I wrote this just before our anniversary in August 2018 and then for whatever reason, never published it!
Fifteen years ago, as a high schooler hellbent on not following the rules and wanting to be my own person, I met a boy who I had no idea would literally change my life. My best friend at that time had a boyfriend (and I couldn’t tell you how they even met, I literally have no idea!), who had a best friend who was cute (we yearbook stalked, we didn’t have social media really back then outside of AOL Instant Messanger). My best friend and her boyfriend were going to the mall and to see a movie, said the boy was invited as was I. Whatever, not really a “blind date” or anything, we were just all going to the same place at the same time.
There are so many details, that even 15 years later, I can still remember. I can still remember being incredibly nervous as we walked over to my BFF’s boyfriend’s house but not wanting it to show, or to act like I was looking forward to anything. I remember going to pick him up at his dad’s house (and yes, I remember what he was wearing but no clue what I was wearing haha). I remember that he didn’t even say “hi” to me, and that the entire time we walked the mall, we never even spoke.
We were in Spencer’s when I told my best friend that he hadn’t even said “hi” and we just laughed about it, but of course being a self-conscious teenager, I was freaked that something was wrong. Did I smell? Was my hair messed up? Something in my teeth? Was I too short for him, too chubby? I was annoyed. I was even more annoyed when this “non-date” headed to the movies and we sat at opposite ends of the group. Whatever man.
BUT. And there’s a big but here. Over the next month, we connected on AOL Instant Messanger and talked through there. I looked forward to those chats. I started to develop a crush and that “non-date” just became a blip. We all went out again and this time, I made the move and made sure when we got to the movies, that I was sitting next to him.
#girlpower
15 years ago this all started. 15 years later, we have such a story. We have things I only daydreamed about back then – a house, 3 kids, dogs. We’ve gone from awkward teenagers to adults. We had to grow up quickly, we had to learn to be responsible and independent long before others had to. We’ve dealt with the hardest times of our lives and leaned on each other for support. A lot happens in 15 years – it’s almost half our lives that we’ve spent with each other.
He’s my best friend, which means he does get on my nerves. It means we’ve had our rough days, our fights, our blow ups at each other. We’ve had our makeups too, and our reliving the past moments. We’ve gone down memory lane, we’ve learned new things about each other, and we continue to grow as individuals and as a couple.
I have no idea where life would have gone had I not gone to the mall that day. Would we have still met because our best friends were dating? Who knows. We were in high school and may have gone off to college. It’s possible that we would have never crossed paths again and life would be totally different.
I’m forever thankful that we did meet. I met the best friend I will have for the rest of my life.
We’re inappropriate, childish, immature, rude.
We’re in love with our children and the family we’ve created.
We’re partners in crime, travel buddies, and baseball date night lovers.
We tease each other, we laugh at each other, we’re pretty much perfect for each other.
Thank you for being there through everything, big and small. I can’t wait to grow old with you.