The Story of "Us"

I often find myself lamenting the fact that there aren't enough true story tellers anymore. As generations come and go, it seems like fewer and fewer stories get passed down. I'm no story teller, but sometimes there's a story I'm just not willing to let fade into oblivion. Such is the case with the story of "us". Someday we'll bore our grandkids with this story and all will be right with the world, if only just for a moment.

Anyway, I found myself thinking back today on our whole bizarre relationship. How this entire thing sprang from the unlikeliest of dating sites and started with just one silly little word and a few snort laughs. "Hey".  I remember how after months of fishing through dating sites, I was actually kind of impressed that you knew the word "disingenuous" - and even used it correctly in a sentence. I know, I know - I'm clearly very difficult to impress. But let's be honest, the number of people on dating sites that know a word with that many syllables is a lot smaller than either of us care to admit (as is the number of people on dating sites that know what a syllable is, I'm sure). Of course, we met on the classiest of dating sites, so naturally we both ooze class and refinement...or some crap like that.

I still remember the nerves I had sitting at our ghetto Starbucks, waiting to meet you for the very first time. Would I have anything interesting to say? Would your hopes be dashed when you saw me? Would the date end with just an awkward cup of coffee and heaps of disappointment? Would you stake claim to my uterus on our first date? Sadly, that wouldn't have been a first for me. And why the hell are we meeting in the ghetto? Seriously, were you looking to get shanked? Lucky for me, I was still driving the trash-mobile and was readily able to assimilate to my surroundings. My ride was thoroughly ghetto-rrific and for once that kind of worked in my favor. 

But something kind of unexpected happened. You ended up being kind of awesome. Even more unexpected was the fact that you seemed to think I was kind of awesome too. The conversation ebbed and flowed but never felt forced or awkward. What was more surprising was that the silence never felt awkward either - and I almost always feel awkward, so there's that.

I think it took about 74 seconds into our coffee date at ghetto Starbucks to realize that we didn't want the date to end there. You suggested an art museum, so away we went.  I'll admit that I'm woefully inept at understanding and appreciating art. It's not because I don't try or want to, but sometimes my fiercely logical brain just doesn't do interpretation all that well. And there were ample numbers of bird heads on display and really, who doesn't love a good bird head? Still not wanting the date to end, we just kept manufacturing ways to keep the date going. We stuffed ourselves full of food. We beered and were treated to a super fun one-man "drunker than hell" show. We went and shot some pool where you discovered just how easily distracted I am by shiny things...and exploited it to try to keep me from feeling badly about how completely awful I am at pool. Aside from the fact that it made me look like a complete airhead, it was sweet. We ended our marathon first date in much the same way that we started it - with Starbucks. Of course, since we didn't want to get shot or propositioned, we opted for a classier location this time around. We sat and sipped and chatted and stared into each other's eyes until we were forced out by the friendly neighborhood barista.

You've stood with me through the struggles and have helped light the way back to being whole again for me, despite the fact that you were apparently born before electricity. You've embraced the role of step-dad eagerly and have always treated the boys like they are your flesh and blood. There's never been any doubt in my mind that they're your boys too. I've hesitantly shared my story with you, scared that it would send you running for the hills. After all, I don't exactly have the easiest baggage to carry, nor is it the most fancy or impressive looking. It's weighed down with insecurities and shows its wear in tattered edges and worn fabric. 

I'd given up on finding a partner to share my life with. I'd given up on believing that someone like you existed. I'd resigned myself to life as a single mom to two amazing little boys and was just trying to do everything I could to help them adjust to everything, all while running myself into the ground...repeatedly. What an amazing surprise to find someone to be my partner - my equal. Someone who loves and supports me even when I'm crashing and burning. 

It's been a whirlwind, there's no doubt about that. It feels like we've known each other forever. It's ALWAYS felt like we've know each other forever - from the very first day we spent together. A strange and wonderful surprise. And very weird. Very, very, very weird. But weird is like our second language. We both speak it fluently and flawlessly. 

So...."hey." I can't wait to spend the rest of my life being weird with you.