The Chronicles of my new Adventures

It seems like it has been forever since I have written on this blog. I suppose 4 (+) months is a long time and a lot can happen! A lot has happened. In December I was finally accepting my singleness; I was ok with the fact I wasn't being pursued by anyone and I certainly wasn't going to be pursuing either. I was also thinking more about moving back up north after my program is finished (this summer). Everything changed after one weekend.

On December 18th I organized our parish's Christmas caroling to the homebound. Some of the choir members from one of our masses graciously volunteered their Friday night to join us. We had two routes and long story short, all of the young adults (three choir members, two others, and myself) were on one route with a few other people. After the caroling I was telling the young adult crew about our Ugly Christmas Sweater party the next night and asked everyone if they were going. Jeremy and Robert both said they'd be there.

The party was crazy, as the Christmas party usually is: lots of people, a silly white elephant gift exchange game, and many beverages. It kind of seemed like this Jeremy guy was into me - he'd come around me once in awhile and he'd get into pictures next to me and even asked if I'd take one of the two of us. Before he left for the night he asked if he could take me to lunch sometime. I agreed, not really sure exactly what that meant, but it was exciting nonetheless. When we both got home from the party we were on facebook and ended up chatting until 4 a.m. I told Jeremy I was leaving the next day to go home to Wisconsin for Christmas, so he asked if I'd like to do lunch on Sunday after Mass. Again, I agreed.

On Sunday I was pretty nervous. We seemed to hit it off while we were chatting (granted, it was chatting over the internet, late at night), and I assumed it was a date. Jeremy drove to the restaurant and he was such a gentleman about everything, he wouldn't let me touch the passenger door to his truck! He opened it for me, whether I was getting in or getting out. We ate a delicious pizza and answered questions about ourselves. I enjoyed my time and I looked forward to telling one of my roommates all about it.

While I was at home in Wisconsin we began talking on the phone. We shared some pretty late conversations and on Christmas day/night we talked for 7 or 9 hours. Maybe it wasn't 9 hours, but I don't quite remember. It was long and it was wonderful. We really got to know each other over the phone. There was an ease about sharing our lives with each other. Maybe it was too easy and happened too quickly. Maybe it was all meant to be. When I came back to Texas on December 30th Jeremy surprised me at work with some of my favorite candies. I was shaking when he was in my office, I was nervous again! It was easy when it was over the phone, but seeing him in person brought me back to reality. That night he cooked me a delicious dinner at his apartment, we watched a movie, and we hung out. Late, late that night we decided to make things official. We talked about it on the phone, so why not!? We both really liked each other.

A little over two months later, we still do. This relationship thing has been really new to me. The first few times Jeremy would say the word "relationship" I would get this weird feeling: Wow, this is real, I'm actually in a relationship. As stated in my previous post, I hadn't been in a relationship for over 4 years before I met Jeremy, so I had to learn, through the current experience, what being in a relationship means. I had read (most of) Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, but that isn't real life. I'm still learning what it means to be in a relationship. Being a couple, sharing a part of our lives with each other, caring deeply for the other... experiencing the bad moods, whether it's mine or his, we kind of experience it together... the ups and downs, the disagreements and middle ground... thinking about the future... All these things go on while we also have to keep our own identities and not forget who we are as individuals.

Life was so different before Jeremy and now many things have changed, but I suppose that is to be expected. I am not implying these changes are negative, simply different. I think one experiences a lot more emotional when they're with someone... First of all, I have a companion to share my life with, the things that suck and the things that bring me joy, so the emotions that go with all of those things are probably built up a little bit since I can share them. I also experience my own joy and love simply being with Jeremy and knowing I am loved in return. And of course, like any relationship, I can get frustrated with him - yet more emotions! Those days that aren't the best only make the good days even better.

I know I have written a lot... but I felt I should share the update, and not simply the boring straight facts. This is life and life is messy, but it also has its many blessings, and my relationship with Jeremy is one of those.