I was talking with a friend about my Love Story that I recently posted. Somehow, this turned into a discussion of a few of the crazy dating mishaps I had. It amazes me some of the stuff guys did that they acted like they were totally impressing me. Did they really think so? I kind of hope not. Just in case,based on my real dating experiences, here is a funny list of 10 things(in no particular order) not to do to impress a girl. I would like it noted that these are NOT all the same guy ( yikes that would be horrid!).But, to protect the innocent, from here on out they all will be referred to as "The Boy".
10. Do NOT invite a short girl on a nice dress-up date and show up in a huge truck. Bonus points if you Don't help her in said truck. Seriously, the floorboard came to my chest and I have heels and a tight skirt on. The Boy walks around to his side and says" Are you coming?" OK then, I guess I'll figure this out myself. I proceed to do a pull-up onto the floorboard and full body shimmy/wiggle up into my seat. Dude, help a girl out. Or at least warn her about said truck so she can wear her hiking boots.
9. Do NOT walk up to a girl when she is clearly on a date with someone else and ask " Is the date over yet?".We barely stepped out of the car, he hasn't even walked me to the door yet, and we are holding hands. Clearly the date is not, in fact, "over yet". Either get your eyes checked or buy some good running shoes because The Other Boy ( the one I'm still on a date with) does not appreciate it.
8. Do NOT take a blind date to a haunted house in hopes of getting to make out. I just meet you 5 minutes ago and I am freaked out of my mind; what part of that leaves me feeling amorous? In fact, there is a misconception to take girls to scary movies and they will make out with you. This is false information. If you want a girl to get romantic, take her to a chick flick. It's still no guarantee that she will kiss you, but you are less likely to get hit by flailing limbs or have your eardrums pierced by girly screams.
7. IF a girl tells you she just doesn't like you "Like that", do NOT suggest she make out with you so you can "prove her wrong". Seriously dude, I was just trying to let you down easy. Now I am kinda grossed out and might not even want to be your friend. Especially if you keep bringing it up and I wake up to have you staring at me in my room that one time. Now you are creepy + a little desperate, not a look you should aspire to.
6. Do NOT be a lurker. I'm talking to you guy-who-stands-in-the-corner-of-the-dorm-common-room-just-waiting-for-girl-to-come-out-of-her-room. Honestly if she wants to see you, she will make time to see you. If you keep accosting her every time she steps out her door, she's going to feel trapped in her room and kick out the screen of her first floor window to escape ( True story)
5. Do NOT Propose, or even hint at marriage 5 minutes after meeting the girl. Um, HI. We literally just started playing pool 10 minutes ago. I'm not sure we are ready to start discussing how many children we might want and if we should get married in July or wait for the fall. Life is not a Disney movie, they have to get married in 5 minutes to wrap up a story in a hour and a half. We do not.
4. Do NOT tell a girl you speak French when you really don't. She will ask you to say something in French. And when all you keep saying is " Chicken Cordon Blue" "French Fries" and "Oui Oui" in a fake accent for 10 minutes straight, you are not really fooling anyone. Also, you might or might not now live on in infamy to anyone who heard, not by your name, but as "Frenchie".
3. Do NOT decide you are bored with a girl and try to IMMEDIATELY move on with her best friend...and roommate. The Boy is walking me in from our date after we had a talk and decided it wasn't working out. There is a group of people sitting in the living room including my roommate. He walks up to her and asks her out. Master of Subtlety.
2. Do NOT ask a girl to dinner and tell her she can have ANYTHING she wants...as long as it's under $4...and you might have to share...and we can only drink water. I am all for free dates, sometimes they are the best ones. But plan ahead man! Don't ask a girl to dinner if you can't afford it. Do something fun and free! You are just making it worse when you keep saying " Whatever m'lady desires she can have....as long as it's under $4.... And not chicken because we need to share and I don't like Chicken.... maybe we can get some pasta and do the Lady and the Tramp thing with the noodles( Um HECK NO!).....And maybe we can tell them it's our birthday for a free dessert."
1. Do NOT make any animal noises at a girl to get her attention...EVER! I am not talking about the annoying wolf whistles or horrible cow mooing, that should be obvious ( then again, I am making this list so maybe it's not). I am at a dance and apparently not paying enough attention to THE Boy. The Song " Who Let the Dogs Out" comes on. He LITERALLY gets down on all fours and starts barking at me. Lucky for me, "What does the Fox say" was still years from existence.
You can't make this crap up. So, as a general rule, stop all the stunts and just be yourself. Fair warning, if you are going to do something crazy, you will probably be mentioned in stoires as examples of what not to do. Just sayin..
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Our Love Story Part VIII: The Last First Kiss
Part I: First Meetings
Part II: Let's Just be Friends
Part III: First Date
Part IV: Let's Just Be Friends (Again)
Part V: Since You Went Away
Part VI: The Second First Date
Part VII: The Engagement
I wake up at 4am and just lie in bed. It is Friday December 15th, 2006 and I am getting married tomorrow. I am anxious, excited, giddy, nervous, and not sure what else to think. I also know it will be a whirlwind two days so I take a minute to breath. Half an hour later, my parents and brother wake up and we drive from Thatcher to Mesa so I can go take out my endowments at the temple.
"Happy Birthday Mom."
"This is the best birthday present, to escort you to the temple. "
We arrive at temple and it is so peaceful. I have arrived earlier then everyone else so I get to spend a few minutes with just my mom in the quiet peace of the temple in the early morning. A little later, we walk into the endowment room and I see ArJay across the aisle and can't help my big goofy grin checking out the stud I will be sealed to forever tomorrow in his white suit. Some people say they are confused, overwhelmed, and lost the first time they go to the temple. I am not. It all makes soo much sense to me and there is such a sense of peace. In fact, I'm a little let down that I am NOT overwhelmed or receive some giant epiphany( if that makes any sense).
But then, I walk into the Celestial Room and catch a glimpse of heaven. All of my family is already there waiting for me. Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, parents, ArJay's family. They are all hugging me and I can't see for the tears when ArJay comes up and wraps me in his arms. This is heaven.
As soon as we all walk out of the temple, we break in 20 different directions. ArJay and his family immediately head back to Tucson to get his house ready for our open house that night. I go to lunch with my parents and some of my family who came. It is loud and rambunctious and fun and I'm soo excited to share this weekend with so many family and friends. Then we head down for the open house.
The open house is CRAZY!! I didn't realize how many friends the Gamble's have until the open house. We sit in the front room of their house and literally hundreds of people come to meet us ( or really me since they all know ArJay). Even though we are standing next to each other, we don't talk to each other for nearly 3 hours as there is a line out the door to meet us. It is overwhelming and amazing that so many people are here to support us. But honestly, after a while I want them all to go so I can spend time with ArJay. Finally at about 10pm, my friend Amber sneaks us some food and we are able to sit and talk for a minute. But it is already time to go since my hotel is back in Mesa. He walks me to the car and I get one last sweet kiss.
" Goodnight Ms. Weir. See you tomorrow Mrs. Gamble"
I fall asleep in the car smiling at that sweet sentiment and the amazing today that seems like it was a year long.
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| Oh man there was SOO much food. this is teh end of the night, after it was picked over |
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| That's Cade ( the guy who had his homecoming when ArJay had is farewell talk) and his cute Wife Summer and their baby Sky |
I wake up at 6 am. Today is my wedding day, I can't keep in the squeal of excitement. My dad hears me and we decide to go get breakfast. I hear you never get to eat on your wedding day, and after last night's open house, I am on a mission to eat as much as I can while I can so I go hunt out breakfast before my hair girl gets here. I see some of my cousins in the pool and they invite us to join.
" I can't, didn't you hear? I'm getting married today."
My hair and makeup girl shows up and I spend the next couple of hours being transformed into a princess as my best friends Amber, Sarah, and Desiree all show up and we girl talk and giggle. I am just about finished and my phone rings. The caller Id says ArJay.
"Isn't this bad luck or something to talk to me right now?"
"Um...I might be late"
"What? How can you be late, haven't you left yet?"
"Well yeah, but we had to stop at the mall."
".Ok,... why exactly?"
" See I was holding Trevor( his 1 year old down syndrome nephew) and he kind of had a blow out all over my suit pants so we had to stop and get more"
I can't hear what else he says because I am laughing too hard
"You're not mad? I'm trying to get there as fast as I can!"
" No I'm not mad, that's hilarious. If you don't get here in time we'll just do the pictures after."
(We were planning to take our pictures before the wedding so everybody wouldn't have to sit around and wait for 2 hours after the wedding while we take pictures)
I get off the phone and explain what happened.
" So I guess I have a little time to kill. Let's go eat" ( Remember I was very concerned about getting enough food. Priorities people)
So Amber, Sarah, Desiree, and I go and have a very classy lunch at Subway. Well, I am very classy in my full makeup and updo complete with tiara ( Don't judge! When else can a grown woman wear a tiara in life?) and beautiful veil that ArJay's sister Lacey made for me.
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| That;'s Desiree. We have been friends since we were 15 |
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| Man we are classy |
We get back to the hotel and I get zipped into my dress and admire myself in the mirror. It's is a very simple dress of white satin with a square neck and poofy skirt. The only embellishment is a rhinestone belt buckle on a drop waist. It was the first wedding dress I tried on. When the dress assistant showed it to my on the hanger, I thought it was hideous and gaudy. But I didn't know what I wanted except no big long train ( as klutzy as I am, that would be begging for some dramatic dress-tearing or tripping incident) so I thought I'd try it. When I put it on, it just worked. I felt classy and sophisticated and timeless. Adjectives I try, but rarely if ever, succeed to aspire to in my life.
Then I heard a murmur of "he's here" and the butterflies explode in my stomach. I am not nervous just full of giddy excitement that he is FINALLY here and we can go. But they want to get a picture of the first time we see each other so I grumble under my breath waiting for everyone to get set. As I turn the corner and see his face I am glad they captured the moment on camera.
