" for a certain boy. I knew the certain boy, he was the older brother of the boy my mom babysat, and the step-son of the teacher I would sometimes volunteer for. I don't know if she thought I was an "in" with him or what, but she then took me on the "HUNT" to find "W" (the boy she was obsessed with at the time). Needless to say we found him....not only did we find him but we found his "goofy" friend too, hiding in the broom closet! My sneaking suspicion is they were hiding from my cousin. I was embarrassed, but my cousin then somehow went about getting herself invited to "W's" party later that evening....but only on the condition that I went. I was not thrilled at the prospects....but my mom said it would be good for me to go....so I went. If you have not figured it out yet....the goofy boy in the closet....was Big B himself!

My cousin picked me up later that evening and treated me to McDonald's on the way. We arrived at the party and I quickly realized I really did not know anyone other than "W" who I had just meet here and there when his mom was picking up his little brother. I felt totally out of place. But I decided I would just have fun, because chances were I would never see any of these people again. That night we watched Robin Hood Men in Tights and went on a ride to "W's" sisters house to have a bonfire. I will save you all the details but once we went to the sisters house Big B and his totally weird friend went hiding again....this time "W" and the other boys went searching for them only to spray both the hiders with Whip Cream when they found them in the shed. All I remember is Big B got upset that his Marvin the Martian hat got messed up. I also remember being impressed with his piano playing skills that evening. The night ended with another invite to another party....that was my cousins last party, she moved on....but somehow, for some reason I kept going.

The parties were always a little awkward. I really did not fit in with the group. I would often just try to strike up a conversation with who ever was sitting by me, or I would go in the house and play with "W's" little brother or talk to his mom. However, two parties stick out in my mind. First was the "Hippie" party. The hippie party was hosted by some girls "W" and his little sister knew.....it was more like a hippie costume dance. Anyway, I was not going to go until "W's" mom just "happened" to stop by and insisted I go and that she had an outfit I could wear. So I went. Big B drove, "W", "W's" little sister, and myself to the party. I remember he was dressed in a green polyester outfit. There was dancing, and food....but again it was a little awkward. I remember dancing with Big B that night....and talking to him about his work and animation (which I new he was obsessed with!). As we were driving home Big B said to "W", "When are we going to start hanging out with girls our own age??" Sitting in the backseat I remember feeling so DUMB! I thought....well buck-o I am not that much younger than you! The second party that stands out, and I think it was the last one of the summer, was the party that happened right after I had gotten home from my family vacation to Florida. I remember going and feeling like it was strange, had I drove myself I would have probably left. However, I found myself sitting around the fire wondering what I was doing, that is when I realized I was not alone, Big B was sitting next to me. Remembering his love for animation I decided to talk to him about going to the Disney animation studio in Florida.....Big B claims this is the first time he remembers talking to me. Anyway, I was happy for the company....but glad the summer was finally coming to a close and I was getting back to school and all my old routines and friends.

Don't worry....the story continues....and it gets better....much better..... :-)

Happy Anniversary!

August 9th marked our 8th year of marriage. In someways it has gone by so fast, and in others I don't remember life without Big B. I feel pretty lucky to be married to my best friend. A lot has changed over the years, but one thing has not, and that is our love for one another.

A few weeks back Big B entered a contest for a "staycation." You were supposed to write about your favorite memory at this local dinner theater we have in town. When I got the e-mail announcing the giveaway I knew we had a chance of winning given the story we had to tell. Big B wrote our story and a few days later we got a call that said that we had won the contest. We won 4 tickets to the dinner theater, one nights stay at a fancy hotel...on the executive level, $50 worth of food coupons for the restaurant at the dinner theater, and some more for breakfast, and then we also got 4 free all day bracelet passes for the local goofy golf park.

Being it was our anniversary Big B decided to cash in on some of his prizes. My mom and dad were nice enough to watch the kids overnight, and then Big B's dad watched them part of the next day. Anyway, we had a fun relaxing time. We felt fancy staying on the executive level. You had to have a key to get to that level on the elevator. Then someone came and welcomed you and gave you ice and fancy water, then later there was a welcome reception where there were sodas in glass bottles and hors'devours. Later in the evening we went to dinner at a nice place in town, we had purchased a $50 gift certificate through a giveaway on the radio station for $25! So it made the food taste even better! We also went to see a funny movie...Big B says I can't recommend it because it had some language issues....it was a cute little indie film....if you promise not to hold it against me I will tell you the name....500 days of Summer!

Our real anniversary fell on Sunday....and we had church and Big B had lots of meetings (oh I guess I failed to mention that he recently got called to be the executive secretary in the Bishopric) so we did not end up doing a whole lot. We had a nice dinner and desert however at home....well nice is relative.....we do after all have two young children...so all through dinner Sweet E was singing her new rendition of "Jesus want me for a SUN-BEAM" and Mr. C was screaming that he wanted to eat his dinner on the floor! Ever so romantic....but it is life and nothing could be sweeter or more chaotic!

So to the love of my life....HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! Here is to another WONDERFUL year of pure chaos...and hopefully some moments of sweet bliss! I love you Big B!