Some Things Never Change

I have just spent the last 2 hours...roughly.. looking at all of my tagged photos on Facebook. HOLY GEEZE. Are you kidding me? No wonder I never got asked out. Gross. Here is a list of things that haven't changed at all- over the course of many years...

1. If I don't have a tan- I look really scary gross. My gosh- like for real I didnt know it was that bad- but it is. Thankfully- I have access to spray tans now!
2. I will never ever ever cut my hair above my shoulder blades EVER again. Ohh. Fat cheeks and short hair don't mix.
3. Blonde is not my best look. Eeek.
4. One of three things is going to mess up my pictures: my eyes, my neck, or my posture in general. My eyes are always squinted ( I guess because my smile is SO freaking large), me neck is always bent at the wrong angle- and clearly I dont know how to stand up or sit down in pics.
5. My smile is always huge- sometimes too big. Scary big. I knew I had big teeth- but my gums are just huge. 
6. I am pretty dramatic in most of my action shots- like overly dramatic.

Its hard to believe Facebook was invented in my day. Spring of 2005. I will never forget it. UGA got it before us and there were rumors going around that thing new website was so awesome it was making students skip class. What kind of website is this we thought? We finally got it- about a month later- and I can tell you I never skipped class- but I dang sure spent HOURS on this site adding errrybody and they brother. Joining every group possible. It was madness. 

I have changed so much. My weight has changed the most- good grief. Yikes- that workout plan has to be stepped up so I don't go back to where I have been.I can't believe the girl in these pictures is who I was so long ago. 

I am reminded that when I look back on these memories- my heart is full of joy. It doesnt matter how pasty white you might be- it doesnt matter that your smile blocks out everyone else in the picture- it certainly doesnt matter what length my hair is- and most importantly it doesnt matter what clothes were in style (because I am convinced I had the worst style in college and right when I got my job)- what matters is who you surround yourself with. I have untagged many a photo- from the all endearing photos of me and exes- from the photos that are really really awful- to the ones that no one really needs to see. Memories. 

I am grateful for seasons. I have written about this before - but I am grateful to look back on my seasons and be reminded that some things don't have to change. 

I love ...Part Deux

I hope you came back to hear about the second part of the love story. Maybe it will be as cool as the first one. Maybe you thought the first one wasn't that great. Oh well, here goes...

So, that Saturday, after he woke up from his zombie shift, he called and asked if I wanted to hang out with him that night. This dude meant business. Never have I ever been on 2 back to back dates with the same guy in one weekend. Just who did he think he was? Obviously, Mr. Right. What did I have to lose? Ok, sure I will come hang out with you at your house- I clearly don't have any other social life going on to keep me from participating.

He gave me directions to his house and I set out on my "omgihavetolookprettybutnotlikeiamtrying" outfit. A cute bright top and bright blue shorts. All the while thinking I was going to be sick to my stomach because I was nervous. Nervous that was it ok for me to be doing this? This dating and hanging out thing? Was I ready? Had my broken heart really had time to heal or was I just going through the motions? No, I know my heart had healed. I had washed my hands of everything and moved on. Yes, this is ok Rachel- its just hanging out with some super hot guy, nothing but hanging out. I drove over- called him because his road wasn't showing up on my GPS- and he said "haha- you just passed it" as I drove by.

Embarrassing moment #1. So I finally turn around after I made sure that the redness was gone in my face. Such a cute house. A craftsman style house. Funny, because that is what I have had my heart on buying or building or making a house into if I had to remodel one I bought. House- check. We made small talk and he gave me a tour of the house. First stop- the shed.

Filled with oodles and oodles of man things- like tools and gardening stuff- and motorcycles- and lawn mowers and pressure washers. It reminded me of my deddy's shop. I asked him if he knew how to use any of the power tools and he said "yeah, I built this shed." Come again? He has tools and actually knows how to use them? Shed- check. Maybe he was a manly man- interesting.

The house tour picked back up inside. We toured the guest rooms, not much going on there at all- a bed a tv- guess thats what guys do for decor. Moving on..Is it just me or is this guy a neat freak? Everything had its own place- the bathroom was clean- the living room was clean- the kitchen was even cleaner. Then the Master Bedroom. Neatly organized. Then I saw it. In the bathroom. I think my heart skipped a beat. All neatly arranged on the counter top. A Sonicare. Is this real life God? (In case you don't know- teeth- a good looking grill- and all the pieces in tact and white are my #1 must have. I had settled for this with so many exes)- and here this guy was brushing with a Sonicare. Oh Good dental care- CHECK.