We ditch everyone for the quick drive over to the temple. ArJay keeps apologizing for almost being late to our wedding.
" As long as you weren't trying to sneak out on me, it's ok."
ArJay's mom is at the temple with my bouquet. I have not been a fussy bride. I picked red and black as colors because they said I HAD to pick some colors. We had an open house the night before so we wouldn't have to have a huge reception and bother everyone with a lot of hoopla on the wedding day ( I think this really bugged his mom, because she still ended up having a dinner thing after the wedding at a church right by the temple). I didn't have "bridesmaids" or bridesmaids dresses but told my girlfriends to wear what they wanted in our colors so we could take a picture together. So when asked about my bouquet, I said, " I don't know... just some red roses". So I see this big bouquet of red and white roses and weird pink baby's breath things tied in a black ribbon and liberally sprinkled with GOLD GLITTER( it was the gold glitter that did it) and I lost it.
" That's ALL wrong!" I wail.
ArJay is understandably confused considering how laid back I have been" I thought you didn't care?"
" I don't, but that's not right."
He just shakes his head at me like the silly little girl I am " Do we need a new one?"
" NO, of course not. That is ridiculous, I'm just going to have it for pictures anyways."
We meet our photographer and he starts snapping pictures. ArJay HATES pictures, like the fiery passion of a thousand suns hate. But today, he is looking at me like every girl wants a man to look at her.He pulls me to him and whispers
"I'm sorry about the flowers, but no one could possibly be looking at them when they see today you anyways. "
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| The offensive gold glitter has been shaken off but you can still see the random pink baby's breath things |
We can't stop kissing and touching and, yes, laughing through the pictures. ArJay hams it up and I could honestly spend the whole day out here goofing off with him taking pictures. I even make a joke that I will just have to photoshop his face from these pictures into all future family photos.
" It's true because I can't imagine ever being as happy as right now."
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| (Mostly) everyone who was there |
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| I totally wore white tennis shoes, that was a lot of walking! I wanted to be comfy |
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| Arjay's cousin Cami, ArJay, and his sister Candice |
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| ArJay's Sisters Lacey and Candice |
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| My Dad and ArJay |
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| My brother Mitch |
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| This was totally ArJay's idea. He said I was Eve tempting him with the fruit |
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| We are so refined and classy |
It is finally time to go in. I get changed out of my fancy dress into a different white dress in the beautiful bridal room with my mom, take three deep breaths and go meet him in the sealing room. It is just ArJay and the sealer and I in the room. He talks to us for a few minutes. I'm honestly not really listening to him as ArJay is rubbing circles in my hand. I keep thinking Cool dude. We get it, we'll take care of each other forever. Let's get this show on the road! Bring in the family.
Finally He escorts us down the hall into the sealing room. The room is packed with our dearest family and friends and I am already crying. The sealer has us sit on a little two person chair and quizzes ArJay on important points about marriage from the Proclamation to the World. Poor ArJay looks dumbfounded and looks to me for the answer. Everyone laughs as the sealer says:
"Smart man, already looking to his wife when he doesn't have a clue."
Now we are kneeling across from each other. ArJay's face is blurring at the edges as the tears spill down my cheeks. There are mirrors behind each of us and I can see our reflections going on forever and can't believe how blessed I am to get to be forever with this perfectly imperfect man who happens to be my best friend. He leans over the altar for one more perfect first kiss.
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| Married! |
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| This is obviously post the wedding because my eyes are all bloodshot from crying |
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| *swoon* |
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Our Love Story Part VII: The Engagement
If you missed them, you will want to start at the beginning of the story:
Part I: First Meetings
Part II: Let's Just be Friends
Part III: First Date
Part IV: Let's Just be friends (Again)
Part V: Since You Went Away
Part VI: The Second First Date
It is August, We have been dating for about 6 weeks. Bishop Mullenuaex calls me into his office to give me a new church calling.
" I'd like to call you as Relief Society President, but we all know you will be married by December. So let's just have you be the Activities coordinator ok?"
HEY! I know I don't really do the serious boyfriend thing, but it's only been 6 weeks! It's not time to call the caterer yet. ( This is the same bishop who told me to wait for Arjay to get home to do my mission papers. SPOILER ALERT! He's a genius.)
I am helping ArJay move into his college house when Jim Bob ( name changed to protect the innocent), who I went on a couple dates with last year, pulls up.
" Hey Maggie! Wow it's awesome to see you! How'd you find where I live so fast? Do you want to go get dinner or something?"
ArJay walks up behind me and puts his arms around me. Awkward pause.
" Um sure, if my boyfriend can come. Have you meet ArJay? I guess you guys are roommates."
" YOU have a boyfriend? Since when? You don't do that."
You Don't have to sound so incredulous! Geez. ( ArJay said all semester Jim Bob would talk about how amazing I was and he was soo lucky to date me. ArJay says he felt like he needed to sleep with one eye open because he was afraid Jim Bob would try to eliminate the competition one night).
It is Labor Day and my roommates have all been gone for the weekend. We are snuggling in the Love Sac ( a giant bean bag) in companionable silence. ArJay starts fidgeting.
" You ok?"
"I Love You. I know we haven't been dating very long and I don't want to pressure you and make you say something you don't feel so don't say anything. But I love you, I think I've loved you for years."
"....I Love you too?" I say as a question because I have shocked myself with how true it is.
He looks doubtful. " NO, I really do love you too. I'm sorry that came out as a question, I guess I surprised myself. " He beams at me and we snuggle back in blissful peace.
It is a week later and I just finished a class and came over to the institute to watch ArJay play volleyball.
So You love him, what are you going to do about it Magdelyn? We know what everything thinks you should do, even what he has hinted at, get married. But is that the right choice? You have never loved anyone before, is that jumping the gun? He just got back, are you still just excited to see him? Will the Romance fade and he will just be you goofy friend ArJay and you will have to break his heart?
These thoughts and a thousand like them are swirling around in my head when I see him make some mess-up on purpose and be a goofball to make a girl feel better who isn't doing well. Because that's who Arjay is. He is always making everyone laugh and feel comfortable. I hear a voice, as clear as day ( not my inner thoughts, they are quite loud and spazzy as you might have noticed)
"He's it."
That's all, just two words. But all my doubts fly out the window and I don't doubt again for a second that I should marry ArJay. I am not one who hears voices in answer to prayer, but I distinctly heard those two calming words. As soon as the game is over, I bound up to him and kiss him on his sweaty cheek.
" I think I could marry you."
" Really?'
"Yep I just got my answer right now."
"While I was playing volleyball?"
I nod and he looks incredulous and deliriously happy and spins me around in the middle of the court.
It is a couple weeks later and we are going to get married. I have gone dress shopping with my mom. I'm PRETTY sure ArJay has a ring. But he hasn't actually asked yet. He makes a big production of telling me we CAN'T hang out on Thursday because he has to see a podiatrist in Tucson. This is a plausible story as Arzjsy has bad feet, but he brings it up so much I'm sure it's a cover and he's going to propose that night. Thursday comes and he never comes over. ( I was right that it was a cover, but not about the engagement. HE drove 5 hours one way to Alamogordo and surprises my parents. He wanted to ask my dad in person for permission to ask me to marry him) I call him ( He is sitting in my parents living room and I don't know it for the following conversation)
" Hey, I guess you really did leave town. How'd it go?"
"Great! Everything is perfect!" ( Muffled laughter in the background)
" Is that your parents? Say hi for me."
"The parents say Hi and they love you." ( for the rest of the conversation he has this laugh in his voice I cant figure out).
It is two days later, Saturday September 23, 2006. ArJay asks if I want to go on a date.
" That's what we always do, it's called being a couple."
"NO dork, a real date. Go get dressed." I start feeling GIDDY because I'm sure this is it.
"Ok see you in an hour."
ArJay takes me on an adorable scavenger hunt of all the special places from our dating and friendship. We go play foosball, to the spot outside my class where we had a picnic a couple times, the football field, we even re-walk where we had the talk that lead to our first date. I am bouncing around like a toddler with a bagful of M & Ms. This is it. This is totally like him to walk down memory lane then at the last stop he is going to pull out the ring.
But then he says " You want to go get lunch or something? " as if he is discussing the weather.
" Wait are you sure there's nothing ELSE on the hunt?"
"Nope, let's go eat." I huff impatiently then think. OOHH that's it. He is going to have some romantic picnic somewhere and THEN he'll pull out the ring.
Wrong again, we just go back to my house and have sandwiches with my roommates. Now I am getting annoyed. Hello! DUDE! Are you planning to propose or just keeping stringing me along? You have had some perfect opportunities.
"You want to go for a drive?"
" Sure I'm not doing ANYTHING else today am I?" He just smirks at me
He starts driving up Mount Graham and the butterflies come back because I know where we are going.
"Are we going to Riggs lake?"
"Yeah, I told you I'd take you back to see it. It's such a nice day, I figured it'd be a good time to." He says this so nonchalantly, like he just thought of it right now
But I know ArJay and I can see his nervous twitches. I am beaming when we see a guy we know on the side of the road with his bike. ArJay pulls over.
"Hey Brad, are you going to the lake?"
"Yeah trying to."
" You want a ride?"
I Scoff at ArJay as Brad loads his bike in back squishes into the truck. I am silently fuming as they talk like they are best friends. APPARENTLY it's not happening at the lake or we wouldn't be giving what's-his-face here a ride. At Least I hope we aren't sharing this special moment with a guy we barely know.
We get to the lake and it is beautiful. We lose Brad at some point as we walk around.(I'm actually not sure how he got home, hopefully he biked home. whoops!)
I realize I am being a spaz and decide to just enjoy myself and stop worrying about the where and when. After a while, Arjay takes me over to a cliff to a picturesque outlook.
I sit down in front of him and he is sitting stiff as a board on the rock overhang.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing."
"Then why don't you put your arms around me?"
"I...Can't."
