Way Back Wednesday- Part II

How Mike & I Met: Part 2

So where was I? Ah yes, a little spark between Mike and I...

After meeting up in late July 2000, we started talking pretty frequently via phone. Because Mike was in Connecticut, that was our main connection point and that was a good thing. We caught up and got to know each other again. It slowed things down in a good way.

During the next few months, I was fighting off the impulse to feel too much too soon, to let myself fall for him. I had been out of any serious relationship for just under a year. Since my tendency was to jump from one relationship right into a new one, I had taken a break by choice to get myself centered. I wasn't eager to start relying on someone- I kind of liked the fact that I found my independence again. I had time to work, to see friends and to focus on completing my Master's degree. It was important for me to maintain control of my own life.

Mike invited me to attend a wedding with him in August. His siblings and his mom were also there. It was a BLAST! We had so much fun together. How could it be this easy to date someone and feel secure with the situation so quickly? I was used to the drama of that whole guessing game- Is he really that into me? With Mike, I didn't have to wonder. He actually talked about how he was feeling and not in a creepy stalker way...just open, honest and very sweet.

Whenever he was in town, we spent time together. Some of that time was with one of our families and it was just perfect. I got to know his friends again and he got to know mine. We fit into each other's lives. In October, we went to a wedding in Maine- that trip was probably a turning point in terms of things being a more serious commitment. It's funny the things you remember but I recall being worried about how much I had packed for a 3-day weekend. I was worried about what Mike would think about my rather large suitcase. It turns out, his suitcase was the SAME size. I thought to myself, "We are meant to be". He didn't care that I needed an hour+ to get ready for the actual wedding (like I have that much time to get ready for anything these days). I was maybe a little bit high maintenance but he didn't seem to mind. To this day, it is one of the BEST weddings I have ever been to and I didn't know anyone except Mike at the start of the weekend. I enjoyed every minute of it & his friends were very welcoming.

After that trip, there was no way I could deny what was happening. I was falling in love with Mike. Once when we were out together, just having a beer, I remember him looking at me and saying "We should elope". I told him he was crazy but if I had said yes, I think he would have done it. As Christmas approached, I remember telling Mike that he could not propose to me at Christmas...I told him that I loved him but I just wasn't ready yet. (what girl does that?) His sister got married in March, 2001...I caught the bouquet. That is the one and only time.

Fast forward to May, 2001: Graduation was finally here. Apparently, Mike wasn't going to propose to me during graduation weekend because he didn't want to overshadow this milestone in my life. During the week, when we talked, I told Mike that I felt like I had already graduated and this ceremony was just a formality. I had actually completed my degree in December but had to wait until May to "walk". I had no idea he was planning to propose. We had looked at engagement rings, just so Mike had an idea of what I might like but that was a few months earlier and I honestly hadn't given it much thought since then.

So Mike came home for my graduation and that Friday night we were planning to get together. I was beside myself and I don't even remember why. I was on the phone with him crying about how tired I was and he offered to come pick me up so I didn't have to drive to his mom's house. Mind you, he had just driven 3 hours from Connecticut...this did not strike me as odd.

Mike called back while I was taking a shower but I had heard the phone ring. My niece, Erica, happened to be there and took the call. I kept asking her why he had called and she was trying to make up an excuse because he had told her he was going to propose. Well, I got some idea in my head that the two of them were planning to play a joke on me and I started flipping out about how I wasn't in the mood, etc. I even called Mike back to yell at him. Erica could not figure out why I was acting so crazy. In retrospect, I think the stress of 2 years of school/work/etc. just finally hit me. I did not expect a proposal. If I had been in Mike's shoes, I might have decided that being engaged to a crazy person was not the best plan.

Luckily Erica got me to calm down & assured me that no trick was in the works. She kept me at bay while Mike talked to my parents and showed them the ring...