He asked me if I wanted something to drink. Into the kitchen we went. He opened the frige- and the radar was zoning in. A quick scan told me either he was still living like he was in college (broke and cheap) or that he was never home to eat. I picked the latter. Then- there it was. Like a spotlight came on- Organic. Fat. Free. Milk. I caught myself smirking in God's direction thinking, are you trying to play games with me? Don't do this to me.

Seriously- the night could have ended right there and I would have been as happy as could be. House. Tool Shed. Toothbrush. Organic Milk. I am pretty sure this guy was designed specifically for me- and I didn't even know I had asked for him.

We talked- and talked. For hours. And I literally mean hours. I kept thinking I was going to wake up from this dream- that some cute guy was 1) interested in me 2) talked as much as I did and 3) actually wanted to just sit around and talk about life- but it was REAL. Really real.

We went to Kroger to buy stuff for dinner. At this point I was freaking out because I didn't know if it was ok for people to see us together. And then I thought, what the heck- I don't care who sees us together- I want them to see us together. (keep in mind this is DATE 2 people) We did see people in there that I knew- 2 sets of married friends I have- and I had to introduce him and he took it like a champ. Talked it up and it was amazing. Who is this guy? I kept thinking candid camera was going to jump out and tell me this was all a joke. It never happened.

We got our salad and fruit (ps he is a healthy eater, be still my heart) and headed back to his house. From this point- I can't put into words for you the excitement, the happiness, and the all out perfection of how this night went. We continued to talk- and talk- and I am pretty sure I even cried at one point. He never got up or looked at me weird- we just had the most open, honest, and direct conversation I have ever had in my life. For hours on end. It lasted until extremeeeeelllllyyyyy late in the morning, you would be better off to say the next day. I finally looked at the clock and felt like Cinderella- I needed to get my booty out of there ASAP. Who does this on the second date Rachel!?

So, hurredly I left- kicking myself because of what time it was- and the whole time home- thinking- that was the best night I have ever had in my life. You know why? Because I am good at one thing- and one thing only- talking. And this guy kept up with me- even had me silent at some points. Huh?

So- to make a long story even longer, we both went to our respected churches, and texted that afternoon. My friends took me to lunch and made a direct point to call me out on why I was so happy and acting weird. They noticed. I tried to hide it- but I wound up keeping them in a parking lot for an hour just gushing about this guy- that they knew- and called him Abercrombie.

I went to another married friend's house and clearly they saw it too. So I had to tell the story again. I didnt mind. Then he texted and asked if I wanted to meet his parents that night. Um, its Day 3? And all the while my friends said I had to go. So, into their bathroom I went and tried to look presentable with the help of her makeup and his advice! What did I have to lose? All in Rachel.

So, I later met his parents that night. No awkwardness. The whole time he was right beside me and really wanted to be next to me. He wanted to show me off. Weird, never been in that situation before...

There you have it. That is how it started in a nutshell. That Sunday after dinner we hung out after leaving his parents- and Monday he asked me to be his girlfriend. On the floor in the office area of his house.

I can't make this stuff up people. I hope you smiled when you read it. I smile everyday when I think about how BAT CRAP CRAZY it is. God had his hand on my relationship with Kevin Pope since a knee surgery day in 2005. It just keeps getting better. Tune in next week for something not so lovey-dovey.

How it came to be- Part 1

Maybe I am writing this down so I don't forget it. Maybe it is for those of you who really want to know. Maybe, just maybe, it's a story worth telling.

Seven years ago, December 15, 2005 I was prepped and ready to have my ACL reconstruction surgery at ORMC. Going to the hospital with no makeup and some sweats in the early morning hours to get this thing over with. Hugely nervous and terrified out of my Senior college student mind, I get in the waiting lobby with my parents. Little did I know some adrenaline seeking college kid who grew up in Milledgeville and went to school at Georgia Southern would re-tear his ACL and have surgery scheduled the same day as me. Literally 15 minutes before me. So- we talked and our parents met and both of us were in knee braces by that afternoon. The crazy part is- the guy got to go home and I had to spend the night in misery. Because the pain was so bad and my morphine pump got blocked. Oh- and I dont eat spice cake anymore because once I did get some pain meds, they brought me dinner and spice cake doesn't taste as good coming up as it does going down.He also got to start rehab the next day- I was on crutches for 6 weeks. 

