WELCOME

Pete and I met at Illinois State University. I was just a day over 21 and frantically studying in the anatomy hall moments before our first exam. Along comes, Pete, who decides now is the moment to disrupt my panic study and 'get to know me.' He picked up one of my notecards to only tell me that the information placed on it was wrong. He immediately followed up by telling me his (shared) desire to go to anesthesia school after nursing. I immediately felt threatened by him and proceeded to ignore him for a few months. As many of you know, Peter leaves a lasting impression and I just couldn't get his goofy laugh out of my head. A year later, we became inseparable. Somewhere in between all of the study sessions and drinks at Brewhas, I fell head over heels in love with him. One night after a few too many tequila shots, I finally told Pete that I loved him but 'I don't want to be in a relationship right now.' After about six months of Pete's convincing me that this was the best idea that he has ever had, I caved. After all, he was right.

The beginning seems most logical. One day I see Fallon sitting with her most staunch focus face on in anatomy 101. Although, I could see right through the veil and I knew this girl is WAY more serious about this class than I am. Days went on and I would have an insatiable urge to look down the rows to see if Fallon was there. She was gorgeous, stunning; even though most days she was in sweat pants and an oversized T-shirt. One day, I showed up to a test day early (a rarity for me) and there she was sitting in the hall way. She was disheveled, hair a mess, undoubtably she was hung over and very ill. I decided that in her moment of weakness this would be my moment to pounce. So, I went with a classic flirting strategy and just made fun of her 2000 note cards she had on the floor of the hallway. Things went well and I told her we should get together for drinks some time as we entered for our exam. She finished the exam and was gone like the wind by the time I finished, rude. Two months passed before I finally saw her at Waterson Tower I wave, no response. I said Hey Fallon, and she walks right passed me. She was playing hard to get. At this point, everyone I knew and everyone I met knew I had a serious crush on this note card psychopath. I already had obtained important intel that we would be in nursing school together and the first day of nursing school I frantically assembled a study group. Strategically, I invited Fallon last hoping that the fear of missing out would entice her to join, I was successful. I now had Fallon’s number and the game was on. At this point I was confident I would be dating Fallon within a 2-month period. Wow, was I wrong! I spent an entire revolution around the sun hanging out with Fallon, discussing our deepest secrets and desires with each other. Deep down, I knew that she loved me back, but I digress. At this point all my friends made fun of me for my earlier statements. Now, I was feeling the heat, not only from my friends but also from my growing feelings for Fallon. Unfortunately, time persisted as usual, what a drag. Depressed and defeated going into the summer after junior year. I did the only logical thing I could think of, I started dating someone else. Fallon and I talked all summer over the phone and she seemed unphased by the fact I was dating someone, bummer. However, when I got back to school it was obvious, she was heartbroken. The war was not lost! Fallon barely talked to me the entire semester, and I held onto that failing relationship of mine with everything I could to try and leverage Fallon back into my life. One homecoming later and she was talking to me again. When I say texting, I mean I was getting one text about every 45 seconds from her and at least one phone call a day. There was a movement in the air! One night, I invite her over to party with some friends, in the back yard of this dump I called home. Finally, dusk ensued and it was time to get Fallon home. As she stood peacefully under the tall oak tree in my yard her face glistened with moon light as she finally blurted out “I think I love you.” Without hesitation, I pounced on the opportunity and replied with “I love you too." The next day I met Fallon at the library and she was doing her best to act normal and I immediately began with “we need to talk.” She began with, “we were drunk and it is best to just forget it happened,” I followed with “passing up the opportunity to explore this relationship will be the biggest mistake in your life.” I turned out to be right. She eventually realized that I was the perfect fit for her. We finished school, moved to the West Loop of Chicago after graduating school and adopted Lou (best boy ever). Quite frankly we flourished. We eventually went back to CRNA school. I surprised Fallon with a proposal a short eight years after we started dating and she was probably not surprised. However, I am ecstatic to finally be married to my soulmate and spend the rest of our days together.