XOXO

Just kidding, this isn't that kind of story! John and I met during Senior Year of High School. We only had one class together (Dental) and truth be told... I probably did more drawing than learning in that class. John was the nerd who was slightly intimidating and the only time we really talked was when I was trying to show him my cool drawings I had been working on. But he was nice enough. It wasn't until after High School that we really became close. I knew that I liked him, but the timing wasn't right. Young people always have problems, and we were no different. We eventually went our separate ways. Our lives continued on and suddenly, he was on my mind. It was at that time that our paths crossed again... Maybe I forced them to cross a little bit, but they crossed and that's all that matters! I sent John an email, hoping he was still using the same email address from years before, and he responded. We agreed to get coffee... and 9 years later here we are!

Because I was awake and going to high school. And it was during my instruction that I met the love of my life in the most unlikely place, my Dental lab. It was on an exhausting morning, as every day was exhausting back then, when I spied a young woman drawing a near perfect Goku from Dragon Ball Z. Now, being a regular DBZ enjoyer and a young man with poor impulse I think I made awkward comments. Honestly, I probably came off as a weirdo. Thankfully, she thought this was endearing, and despite the abject disgust her friends had for me for pointing out the truths of the world in a fumbling yet satirical manner, she kept talking to me. Time moved on, the seasons changed, winter became spring, spring changed into summer, summer changed back into winter, and winter gave spring and summer a miss and went straight on into fall... and since this was in Texas, this all took place in a month... but eventually we had secret Santa style gift giving activity. Of course, I got the pretty girl who drew Goku. I worked hard and gave her the best present under $20 I could: A bucket of microwaveable popcorn, red vines, a tiny six pack of Dr. Pepper and a DVD copy of Johnny Mnemonic. And she liked it. A lot. I'm pretty sure squee-ing was involved but it was the early aughts so I'm not sure it was invented yet. So obviously I couldn't leave her alone after that. Not to say the two of us didn't try. It took us nearly a decade to give into the inevitable, requiring several long walks, multiple dates and a dinner conversation that can best be summed up as "So we're dating now, right?" but I finally worked up the courage to propose to my wonderful Mandi. And she said yes. And I was the one squee-ing then.