"Sure you can silly, it's just like this." I go to grab his hands but he jerks them away.
I turn around to tell him off for yanking his hands away and he is kneeling with a ring box and there are tears in his eyes (ArJay NEVER cries.) I suck in a breath
"Magdelyn Weir, you are my best friend. When I have hard times, you are the Sun that brightens my days. Nothing would make me happier then if you would marry me."
I am in shock. All the time I was guessing, I honestly wasn't expecting it right now.
He is looking at me expectantly. " OH! YES! Yes of course!" I jump on him. He grunts.
"Oww!'
"Oww? What oww?"
" I accidentally kneeled down on the point of this rock and you just dug it farther into me knee."
I laugh as I realize what the earlier tears were for and think:This is a perfect start for us.
Part I: First Meetings
Part II: Let's Just be Friends
Part III: First Date
Part IV: Let's Just be friends (Again)
Part V: Since You Went Away
Part VI: The Second First Date
It is August, We have been dating for about 6 weeks. Bishop Mullenuaex calls me into his office to give me a new church calling.
" I'd like to call you as Relief Society President, but we all know you will be married by December. So let's just have you be the Activities coordinator ok?"
HEY! I know I don't really do the serious boyfriend thing, but it's only been 6 weeks! It's not time to call the caterer yet. ( This is the same bishop who told me to wait for Arjay to get home to do my mission papers. SPOILER ALERT! He's a genius.)
I am helping ArJay move into his college house when Jim Bob ( name changed to protect the innocent), who I went on a couple dates with last year, pulls up.
" Hey Maggie! Wow it's awesome to see you! How'd you find where I live so fast? Do you want to go get dinner or something?"
ArJay walks up behind me and puts his arms around me. Awkward pause.
" Um sure, if my boyfriend can come. Have you meet ArJay? I guess you guys are roommates."
" YOU have a boyfriend? Since when? You don't do that."
You Don't have to sound so incredulous! Geez. ( ArJay said all semester Jim Bob would talk about how amazing I was and he was soo lucky to date me. ArJay says he felt like he needed to sleep with one eye open because he was afraid Jim Bob would try to eliminate the competition one night).
It is Labor Day and my roommates have all been gone for the weekend. We are snuggling in the Love Sac ( a giant bean bag) in companionable silence. ArJay starts fidgeting.
" You ok?"
"I Love You. I know we haven't been dating very long and I don't want to pressure you and make you say something you don't feel so don't say anything. But I love you, I think I've loved you for years."
"....I Love you too?" I say as a question because I have shocked myself with how true it is.
He looks doubtful. " NO, I really do love you too. I'm sorry that came out as a question, I guess I surprised myself. " He beams at me and we snuggle back in blissful peace.
It is a week later and I just finished a class and came over to the institute to watch ArJay play volleyball.
So You love him, what are you going to do about it Magdelyn? We know what everything thinks you should do, even what he has hinted at, get married. But is that the right choice? You have never loved anyone before, is that jumping the gun? He just got back, are you still just excited to see him? Will the Romance fade and he will just be you goofy friend ArJay and you will have to break his heart?
These thoughts and a thousand like them are swirling around in my head when I see him make some mess-up on purpose and be a goofball to make a girl feel better who isn't doing well. Because that's who Arjay is. He is always making everyone laugh and feel comfortable. I hear a voice, as clear as day ( not my inner thoughts, they are quite loud and spazzy as you might have noticed)
"He's it."
That's all, just two words. But all my doubts fly out the window and I don't doubt again for a second that I should marry ArJay. I am not one who hears voices in answer to prayer, but I distinctly heard those two calming words. As soon as the game is over, I bound up to him and kiss him on his sweaty cheek.
" I think I could marry you."
" Really?'
"Yep I just got my answer right now."
"While I was playing volleyball?"
I nod and he looks incredulous and deliriously happy and spins me around in the middle of the court.
It is a couple weeks later and we are going to get married. I have gone dress shopping with my mom. I'm PRETTY sure ArJay has a ring. But he hasn't actually asked yet. He makes a big production of telling me we CAN'T hang out on Thursday because he has to see a podiatrist in Tucson. This is a plausible story as Arzjsy has bad feet, but he brings it up so much I'm sure it's a cover and he's going to propose that night. Thursday comes and he never comes over. ( I was right that it was a cover, but not about the engagement. HE drove 5 hours one way to Alamogordo and surprises my parents. He wanted to ask my dad in person for permission to ask me to marry him) I call him ( He is sitting in my parents living room and I don't know it for the following conversation)
" Hey, I guess you really did leave town. How'd it go?"
"Great! Everything is perfect!" ( Muffled laughter in the background)
" Is that your parents? Say hi for me."
"The parents say Hi and they love you." ( for the rest of the conversation he has this laugh in his voice I cant figure out).
It is two days later, Saturday September 23, 2006. ArJay asks if I want to go on a date.
" That's what we always do, it's called being a couple."
"NO dork, a real date. Go get dressed." I start feeling GIDDY because I'm sure this is it.
"Ok see you in an hour."
ArJay takes me on an adorable scavenger hunt of all the special places from our dating and friendship. We go play foosball, to the spot outside my class where we had a picnic a couple times, the football field, we even re-walk where we had the talk that lead to our first date. I am bouncing around like a toddler with a bagful of M & Ms. This is it. This is totally like him to walk down memory lane then at the last stop he is going to pull out the ring.
But then he says " You want to go get lunch or something? " as if he is discussing the weather.
" Wait are you sure there's nothing ELSE on the hunt?"
"Nope, let's go eat." I huff impatiently then think. OOHH that's it. He is going to have some romantic picnic somewhere and THEN he'll pull out the ring.
Wrong again, we just go back to my house and have sandwiches with my roommates. Now I am getting annoyed. Hello! DUDE! Are you planning to propose or just keeping stringing me along? You have had some perfect opportunities.
"You want to go for a drive?"
" Sure I'm not doing ANYTHING else today am I?" He just smirks at me
He starts driving up Mount Graham and the butterflies come back because I know where we are going.
"Are we going to Riggs lake?"
"Yeah, I told you I'd take you back to see it. It's such a nice day, I figured it'd be a good time to." He says this so nonchalantly, like he just thought of it right now
But I know ArJay and I can see his nervous twitches. I am beaming when we see a guy we know on the side of the road with his bike. ArJay pulls over.
"Hey Brad, are you going to the lake?"
"Yeah trying to."
" You want a ride?"
I Scoff at ArJay as Brad loads his bike in back squishes into the truck. I am silently fuming as they talk like they are best friends. APPARENTLY it's not happening at the lake or we wouldn't be giving what's-his-face here a ride. At Least I hope we aren't sharing this special moment with a guy we barely know.
We get to the lake and it is beautiful. We lose Brad at some point as we walk around.(I'm actually not sure how he got home, hopefully he biked home. whoops!)
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing."
"Then why don't you put your arms around me?"
"I...Can't."
"Sure you can silly, it's just like this." I go to grab his hands but he jerks them away.
I turn around to tell him off for yanking his hands away and he is kneeling with a ring box and there are tears in his eyes (ArJay NEVER cries.) I suck in a breath
"Magdelyn Weir, you are my best friend. When I have hard times, you are the Sun that brightens my days. Nothing would make me happier then if you would marry me."
I am in shock. All the time I was guessing, I honestly wasn't expecting it right now.
He is looking at me expectantly. " OH! YES! Yes of course!" I jump on him. He grunts.
"Oww!'
"Oww? What oww?"
" I accidentally kneeled down on the point of this rock and you just dug it farther into me knee."
I laugh as I realize what the earlier tears were for and think:This is a perfect start for us.
 |
| The word you are looking for: Sophistication |
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Our Love Story Part VI: The Second First Date
Make sure to read the other parts of our love story here:
Part I: First Meetings
Part II: Let's Just be Friends
Part III: First Date
Part IV: Let's Just be Friends (Again)
Part V: Since You Went Away
ArJay is flying home tomorrow. ArJay's cousin Cami, who is living with them, calls and asks if I want to come to the airport and surprise him.
HECK NO! I don't need that kind of drama in my life. IF I am at the airport it will look like I having been waiting around for 2 years and am just waiting from him to get released as a missionary so we can get married tomorrow or something. No thanks, I just want to see my friend not get a marriage proposal. I'm not even sure if I want to date him yet.
Cami senses my hesitation and says
" It will be really funny. Arjay will be super awkward and not know what to do with you there and him still a missionary."
That is something I can't miss seeing so I say I will meet her tomorrow at the Fry's off Kolb in Tucson.
It is morning and I am running late. As I (slightly) speed down the highway, I see the tell-tale red and blue lights behind me. Perfect. After the nice officer lets me off with a warning, I seriously consider turning around and going home. But Cami is waiting for me. I get to the Fry's and wait...and wait..and wait. After 15 minutes I call her.
"Are you almost here?"
"I'm here, where are you?"
"I'm here, have been for 15 minutes. I'm in my gold Camry."
After 5 more minutes of back and forth and both of us walking around the parking lots looking like loons, we realize our mistake. If you are from Tucson, you know there is a Fry's at Kolb and Golf Links and then one just a street later at Kolb and 22nd. I am not from Tucson and stopped at the first one I came too, Cami was at the next one down. Classic.
So now I'm REALLY considering heading back home, the signs are against me. But she picks me up and we go to the airport and luckily the plane was delayed so we haven't missed them entirely. We are standing waiting with a group of people to welcome ArJay home and I keep getting furtive looks from the others.
" Soooo....you and ArJay are 'JUST friends"? But you are here at the airport to welcome him home?" One random guy says while giving me a wink wink, nudge nudge.
"Yes we are just friends, I just thought it would be fun to freak him out."
This is EXACTLY why I shouldn't have come! Nobody would bat an eye if I was a guy friend who came to surprise him! Just because I'm female does not mean I am trying to stake a claim or something....
My thoughts are cut off as someone exclaims" OOHHH, here they come!"
