I don’t know if its PMS or what, but I’m in a warm fuzzy reminiscing kind of mood.

When I met Marmot, I really didn’t think I was meeting the man I would marry. If I had, I would have worn something a little nicer than a hooded sweatshirt and track pants! And maybe put on makeup. I liked his eyes and dark hair. He was wearing jeans, a buttondown shirt and a polarfleece vest. And Birkenstocks! I remember thinking that he was dressed nice, which was different from most guys. Then he started talking, and I almost laughed at the strong Southern accent- and he teased me for my Northern accent!

Marmot asked me out, but I said no. So we became friends. Not long after we met he moved back down to the Deep South, but we kept in touch via phone calls and text messages. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this was the very beginning of a relationship. We spent hours on the phone, and send hundreds of text messages flying across the country. I played it cool when he told me he had gotten a job back here in the Midwest, but my heart jumped at the thought of him being nearby again!

My dog Bubba liked him from the very beginning, I think they bonded over hating my cooking. When Marmot arrived back in the Midwest, I invited him over for a Welcome Home dinner of microwaved baked potatoes with fat free sour cream, and bag salad with fat free ranch dressing. He didn’t tell me until much later, but he said that was one of the worst meals he’d ever eaten!

We started spending time together again, Marmot helped me move across town. My friend K. commented on moving day that he must really like me to just volunteer to help me move. I told her, Noo, we’re just friends. I told everyone that. While Marmot was down South, my sister Luly mentioned ‘my friend Marmot’ and my Mom was immediately interested. Just friends Mom, he’s just a friend!

But as Marmot says, he wore me down. He came over one cold February evening to help me clean (I should have seen through that!) and I remember watching him thinking, that’s so sweet that he’s helping me clean…he’s really cute too. It was a turning point! Either that or the fumes from the Kaboom that he loves to clean with. The next day we went to Ikea, and held hands in Textiles, signaling the move (in my mind at least) from friends to relationship.

Not long after, I almost said I love you but changed it midway to I care so much about you. He just smiled at me. I told him I can’t say it, you have to! He leaned close and said I love you. I had never said I love you in a relationship before, but said I love you too. I knew then that I didn’t ever want to be without him!

A few months later, we were sitting on the couch discussing places we’d like to live. Well moving would be a fun thing to do, but expensive….it would be cheaper to get married and move together rather than separately….yeah that would be a good idea….winter would be a good time for a wedding….sounds good, how about January?

My Gram’s wedding ring was my designated engagement ring, but Marmot wanted to wait until my Dad came home in August to ask permission before proposing to me. Gram brought the ring and gave it to Marmot, giving him strict instructions not to let me see it before he proposed! My Mom came home in July, and even though we weren’t technically engaged, we set out to plan the entire wedding before she flew back
to Africa in six weeks!

After getting permission from my Dad, Marmot proposed. He was acting all nervous one night, and I didn’t understand why….until he slid a little bit closer to me on the couch, and brought out a ring box…sweetie, I have question I want to ask you….ok, but I think you’re supposed to be on one knee! He got done on one knee, and asked me to marry him….and I said YES!

I always knew that someday, I would meet the man of my dreams…and that someday, I would get married. And someday had arrived.