Oh, you didn't think I was going to tell you EVERYTHING, did you?
Now you have to come back next week :)

Way Back Wednesday

How Mike and I Met: Part One

Mike and I met during the fall of sophomore year (1990). We were both 15 and went to different high schools. He called one of my best friends (Kristen) while I happened to be at her house and I talked to him on the phone. Then we started talking more and at some point, made plans for a "date". Neither of us had our license at the time, so his dad drove us to/from our date. Mind you, I lived about 35 minutes from him, so it was kind of a big deal.

We went to see the movie "The Exorcist III". During the movie, Mike proved himself to be an, ahem, inexperienced kisser. I don't know why we ended up kissing on a first date but that's how it went. He was also maybe a bit nervous and had sweaty hands. What a romeo, eh? I am sure that I myself was equally nervous & I'm not sure what he thought of me overall--other than that he thought I was cute. We also went to a formal dance at his high school that same fall. At some point, my friend Kristen developed a sudden interest in dating Mike as well...and I was not the type to compete for a guy. I felt that maybe he was trying to manipulate the situation a bit (he denies) and things just kind of fizzled out.

I seem to remember talking to him from time to time during the remainder of high school. Then we both went away to college. Mike ended up not finishing and during the fall of my junior year, we started dating again. I really fell for him at that point. I was SO into him. I think he liked me as well but at the time, I would only go so far- if you catch my meaning- and I think that was a problem for him. Because by that time, he definitely had more, ahem, experience than me. We talked several times a week and saw each other whenever I was home. Once or twice, he came to visit me at school. Then during a late night phone conversation, Mike alluded to the fact that he was interested in another girl. I kind of flipped out. I told him that I loved him but was unwilling to be second choice. Things ended immediately- and honestly, I felt empowered that I had stood up for myself and I never looked back. But I still spent some time mending my broken heart :( That was December of 1995.

(we ran into each other once at a local bar in the next 5 years but mike was living with his girlfriend)

Skip ahead to July 2000, Mike was living in Connecticut at the time but came home often to see his mom, siblings and friends in this area. I was living with my parents, trying to finish grad school. One night I came home and my mom said "You will never guess who called". I guessed 5 different people- all incorrect guesses...finally she said "Mike V." My exact response was, "What does that a**hole want?" Not kidding, that's what I said. My mom yelled at me for cursing and said it sounded like he really wanted to talk to me. I waited a couple of days to call him back...he called me again before I had the chance to return his call. He said he was going to be in the area again in a couple of weeks, so we made plans to meet up.

I went to his mom's house to pick him up (there are no good bars/restaurants where my parents live...his mom lives close to all the fun places in this area). I knew as soon as I saw him that he thought I looked good. He had this swooney look in his eyes...and I admit, given the history of him bailing out during our college romance, I felt gratified. It might have been fun to toy with his emotions a bit but the problem was, I also felt a spark...

Vicarious Living

Mike has been home with the kids ALOT this week. He is a bit tired but has really enjoyed the extra time with the little men. I was bugging him about not doing much to keep the house tidy (because, you know, I get so much done when I'm home-ha!). And he said he was busy with other things. Which means he has been hanging around online.

A few times this week, he has talked about something blog-related. Well, it turns out he has been reading my blog and yours too! I think he is seriously considering a blog of his own- though he won't say it out loud. Maybe I will let him guest-post, just so he can give it a try.

He has been doing all of this editing to his Facebook page- in a vain attempt to satisfy his true desire to become a blogger. We'll see if he caves in.

We had a nice evening tonight. Dropped some cash at Target- what,s with that store? You go in for a few things and come out with all kinds of stuff. Cool stuff, no doubt but not what you intended to buy. We had to get lunch bags for Michael and Liam. I also picked up some other things that will get me into the groove of packing lunches for them. We stealthily bought both boys a small Thomas the Train set as a Christmas gift. They are both big into Thomas right now. So I just got them both the same thing because I seriously don't feel like listening to the fighting- which will happen anyway but then at least I can return both fighters to their corners with their own stuff. We ate out at a place called Red Robin which is really kid-friendly and I always like their food. It was a nice ending to the week.

Tomorrow, I get to wake up at the butt-crack of dawn and get everyone in the car for BREAKFAST WITH SANTA...yeah! Geez, I should be in bed right now.