I hid behind the "welcome home" sign I am holding. They step off the escalator and start hugging everyone. When I hear his voice right by my sign, I pop my head out.
"Surprise!"
He stares at me dumb-struck, his mouth opening and closing like he wants to say something but can't get his mouth to form words. I'm feeling rather speechless myself. I remember that I always thought ArJay was attractive but YOWZAA! ArJay in a suit after 2 years with just pictures is something else entirely.
ArJay and his family are headed to the Stake President right away so he can get officially released as a missionary. I try to beg off and go home, but Cami gave me the ride here so I am car-less and they hijack me. I sit outside the office and decide that this was the dumbest idea ever to come as well as the most awkward and tension filled day. I hear muffled laughter behind the door and voices coming closer. They are still laughing and everyone is looking at me as they walk out.
"What's so funny? "
"Oh President Alston just asked if you are ArJay's girlfriend. I said ' Nope, but we are putting in her application'". His dad guffaws.
Ok, NOW this is the most awkward day ever.
I am ready to run away to South Africa when Cami and Candice announce we need to celebrate and hijack ArJay and I to the Sonic for ice cream. I have never seen two people move as fast as they did to jump in the front seat so that ArJay and I were left in the back together. Convenient. Lots more giggling and winks and nudges ensue, all from the front seat. The back seat is suspiciously quiet as I try to figure out how to explain to him that, despite all appearances, none of this was my idea and I am not trying to be a man-eater.
We finally make it back and he walks me to my car. We both turn to talk at the same time.
" None of that was my idea! I'm sorry it was soo awkward! I'm really not some crazy psycho stalker.."
" Do you want to go on a date?"
I stop midstream as it registers what he said. " Wait, What?"
" Do you want to go on a date? I know you are still working so I could come up to you sometime this week."
"Oh,....ok sure. I'm actually not working after Wednesday."
" Ok I'll see you Wednesday."
It's Wednesday and I feel like a 5 year old who was just given a Big Gulp of Dr Pepper on Christmas Eve and told to wait patiently. I am in institute class and haven't heard a word of the hour long lesson. ArJay is picking me up at the end of class for our date.
I am talking to Bro. Wright after class when someone walks in the class behind me. Bro Wright gets a big grin and goes to hug him and I steal myself before turning around.
Calm Down girl! It's not like you've never been on a date before!
I turn around and can't help the giddy smile that creeps up as I see him talking to Bro Wright but not paying any attention to him and only looking at me.
" You Ready to go?" There's that mischievous grin again
"Sure, what's the plan?"
"Can't tell you, that would ruin the fun."
We start driving up Mt Graham and I think we are going to his parents' favorite camping spot, but he keeps driving.
"Wait you missed the turn."
" No I didn't."
"IT was back there."
Shaking his head "Maggie I know where I'm going, we are not stopping at the camp ground. We are going to Riggs Lake for a picnic."
I have not been to Riggs lake, it is at the top of the twisty mountain road. It is a good hour and a half one way on a good day. I look at the storm clouds.
"Really? Is that a good idea?"
He just looks at me. " So what have you been up to the last...oh 2 years?"
And we start talking. And I think I barely come up for air the entire 2 hours it takes us to drive in the pouring rain. It is still raining when we reach the lake, it might be raining harder up here at the top of the mountain. We can't even see out the windows through the sheets of rain.
"Sorry, I'm sure it's really pretty...when you can see it."
"We can still eat, we'll just come back another time so you can see it."
He gets out some sandwiches and we sit in the cab of his old truck eating and laughing and becoming reacquainted with the new 2 years-older versions of each other.
It is Thursday morning and ArJay is going back to Tucson. I am going to come down Sunday morning for his homecoming talk in church. We haven't seen each other in 2 years, but suddenly 3 days sounds like forever.
" You can just come back with me if you want. I'll bring you back on Sunday so you can work on Monday."
"Yeah it seems silly to take 2 cars, wastes gas right?"Right Magdelyn, that's why you are riding down with him 3 days early. To save gas.
By Sunday night, my new boyfriend is driving me home from his mission homecoming. I have broken nearly every one of my self-imposed rules( Don't date a newly returned missionary, don't have any serious boyfriends, Don't date anyone while trying to prepare for a mission myself, etc). Looking at his face, I couldn't care less about those dumb rules.
Part I: First Meetings
Part II: Let's Just be Friends
Part III: First Date
Part IV: Let's Just be Friends (Again)
Part V: Since You Went Away
ArJay is flying home tomorrow. ArJay's cousin Cami, who is living with them, calls and asks if I want to come to the airport and surprise him.
HECK NO! I don't need that kind of drama in my life. IF I am at the airport it will look like I having been waiting around for 2 years and am just waiting from him to get released as a missionary so we can get married tomorrow or something. No thanks, I just want to see my friend not get a marriage proposal. I'm not even sure if I want to date him yet.
Cami senses my hesitation and says
" It will be really funny. Arjay will be super awkward and not know what to do with you there and him still a missionary."
That is something I can't miss seeing so I say I will meet her tomorrow at the Fry's off Kolb in Tucson.
It is morning and I am running late. As I (slightly) speed down the highway, I see the tell-tale red and blue lights behind me. Perfect. After the nice officer lets me off with a warning, I seriously consider turning around and going home. But Cami is waiting for me. I get to the Fry's and wait...and wait..and wait. After 15 minutes I call her.
"Are you almost here?"
"I'm here, where are you?"
"I'm here, have been for 15 minutes. I'm in my gold Camry."
After 5 more minutes of back and forth and both of us walking around the parking lots looking like loons, we realize our mistake. If you are from Tucson, you know there is a Fry's at Kolb and Golf Links and then one just a street later at Kolb and 22nd. I am not from Tucson and stopped at the first one I came too, Cami was at the next one down. Classic.
So now I'm REALLY considering heading back home, the signs are against me. But she picks me up and we go to the airport and luckily the plane was delayed so we haven't missed them entirely. We are standing waiting with a group of people to welcome ArJay home and I keep getting furtive looks from the others.
" Soooo....you and ArJay are 'JUST friends"? But you are here at the airport to welcome him home?" One random guy says while giving me a wink wink, nudge nudge.
"Yes we are just friends, I just thought it would be fun to freak him out."
This is EXACTLY why I shouldn't have come! Nobody would bat an eye if I was a guy friend who came to surprise him! Just because I'm female does not mean I am trying to stake a claim or something....
My thoughts are cut off as someone exclaims" OOHHH, here they come!"
I hid behind the "welcome home" sign I am holding. They step off the escalator and start hugging everyone. When I hear his voice right by my sign, I pop my head out.
"Surprise!"
He stares at me dumb-struck, his mouth opening and closing like he wants to say something but can't get his mouth to form words. I'm feeling rather speechless myself. I remember that I always thought ArJay was attractive but YOWZAA! ArJay in a suit after 2 years with just pictures is something else entirely.
ArJay and his family are headed to the Stake President right away so he can get officially released as a missionary. I try to beg off and go home, but Cami gave me the ride here so I am car-less and they hijack me. I sit outside the office and decide that this was the dumbest idea ever to come as well as the most awkward and tension filled day. I hear muffled laughter behind the door and voices coming closer. They are still laughing and everyone is looking at me as they walk out.
"What's so funny? "
"Oh President Alston just asked if you are ArJay's girlfriend. I said ' Nope, but we are putting in her application'". His dad guffaws.
Ok, NOW this is the most awkward day ever.
I am ready to run away to South Africa when Cami and Candice announce we need to celebrate and hijack ArJay and I to the Sonic for ice cream. I have never seen two people move as fast as they did to jump in the front seat so that ArJay and I were left in the back together. Convenient. Lots more giggling and winks and nudges ensue, all from the front seat. The back seat is suspiciously quiet as I try to figure out how to explain to him that, despite all appearances, none of this was my idea and I am not trying to be a man-eater.
We finally make it back and he walks me to my car. We both turn to talk at the same time.
" None of that was my idea! I'm sorry it was soo awkward! I'm really not some crazy psycho stalker.."
" Do you want to go on a date?"
I stop midstream as it registers what he said. " Wait, What?"
" Do you want to go on a date? I know you are still working so I could come up to you sometime this week."
"Oh,....ok sure. I'm actually not working after Wednesday."
" Ok I'll see you Wednesday."
It's Wednesday and I feel like a 5 year old who was just given a Big Gulp of Dr Pepper on Christmas Eve and told to wait patiently. I am in institute class and haven't heard a word of the hour long lesson. ArJay is picking me up at the end of class for our date.
I am talking to Bro. Wright after class when someone walks in the class behind me. Bro Wright gets a big grin and goes to hug him and I steal myself before turning around.
Calm Down girl! It's not like you've never been on a date before!
I turn around and can't help the giddy smile that creeps up as I see him talking to Bro Wright but not paying any attention to him and only looking at me.
" You Ready to go?" There's that mischievous grin again
"Sure, what's the plan?"
"Can't tell you, that would ruin the fun."
We start driving up Mt Graham and I think we are going to his parents' favorite camping spot, but he keeps driving.
"Wait you missed the turn."
" No I didn't."
"IT was back there."
Shaking his head "Maggie I know where I'm going, we are not stopping at the camp ground. We are going to Riggs Lake for a picnic."
I have not been to Riggs lake, it is at the top of the twisty mountain road. It is a good hour and a half one way on a good day. I look at the storm clouds.
"Really? Is that a good idea?"
He just looks at me. " So what have you been up to the last...oh 2 years?"
And we start talking. And I think I barely come up for air the entire 2 hours it takes us to drive in the pouring rain. It is still raining when we reach the lake, it might be raining harder up here at the top of the mountain. We can't even see out the windows through the sheets of rain.
"Sorry, I'm sure it's really pretty...when you can see it."
"We can still eat, we'll just come back another time so you can see it."
He gets out some sandwiches and we sit in the cab of his old truck eating and laughing and becoming reacquainted with the new 2 years-older versions of each other.