Ever so often from this day I would get a random Facebook message asking about my knee and how I was doing. He was almost back to 100% within 2 months- um- we can for sure say that I am about 70% 7 years later. Small talk went on for a while..nothing major.

Somewhere along the last 3 years- I deleted the guy I shared a knee surgery day from my Facebook. I went through a REALLY large purge and cleaned house. Sadly, his didnt make the cut. I saw him randomly last August in Savannah- at a Governor's Office of Highway Safety meeting- the most random conference ever to see him at- in an elevator. We made small talk- of course it was about our knees- and that was it.

It would be wrong of me to lie and say I didn't really take notice of seeing him at this conference. Truthfully- I was wishing I didnt have a boyfriend so I couldve at least given him a "ohmygosh you lookamazing" hug- you know those close deep hugs you try linger a little longer with?

Fast forward to June 2012. My life was in the middle of (what I was hoping for) some changes. I had just interviewed with Alabama. I had just decided I was D-O-N-E with letting my ex play with my emotions. I had put in offers on 2 separate houses. I had started to gain weight back because I was normal eating again. I was going to make it alone and I was beyond excited about that.

So, I get a random Facebook friend request from the knee surgery guy with a message saying-  I know we were already Facebook friends,  not sure what happened (I do, oopssie, my bad). I see you work at the college, how is that and how is that knee holding up?

Out of no where but in the middle of everything, in the most awkward and perfect timing. Here is this guy- who I have thought is SUPER attractive the entire time I have known him- even when he was playing soccer in highschool. (He didn't know me- but I knew him because I dated a guy from his school and went to their Prom). Even when we were sleepy at 6 am on surgery day. Especially when I got caught in an elevator with him. I replied back with a Kevin! like an ohmygoshhowintheworldareyou Kevin, but I was hoping he didn't pick up on that- or that I had defriended him :(

Our messages back and forth touched on life. I asked about where he was stationed, because duh, I knew he had went to Trooper school, but didn't know where he was based out of, and life at the college in the summer time. Thrilling I dare say. BUT- then I snuck something in there after asking about where he worked, and to this day I am not sure how I pulled this off after deciding to give up on guys. I said "Where are you based?- because if you are near Milly- we should hang out."

Did I really just say that to him??- after declaring to the world, mainly my momma that I was done with guys and never wanted to ever go on another date for as long as I lived? WHAT THE HECK?!

In his reply, he said he lived in Milledgeville, bought a house and "We should defininetly (his spelling) get together sometime and hang out, I would like that!"

Rachel, what are you doing?! So we messaged back and forth a couple of more times about me being so frustrated with my life about trying to buy a house, his commute, my soon to be move to Wilkinson County (since I hadn't found anywhere to live), and why he moved back to Milly from the ATL. Oh..and tried to make plans to meet up for lunch on a Friday.

Then he asked for my number- with some excuse that it would make it easier to communicate and he was on his way to work and shouldn't be facebooking. And I gave it to him.

We texted and I want to say talked some that night, but I dont remember. I know he was at work from 9-5am- and he texted me when he got home. And I was secretly glad he texted me at 530 in the morning.

Then- it was go time. Within 24 hours this guy had messaged me, got my number, and had a lunch date with me. Ok- stand your ground much? Hard to get. Nope, easy to give I guess. He even let me pick where we were having lunch. Lieu's Peking, my all time favorite place in Milly.

I met him there- in my best Orientation work outfit I could pull off- note lots of sweaty makeup and frizzy hair- and couldnt help but be super nervous. I hadn't been on a date in over 3 years (from dating people for long periods of time). I was completely wanting to freak out- but for some strage reason, I didnt. Lunch couldnt have been any better. I talked- he talked- he talked so much that I ate all of my food and he didnt eat any of his- and we sat there for 2 and half hours. With never a dull moment- never awkward silence- never me leaving to go check my face- I did pull the mirror one time to check my teeth. It was the best date I had ever been on.

When we left- I gave him a hug, and then when back in for another one- and he GIVES THE BEST HUGS. I could have stayed there all afternoon and talked to him. It was the craziest thing ever. It was like we had known each other for years- and like our exes were the same people just a different gender. Later that night- we texted and talked and talked. It was the start of something amazing. Tune in tomorrow for part 2.