It is Thursday morning and ArJay is going back to Tucson. I am going to come down Sunday morning for his homecoming talk in church. We haven't seen each other in 2 years, but suddenly 3 days sounds like forever.
" You can just come back with me if you want. I'll bring you back on Sunday so you can work on Monday."
"Yeah it seems silly to take 2 cars, wastes gas right?"Right Magdelyn, that's why you are riding down with him 3 days early. To save gas.
 |
| We were a LITTLE excited to see each other. |
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| I had a horrible sunburn, I was blushing but not THAT bad. |
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Our Love Story Part V: Since you went away
If you are just joining me and want the whole story, make sure and read these first:
Part I: First Meetings
Part II: Let's Just Be Friends
Part III: First Date
Part IV: Let's Just be Friends (Again)
ArJay has been gone a couple weeks and I write him a letter. It is mostly funny little stories and a few uplifting comments. ( He says that was the first letter he got out in the mission field in Philadelphia and it brought him such comfort when he was so scared and nervous about the unknown). We write back and forth a couple times. Then he sends a letter and kindly asks if we can not write anymore, because I am too distracting and he needs to concentrate on being a missionary.
What the crap??!! I wasn't saying anything wrong or inappropriate but fine!
Months go by and suffice it to say, I have lots of fun in college.
I also go on lots of dates, make some life long friends, and generally just have a blast. I honestly don't think about ArJay much, except when I hear the song " Here without you". The words are especially poignant now that he is gone and I'm here without him.
Randomly, I get an email from a Candice Gamble. She says she knows this is kind of weird, but she is ArJay's sister and he keeps talking about how awesome I am and she'd like to get to know me. She says the next time I'm in Tucson we should hang out. I reply back that I am coming to town on Thursday for a CPR class and again on Sunday for a friend's mission farewell. She replies:
" Well you don't need to drive twice, you should just stay with us."
"Is that weird?" I've only meet them each a couple times, will I look like a creepy stalker to go stay with them for days?
We decide it's fine and I go stay with the Gamble's and thoroughly fall in love with each of them. I end up spending a day with each of them. The first day I hang out with Candice and her friends and go dancing ( with her would-be spouse Clay although they were "JUST Friends" HA!). Then ArJay's dad takes me horseback riding for the first time in my life. ( I came back a couple times and ArJay's dad still jokes that he dated me more then ArJay did). Then I spend an day with his Mom and she hauls out all the baby albums and mission letters and we just talk and I think we baked something. I decide I don't care if ArJay thinks I'm a crazy Psycho. I'm not, it was Candice's idea, and I would hang out with them again because they are awesome. ( ArJay says that was the weirdest weekly letter he got on his mission " We are all here and Maggie has been staying with us. We love her" But he didn't think I was a creepy stalker )
For my 20th birthday I am staying In Thatcher for the Summer and I have an unexpected HUGE birthday party. I think literally every single person in town came to my house.
But the most surprising thing I get is a letter from ArJay full of fun pictures.
Now it is February. ArJay will come home in June. I am dating a guy pretty seriously. He's actually my first real boyfriend. He is incredibly sweet and makes me feel beautiful. I really needed him after the last boy I really liked stomped my heart when he told the guys "I wish I could have Maggie's personality in Janene( My GORGEOUS roommate)'s body." That was of course AFTER he kissed me. Classy. So this guy, let's call him Tom, who constantly tells me how beautiful I am and amazing and all other good adjectives really heals my heart. He starts talking serious, like the forever kind. I am driving up to Utah for a theater festival with Amber talking about it and realize I'm not ready for that. First, I will turn 21 in June and I have always wanted to go on a mission. My second thought surprises even me:
I want to see ArJay when he gets home and I want to be Single when I do.
I break up with Tom. It is miserable, he lives right next door and everyone continues to hang out and we are constantly put in each other's paths. I can't wait for summer.
It is May and ArJay writes me a letter. I write him back. He writes again and it basically says " Never mind, I can't write you, you are too distracting. See you when I get home" PPSSSHHTT Fine!
I talk to my new bishop about starting to get papers together to go on a Mission. He tells me we should "just wait until your friend gets home". I'm super annoyed. The twit won't even write me, I'm not going to wait around for him. I want to go on a mission.
In June, I have a large gathering at my house ( otherwise known as a Thursday night since there was always a large gathering at my house). There is an unknown number calling me. I answer and can't quite here the person on the line. And then I realize who it is:
"ArJAY!!"
"Actually, it's still Elder Gamble."
His parents and sister had flown out to pick him up from his mission and Candice had convinced him to call me. We talk for a few minutes but I can't really hear him and it's weird because he is still officially a missionary so I don't know what I should or shouldn't say to him. I tell him I'll see him whenever he gets back and hang up.
I sit and ponder the reality that I have actually talked to him and heard his voice for the first time in 2 years. AND I will see him in a week! It seems surreal and exciting and nerve-wracking all at once. I don't know if I can wait a week.
Part I: First Meetings
Part II: Let's Just Be Friends
Part III: First Date
Part IV: Let's Just be Friends (Again)
ArJay has been gone a couple weeks and I write him a letter. It is mostly funny little stories and a few uplifting comments. ( He says that was the first letter he got out in the mission field in Philadelphia and it brought him such comfort when he was so scared and nervous about the unknown). We write back and forth a couple times. Then he sends a letter and kindly asks if we can not write anymore, because I am too distracting and he needs to concentrate on being a missionary.
What the crap??!! I wasn't saying anything wrong or inappropriate but fine!
Months go by and suffice it to say, I have lots of fun in college.
 |
| Hanging out with Mike and Sarah |
 |
| At Dances.. ( we're soo hot right now) |
 |
| On Choir Tours... |
 |
| In plays... ( This was Steel magnolias, thus the wicked awesome 80s clothes and Hair) |
 |
| This is right before a show called Swing. Amber doesn't know it, but she is going to get proposed to ON STAGE tonight ( BTW, apparently I rocked the stupid duck face before it was cool) |
Randomly, I get an email from a Candice Gamble. She says she knows this is kind of weird, but she is ArJay's sister and he keeps talking about how awesome I am and she'd like to get to know me. She says the next time I'm in Tucson we should hang out. I reply back that I am coming to town on Thursday for a CPR class and again on Sunday for a friend's mission farewell. She replies:
" Well you don't need to drive twice, you should just stay with us."
"Is that weird?" I've only meet them each a couple times, will I look like a creepy stalker to go stay with them for days?
We decide it's fine and I go stay with the Gamble's and thoroughly fall in love with each of them. I end up spending a day with each of them. The first day I hang out with Candice and her friends and go dancing ( with her would-be spouse Clay although they were "JUST Friends" HA!). Then ArJay's dad takes me horseback riding for the first time in my life. ( I came back a couple times and ArJay's dad still jokes that he dated me more then ArJay did). Then I spend an day with his Mom and she hauls out all the baby albums and mission letters and we just talk and I think we baked something. I decide I don't care if ArJay thinks I'm a crazy Psycho. I'm not, it was Candice's idea, and I would hang out with them again because they are awesome. ( ArJay says that was the weirdest weekly letter he got on his mission " We are all here and Maggie has been staying with us. We love her" But he didn't think I was a creepy stalker )
 |
| That's my adorable mother In Law Diane |
 |
| My cute roommates at the time: (from Left) Me, Jenny, Janene, and Brooke |
 |
| 20 Baby! |
 |
| That is Jared and yes, they are actually throwing him into that giant bean bag called a Love Sac. It's a good thing we were in college because we were all idiots. |
But the most surprising thing I get is a letter from ArJay full of fun pictures.
 |
| I'll give you a hint, he's the white guy in the back |
 |
| Again, He's the white guy. Getting the theme here? |
 |
| All class |
Now it is February. ArJay will come home in June. I am dating a guy pretty seriously. He's actually my first real boyfriend. He is incredibly sweet and makes me feel beautiful. I really needed him after the last boy I really liked stomped my heart when he told the guys "I wish I could have Maggie's personality in Janene( My GORGEOUS roommate)'s body." That was of course AFTER he kissed me. Classy. So this guy, let's call him Tom, who constantly tells me how beautiful I am and amazing and all other good adjectives really heals my heart. He starts talking serious, like the forever kind. I am driving up to Utah for a theater festival with Amber talking about it and realize I'm not ready for that. First, I will turn 21 in June and I have always wanted to go on a mission. My second thought surprises even me:
I want to see ArJay when he gets home and I want to be Single when I do.
I break up with Tom. It is miserable, he lives right next door and everyone continues to hang out and we are constantly put in each other's paths. I can't wait for summer.
It is May and ArJay writes me a letter. I write him back. He writes again and it basically says " Never mind, I can't write you, you are too distracting. See you when I get home" PPSSSHHTT Fine!
I talk to my new bishop about starting to get papers together to go on a Mission. He tells me we should "just wait until your friend gets home". I'm super annoyed. The twit won't even write me, I'm not going to wait around for him. I want to go on a mission.
In June, I have a large gathering at my house ( otherwise known as a Thursday night since there was always a large gathering at my house). There is an unknown number calling me. I answer and can't quite here the person on the line. And then I realize who it is:
"ArJAY!!"
"Actually, it's still Elder Gamble."
His parents and sister had flown out to pick him up from his mission and Candice had convinced him to call me. We talk for a few minutes but I can't really hear him and it's weird because he is still officially a missionary so I don't know what I should or shouldn't say to him. I tell him I'll see him whenever he gets back and hang up.
 |
| Candice, his dad Scott, and ArJay in some awesome cathedral in Philadelphia when they picked him up |
 |
| Candice snuck a picture of him calling me. Apparently, he went outside and prowled the parking lot like a caged animal for the whole call |
I sit and ponder the reality that I have actually talked to him and heard his voice for the first time in 2 years. AND I will see him in a week! It seems surreal and exciting and nerve-wracking all at once. I don't know if I can wait a week.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Our Love Story Part IV: Let's Just be Friends (Again)
IF you missed them, you'll want to read
Part I: First Meetings
Part II: Let's Just Be Friends
PArt III: First Date
There are 6 of us we hung out constantly that first semester. Amber, Sarah, Me, Rod, ArJay and Dustin.
We decided to all hang out for New Year's Eve. ArJay and Dustin lived in Tucson, so we all come to them. I am not feeling so well but didn't want to miss out on the fun so I came anyways.( This proved a bad choice since I was really out of it the whole time) NO one can agree on what to do, so we end up splitting into 2 groups and promise to meet later. I am in the car with ArJay and Amber. Long story short, It is not our night and everything we try to do doesn't work out. We miss the Midnight ball drop and kiss stuff because we are just driving to the dance and see the fireworks out the car window. It is an awkward weekend and I go back home confused and not sure where to go from here.
I get back to school and am completely bombarded with school and the play I am in, Honk. For weeks I get up early, go to school, go straight to rehearsal and don't get home until 10 or 11 at night. I am completely drained and miserable and not sure what to do about ArJay. He has waited multiple times at my dorm for me to come home, but ends up getting kicked out for dorm curfew before I get home. He leaves me the sweetest notes on my pillow every time. I Like him, A LOT! LEt's get real, he has seen me at my WORST. (See the walking Pneumonia And my all out cryfest for further proof).And, based on the sweet notes he keeps leaving me, he still seems to think I'm Rad. IN Fact, I like him so much I am maybe even starting to feel the other L word. And that REALLY freaks me out. Because I am NOT, AM NOT waiting for a missionary. Missionaries are gone for 2 years and I do not want to be one of those girls who sits around and waits. Again, nothing wrong with those girls but remember I fancied myself a rebel. So we sit down to talk.
" I really like you ArJay, but I don't think I can date you seriously. You are going on a mission in a couple months, can we just stay friends? " (Deja vu to week one anyone? Oh the irony!)
"Yeah of course, you're right. It wouldn't have worked...right?"
We hug and I walk him to the door. I have this horrible sense of loss and dread, even though all appears fine. We agreed didn't we? We thought the same thing? I need to make sure we are fine.
"So I'll see you tomorrow right?"
"Yeah, of course"Now he won't even look me in the eyes
But I don't see him tomorrow, or the next, and I only see him from a distance the next day. Then he has a girlfriend who is my complete opposite and a completely different set of friends.( Later he told me that he didn't agree. He wanted to date me really bad and was heartbroken and embarrassed so he had to get away for a while and find a group that didn't remind him of me. Ugh, my heart cries thinking about it.) And I don't see him much that semester. Sarah, Amber, and I go to Benson to meet up with his family for his birthday, but his girlfriend is there and it is awkward.
Now it is May and Rod is having his Mission farewell in New Mexico. A group of us decide to caravan back for it. There is a massive crash an hour outside my hometown and we are stuck for over an hour behind it. ArJay and I are sitting in the backseat and start talking. And the months melt away and my best friend is back. My parents put up a tent in the backyard for all of us and we stay up super late talking and I realize how much I missed him.
Now it is June and it is time for ArJay's Mission farewell. But I am not going. We just started being friends again and I don't need to up the drama quotient. Going to the farewell will put so much unnecessary drama and pressure on a big grand goodbye. I'm just going to leave it at the bye I said at the end of school. But my Mom tells me I'm silly and I would never miss a friend's farewell so I better be a good friend and go.
We get there just as the meeting is starting and the place is packed because there is also a missionary homecoming today ( Funny story: that missionary, Cade Broderick, is now in our ward and his family are our really good friends). ArJay still spots me and insists afterwards that I come back for the big lunch thing they are doing at his house.
I got him a present. It is mostly gag gifts and funny inside jokes. Some "Sugar daddy" pants because he always said " Who's your daddy?" to annoy me. Pink girly stationary to write home, A huge box of fruit snacks. But I put in one serious thing. I cross-stitched him a picture of Jesus. ArJay opens it and just stares at it for a minute. Then he looks at me
"Thank you, I'll keep it with me always"
"You're welcome"
" Along with the Pants and pink paper"
"Well they are collectors items."
He keeps talking to me for a long time.
"ArJay, shouldn't you be talking to some of these other people. Didn't you grandma come from Utah?"
"She's not leaving til tomorrow, it's fine."
He eventually does go talk to others and I chit chat with his sister and my mom then we decide to go because it's 6 hours drive back home. He walks me to the car and I concentrate VERY HARD on not crying.
This is exactly why I did not want to come. I knew I'd just cry and make a scene. I can't help it, it's in my genes. We Weirs are criers.
I hastily say "We'll see you Elder Gamble, I'll write you." I give a quick hug and hop in the car.
As we drive home, I realize that I haven't actually kissed him since last year, that first date. So it's not the romance I'll miss, but the easy, perfect friendship that we already missed this whole semester because of our own pride and hurt feelings. I truly am not waiting for a missionary, but I'm sure going to miss my best friend.
Part I: First Meetings
Part II: Let's Just Be Friends
PArt III: First Date
There are 6 of us we hung out constantly that first semester. Amber, Sarah, Me, Rod, ArJay and Dustin.
 |
| Everybody say "HI Dustin" |
We decided to all hang out for New Year's Eve. ArJay and Dustin lived in Tucson, so we all come to them. I am not feeling so well but didn't want to miss out on the fun so I came anyways.( This proved a bad choice since I was really out of it the whole time) NO one can agree on what to do, so we end up splitting into 2 groups and promise to meet later. I am in the car with ArJay and Amber. Long story short, It is not our night and everything we try to do doesn't work out. We miss the Midnight ball drop and kiss stuff because we are just driving to the dance and see the fireworks out the car window. It is an awkward weekend and I go back home confused and not sure where to go from here.
I get back to school and am completely bombarded with school and the play I am in, Honk. For weeks I get up early, go to school, go straight to rehearsal and don't get home until 10 or 11 at night. I am completely drained and miserable and not sure what to do about ArJay. He has waited multiple times at my dorm for me to come home, but ends up getting kicked out for dorm curfew before I get home. He leaves me the sweetest notes on my pillow every time. I Like him, A LOT! LEt's get real, he has seen me at my WORST. (See the walking Pneumonia And my all out cryfest for further proof).And, based on the sweet notes he keeps leaving me, he still seems to think I'm Rad. IN Fact, I like him so much I am maybe even starting to feel the other L word. And that REALLY freaks me out. Because I am NOT, AM NOT waiting for a missionary. Missionaries are gone for 2 years and I do not want to be one of those girls who sits around and waits. Again, nothing wrong with those girls but remember I fancied myself a rebel. So we sit down to talk.
" I really like you ArJay, but I don't think I can date you seriously. You are going on a mission in a couple months, can we just stay friends? " (Deja vu to week one anyone? Oh the irony!)
"Yeah of course, you're right. It wouldn't have worked...right?"
We hug and I walk him to the door. I have this horrible sense of loss and dread, even though all appears fine. We agreed didn't we? We thought the same thing? I need to make sure we are fine.
"So I'll see you tomorrow right?"
"Yeah, of course"Now he won't even look me in the eyes
But I don't see him tomorrow, or the next, and I only see him from a distance the next day. Then he has a girlfriend who is my complete opposite and a completely different set of friends.( Later he told me that he didn't agree. He wanted to date me really bad and was heartbroken and embarrassed so he had to get away for a while and find a group that didn't remind him of me. Ugh, my heart cries thinking about it.) And I don't see him much that semester. Sarah, Amber, and I go to Benson to meet up with his family for his birthday, but his girlfriend is there and it is awkward.
Now it is May and Rod is having his Mission farewell in New Mexico. A group of us decide to caravan back for it. There is a massive crash an hour outside my hometown and we are stuck for over an hour behind it. ArJay and I are sitting in the backseat and start talking. And the months melt away and my best friend is back. My parents put up a tent in the backyard for all of us and we stay up super late talking and I realize how much I missed him.
 |
| There we are in the back both in Yellow. We were Twin-ers and didn't even know it. |
Now it is June and it is time for ArJay's Mission farewell. But I am not going. We just started being friends again and I don't need to up the drama quotient. Going to the farewell will put so much unnecessary drama and pressure on a big grand goodbye. I'm just going to leave it at the bye I said at the end of school. But my Mom tells me I'm silly and I would never miss a friend's farewell so I better be a good friend and go.
We get there just as the meeting is starting and the place is packed because there is also a missionary homecoming today ( Funny story: that missionary, Cade Broderick, is now in our ward and his family are our really good friends). ArJay still spots me and insists afterwards that I come back for the big lunch thing they are doing at his house.
I got him a present. It is mostly gag gifts and funny inside jokes. Some "Sugar daddy" pants because he always said " Who's your daddy?" to annoy me. Pink girly stationary to write home, A huge box of fruit snacks. But I put in one serious thing. I cross-stitched him a picture of Jesus. ArJay opens it and just stares at it for a minute. Then he looks at me
"Thank you, I'll keep it with me always"
"You're welcome"
" Along with the Pants and pink paper"
"Well they are collectors items."
He keeps talking to me for a long time.
"ArJay, shouldn't you be talking to some of these other people. Didn't you grandma come from Utah?"
"She's not leaving til tomorrow, it's fine."
He eventually does go talk to others and I chit chat with his sister and my mom then we decide to go because it's 6 hours drive back home. He walks me to the car and I concentrate VERY HARD on not crying.
This is exactly why I did not want to come. I knew I'd just cry and make a scene. I can't help it, it's in my genes. We Weirs are criers.
I hastily say "We'll see you Elder Gamble, I'll write you." I give a quick hug and hop in the car.
As we drive home, I realize that I haven't actually kissed him since last year, that first date. So it's not the romance I'll miss, but the easy, perfect friendship that we already missed this whole semester because of our own pride and hurt feelings. I truly am not waiting for a missionary, but I'm sure going to miss my best friend.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Our Love Story part III: First Date
IF you missed them, You'll want to go back and read
Part I: First Meetings
Part II: Let's Just be Friends
It is a few days before Thanksgiving Break and I am working up the courage to ask this super cute boy to the Winter Formal ( it was a girl's ask guys dance). We are all sitting around our dorm common room and I oh-so-suavely blurt out:
"Hey Joe( name changed to protect the innocent), do you want to go to Winter Formal with me?"
Joe looks at me with a surprised and disgusted face.
"NO, and I already have a date" Ugh "No AND"
IN the most casual voice I can; "OH that's cool, just checking, in case you didn't have a date, I didn't want you to be without one, that would suck right? Yeah so you have one so I'll just ask someone else, someone who hasn't been asked obviously. Because you have been right? " * Face palm*
"Yes..." Exit Joe stage right, swiftly
Now I am beyond embarrassed because not only did THAT just happen, everyone was still in the room for it. We are all headed to our friend's family's house for dessert. ArJay quickly realizes that I am in no mood to party and suggests we go for a walk. It is super cold and windy and I am feeling like a martyr and insist that I "will be fine"
"Whatever, grab your coat Maggie, we can huddle together."
So we do and ArJay listens to me whine and cry for the better part of half an hour as only a melodramatic angst-ridden young girl. You know the drill: " Nobody likes me!" "Why am I always just the friend?" " What's wrong with me?"
"Nothing is wrong with you, are amazing. The boys at this school are dumb and blind."
Eye roll "Right, you know me better then anyone and you didn't want to date me."
"OK let's go on a date."
Massive Eye Roll " I don't want a pity date ArJay, I'd rather have no date then a pity date."
He grabs me by the shoulders and forces me to look in his eyes " This is not a pity date, this is the opposite of a pity date."
A shiver goes up my spine, I try to cover "Geez,it's really cold. Let's go back."
WE go back to my dorm and ArJay says he is leaving in the morning for Utah then proceeds to give me every conceivable number I could possibly use to call him if I "need anything" ( seriously he included his Dad's cell and his Grandma's home number). So the date is set for the Saturday after we come back from Break. ( This is not the Winter Formal, ArJay already had a date. Rod bailed me out AGAIN and was my Winter Formal date)
It's finally Saturday. I have been ready for half an hour and am pacing the floor like a caged tiger waiting for ArJay. He shows up and that grin would give the Chesire cat a run for his money.
"Are you ready?" Rubbing his hands together manically
"Sure?" Said like a question because my trepidation has spiked
We first go over to the institute and play Foosball. Corny as it sounds, this was kinda a thing for us, we played all the time. We trash talk and play and all my nerves fly out the window. I don't need to be nervous, this is ArJay, I know ArJay. ArJay is safe and amazing and thoughtful and fun. Then he blindfolds us ( us being Amber and I. Amber and her boyfriend doubled with us) and my nerves go up again. We drive around for a long time. ArJay makes a frustrated noise and takes off my blindfold to explain that the dark windows in front of us are the cute little Italian restaurant that was supposed to open especially for us. Apparently they forgot. I laugh at how frustrated he is and his cute pout.
"It's fine. We can just go to R & R Pizza."
He Mumbles "It was SUPPOSED to be romantic and intimate. Not surrounded by everyone and their mom."
The remarkably thing about dinner is that ArJay doesn't watch the basketball game that is on in R & R pizza. If you have meet him, you know what a sports fanatic he is. It is a little disconcerting. I was having so much fun and feeling comfortable just hanging out with my friend ArJay. But "Date ArJay" is giving me his undivided attention and I get a little thrill of power that he really cares and this is a real live date.
"Blindfolds on one last time"
We drive around again. Then, still with blindfolds on, the boys leave me and Amber standing against the car and say they will be right back. And we wait....and wait.. and are both nervous talking. We have just started to thoroughly creep ourselves out when I hear footsteps. We are both convinced that a manically mountain man is coming to get us and I start jumping around.
"Hey it's just me, sorry to scare you."
" Geez! You nearly scared the pee out of me!"
Muffled laughter" Ok, take my hand but keep your blindfold on."
"What kind of crap date is this? Creeping me out by leaving me defense-less. What if a mountain man did come? And now he's leading me up who knows where. Maybe I don't know ArJay, what if he has been hiding his crazy and we are coming up to a cliff or something..."
My crazy thoughts are cut off when he takes off my blindfold and reveals that we are at the 50 yard line of the football field and there are candles and music.
" I really wish I could have taken you to Winter Formal, but can I have this dance now?"
I melt a little but somehow get my arms to function and lift them to his. We dance for a few songs, not talking just holding each other. I am amazed at how..right it feels." Here without you" by 3 doors down comes on. ArJay says: " I love this song" Just as I think "I bet ArJay picked this one, he loves it"
I know that because this is my best friend.
Wait this is my best friend, I shouldn't be holding him like this.I start getting nervous and look around for something to talk about. The moon is full and bright.
"Wow that is beautiful huh?"
He's looking right at me "Yeah it really is"
Then he kisses me. At first I freeze. My brain is exploding with thoughts "Gack! You are getting kissed, This is your first kiss EVER! And it's with ArJay! Your best friend! That's so crazy and weird and awesome and this is so romantic!" At this point, I realize that I am not really taking part in said first kiss ever. I swiftly tell my inner thoughts to shut up and kiss him back.
Part I: First Meetings
Part II: Let's Just be Friends
It is a few days before Thanksgiving Break and I am working up the courage to ask this super cute boy to the Winter Formal ( it was a girl's ask guys dance). We are all sitting around our dorm common room and I oh-so-suavely blurt out:
"Hey Joe( name changed to protect the innocent), do you want to go to Winter Formal with me?"
Joe looks at me with a surprised and disgusted face.
"NO, and I already have a date" Ugh "No AND"
IN the most casual voice I can; "OH that's cool, just checking, in case you didn't have a date, I didn't want you to be without one, that would suck right? Yeah so you have one so I'll just ask someone else, someone who hasn't been asked obviously. Because you have been right? " * Face palm*
"Yes..." Exit Joe stage right, swiftly
Now I am beyond embarrassed because not only did THAT just happen, everyone was still in the room for it. We are all headed to our friend's family's house for dessert. ArJay quickly realizes that I am in no mood to party and suggests we go for a walk. It is super cold and windy and I am feeling like a martyr and insist that I "will be fine"
"Whatever, grab your coat Maggie, we can huddle together."
So we do and ArJay listens to me whine and cry for the better part of half an hour as only a melodramatic angst-ridden young girl. You know the drill: " Nobody likes me!" "Why am I always just the friend?" " What's wrong with me?"
"Nothing is wrong with you, are amazing. The boys at this school are dumb and blind."
Eye roll "Right, you know me better then anyone and you didn't want to date me."
"OK let's go on a date."
Massive Eye Roll " I don't want a pity date ArJay, I'd rather have no date then a pity date."
He grabs me by the shoulders and forces me to look in his eyes " This is not a pity date, this is the opposite of a pity date."
A shiver goes up my spine, I try to cover "Geez,it's really cold. Let's go back."
WE go back to my dorm and ArJay says he is leaving in the morning for Utah then proceeds to give me every conceivable number I could possibly use to call him if I "need anything" ( seriously he included his Dad's cell and his Grandma's home number). So the date is set for the Saturday after we come back from Break. ( This is not the Winter Formal, ArJay already had a date. Rod bailed me out AGAIN and was my Winter Formal date)
It's finally Saturday. I have been ready for half an hour and am pacing the floor like a caged tiger waiting for ArJay. He shows up and that grin would give the Chesire cat a run for his money.
"Are you ready?" Rubbing his hands together manically
"Sure?" Said like a question because my trepidation has spiked
We first go over to the institute and play Foosball. Corny as it sounds, this was kinda a thing for us, we played all the time. We trash talk and play and all my nerves fly out the window. I don't need to be nervous, this is ArJay, I know ArJay. ArJay is safe and amazing and thoughtful and fun. Then he blindfolds us ( us being Amber and I. Amber and her boyfriend doubled with us) and my nerves go up again. We drive around for a long time. ArJay makes a frustrated noise and takes off my blindfold to explain that the dark windows in front of us are the cute little Italian restaurant that was supposed to open especially for us. Apparently they forgot. I laugh at how frustrated he is and his cute pout.
"It's fine. We can just go to R & R Pizza."
He Mumbles "It was SUPPOSED to be romantic and intimate. Not surrounded by everyone and their mom."
The remarkably thing about dinner is that ArJay doesn't watch the basketball game that is on in R & R pizza. If you have meet him, you know what a sports fanatic he is. It is a little disconcerting. I was having so much fun and feeling comfortable just hanging out with my friend ArJay. But "Date ArJay" is giving me his undivided attention and I get a little thrill of power that he really cares and this is a real live date.
"Blindfolds on one last time"
We drive around again. Then, still with blindfolds on, the boys leave me and Amber standing against the car and say they will be right back. And we wait....and wait.. and are both nervous talking. We have just started to thoroughly creep ourselves out when I hear footsteps. We are both convinced that a manically mountain man is coming to get us and I start jumping around.
"Hey it's just me, sorry to scare you."
" Geez! You nearly scared the pee out of me!"
Muffled laughter" Ok, take my hand but keep your blindfold on."
"What kind of crap date is this? Creeping me out by leaving me defense-less. What if a mountain man did come? And now he's leading me up who knows where. Maybe I don't know ArJay, what if he has been hiding his crazy and we are coming up to a cliff or something..."
My crazy thoughts are cut off when he takes off my blindfold and reveals that we are at the 50 yard line of the football field and there are candles and music.
" I really wish I could have taken you to Winter Formal, but can I have this dance now?"
I melt a little but somehow get my arms to function and lift them to his. We dance for a few songs, not talking just holding each other. I am amazed at how..right it feels." Here without you" by 3 doors down comes on. ArJay says: " I love this song" Just as I think "I bet ArJay picked this one, he loves it"
I know that because this is my best friend.
Wait this is my best friend, I shouldn't be holding him like this.I start getting nervous and look around for something to talk about. The moon is full and bright.
"Wow that is beautiful huh?"
He's looking right at me "Yeah it really is"
Then he kisses me. At first I freeze. My brain is exploding with thoughts "Gack! You are getting kissed, This is your first kiss EVER! And it's with ArJay! Your best friend! That's so crazy and weird and awesome and this is so romantic!" At this point, I realize that I am not really taking part in said first kiss ever. I swiftly tell my inner thoughts to shut up and kiss him back.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Our Love Story Part II: Let's Just be Friends
If you haven't already, you should read part 1 first here:
PART I: First meetings
It's Tuesday of my first week in College and I am rushing to my first English class. I heard my teacher is pretty strict so I do not want to get on her bad side. Guess who is standing outside waiting to to go into my English class?
"Wow, here comes trouble." ArJay says
My thoughts exactly. I think
My new friend Marquette is also standing there so I go sit with her and of course ArJay sits on my other side. All through the lecture he keeps whispering to me and passing me notes. I furiously whisper
"Stop! I'm trying to pay attention!"
Right then, Mrs. Flamm looks up at me as she is telling everyone that she wants us "anxiously engaged in this class"
"Is there something you would like to share with the class, Ms. Weir?"
Drowning in mortification, I mumble no. I turn to ArJay, about to give him the 3rd degree when I glance at the last note he wrote:
" She convinced me, should we call your parents or mine first?"
How could I be mad at that? The flirty dialogue continues all week. On Saturday, he comes by and asks to talk.
"I really like you Maggie, but I don't really want to date anyone seriously. I'm going on a mission next year, can we just be friends?"
"Ok sounds good"
I don't want to date anyone seriously either, I have way too much fun planned. Of course, 5 minutes later he really liked this cute little blond girl. That hurts my ego a little that maybe he just didn't want to date ME Seriously. But, being the magnanimous person I am, I get over it quickly and even help him ask her out in a cute way. We really are best friends.
We are best friends when his Mom and sister and nephew come to visit and he introduces them to me first ( even before his girlfriend at the time, whoops!)
We are best friends when a group of us are watching a movie on the lawn and the sprinklers come on and everyone rushes to save their dates and tv and movies and ArJay wakes me up ( yes I fell asleep anywhere back in college) and saves me from getting soaked.
We are best friends when ArJay learns heartbreaking family news and I sit up with him all night talking it out.
My new roommates Amber and Sarah ask me why we don't " just get married already". But we are just friends.
It is mid November and I am the sickest I have ever been up until that point in life( I hadn't yet known the joys of morning sickness). I am shuffling down the sidewalk to go ask Mrs. Flamm for an extension on the paper due tomorrow. ArJay sees me and rushes over.
" What's wrong?"
" I'm sick, I'm going to ask for an extension. Do you think she'll give it to me?"
" Just let her see your zombie face and she'll give you until next year"
I go to punch him but can't muster the strength. I say goodbye and tell him thanks for walking me but he'd better hurry so he is not late for his next class.
When I come out 10 minutes later, ArJay is standing waiting for me.
" What are you doing, don't you have a test?" ( Yes we knew each other's schedules that well)
He shakes his head like I'm an idiot " Like I'm going to let you shuffle home by yourself."
He half drags, half carries me back to my room. Once my roommates come in and he has ascertained that someone will stay with me until my mom gets there ( he also made me call my mom to come get me), he goes to take the test and eat dinner.
My roommates are all in the mood for hot chocolate and I assure them that I will just be laying on the couch and they are free to leave. Of course, ArJay comes back when they are gone. He is furious.
" They just left You!"
" Well, yeah. I wasn't going to drink hot Chocolate."
"But someone should have stayed!"
"And done what? Stared at me while I moaned about being miserable?"
"No, taken care of you and distracted you"
"With what?I'm pretty sick"
His brilliant Idea is to get out the board games and we play Sorry. Or, more accurately, he plays while I watch and laugh at his silly jokes and antics. My roommates come back and ArJay reads them the riot act about what horrible rotten people they are for leaving me. I assure him it's fine and he could go. Apparently, he no longer trusts Amber and Sarah with my care, because he stays until my Mom shows up hours later. He helps me out to the car like I'm an invalid (although I did find out I had walking pneamonia so it was pretty bad) and insists on bringing out my bags. As we are driving away my Mom asks:
" So...you two are just friends?"
Yeah we are, but now I'm having a hard time remembering why...
PART I: First meetings
It's Tuesday of my first week in College and I am rushing to my first English class. I heard my teacher is pretty strict so I do not want to get on her bad side. Guess who is standing outside waiting to to go into my English class?
"Wow, here comes trouble." ArJay says
My thoughts exactly. I think
My new friend Marquette is also standing there so I go sit with her and of course ArJay sits on my other side. All through the lecture he keeps whispering to me and passing me notes. I furiously whisper
"Stop! I'm trying to pay attention!"
Right then, Mrs. Flamm looks up at me as she is telling everyone that she wants us "anxiously engaged in this class"
"Is there something you would like to share with the class, Ms. Weir?"
Drowning in mortification, I mumble no. I turn to ArJay, about to give him the 3rd degree when I glance at the last note he wrote:
" She convinced me, should we call your parents or mine first?"
How could I be mad at that? The flirty dialogue continues all week. On Saturday, he comes by and asks to talk.
"I really like you Maggie, but I don't really want to date anyone seriously. I'm going on a mission next year, can we just be friends?"
"Ok sounds good"
I don't want to date anyone seriously either, I have way too much fun planned. Of course, 5 minutes later he really liked this cute little blond girl. That hurts my ego a little that maybe he just didn't want to date ME Seriously. But, being the magnanimous person I am, I get over it quickly and even help him ask her out in a cute way. We really are best friends.
We are best friends when his Mom and sister and nephew come to visit and he introduces them to me first ( even before his girlfriend at the time, whoops!)
We are best friends when a group of us are watching a movie on the lawn and the sprinklers come on and everyone rushes to save their dates and tv and movies and ArJay wakes me up ( yes I fell asleep anywhere back in college) and saves me from getting soaked.
We are best friends when ArJay learns heartbreaking family news and I sit up with him all night talking it out.
My new roommates Amber and Sarah ask me why we don't " just get married already". But we are just friends.
 |
| That's Sarah, Amber, then ME when we went to Disneyland |
 |
| You know, just a typical Tuesday.... |
It is mid November and I am the sickest I have ever been up until that point in life( I hadn't yet known the joys of morning sickness). I am shuffling down the sidewalk to go ask Mrs. Flamm for an extension on the paper due tomorrow. ArJay sees me and rushes over.
" What's wrong?"
" I'm sick, I'm going to ask for an extension. Do you think she'll give it to me?"
" Just let her see your zombie face and she'll give you until next year"
I go to punch him but can't muster the strength. I say goodbye and tell him thanks for walking me but he'd better hurry so he is not late for his next class.
When I come out 10 minutes later, ArJay is standing waiting for me.
" What are you doing, don't you have a test?" ( Yes we knew each other's schedules that well)
He shakes his head like I'm an idiot " Like I'm going to let you shuffle home by yourself."
He half drags, half carries me back to my room. Once my roommates come in and he has ascertained that someone will stay with me until my mom gets there ( he also made me call my mom to come get me), he goes to take the test and eat dinner.
My roommates are all in the mood for hot chocolate and I assure them that I will just be laying on the couch and they are free to leave. Of course, ArJay comes back when they are gone. He is furious.
" They just left You!"
" Well, yeah. I wasn't going to drink hot Chocolate."
"But someone should have stayed!"
"And done what? Stared at me while I moaned about being miserable?"
"No, taken care of you and distracted you"
"With what?I'm pretty sick"
His brilliant Idea is to get out the board games and we play Sorry. Or, more accurately, he plays while I watch and laugh at his silly jokes and antics. My roommates come back and ArJay reads them the riot act about what horrible rotten people they are for leaving me. I assure him it's fine and he could go. Apparently, he no longer trusts Amber and Sarah with my care, because he stays until my Mom shows up hours later. He helps me out to the car like I'm an invalid (although I did find out I had walking pneamonia so it was pretty bad) and insists on bringing out my bags. As we are driving away my Mom asks:
" So...you two are just friends?"
Yeah we are, but now I'm having a hard time remembering why...
Monday, March 10, 2014
Our Love Story Part I: First meetings
My Senior year I had a decision to make. I had scholarships to a couple colleges but didn't really want to go to any of them. I didn't want to go to New Mexico State because half my graduating class was going there and, being an Air Force brat, I liked moving and the idea of starting over where no one knew me. I didn't want to go to the school in Virginia because it was too far away. I didn't want to go to BYU because I was NOT going to be one of those girls that got married to the first guy she meet at college ( HA! Foreshadowing). Nothing wrong with those girls, I just fancied myself a rebel. Hilarious, I know. So my Young Women's leader told me about this tiny 2 year college in Arizona called Eastern Arizona College. I went to a preview day and was sold. Big fine Arts program, lots of LDS, fairly close to home, and they offered me scholarships on the spot. Fast forward a few months...
It's the Sunday before school starts at EAC and I'm sitting outside the bishop's office with my friend Rod. He is literally the only person I know here. He was my friend back home and decided to come to EA at the last minute.
Being the nosy person I am, I look at the name of the person who signed up before me and is in the office right now. ArJay Gamble. That's a weird name, how do you pronounce that? Just then the door opens and out he walks still talking to bishop. HEELLOO! He is tall( but I'm 5'4" what do I know from tall?), dark hair, dark eyes, and a tie covered in sheep with a black sheep right in the middle( it's the tie that did me in). He glances over, then does a double take.
"HI. I'm ArJay"
" Oh that's how you say it, I was wondering"
Pause as he looks at me expectantly
"Oh I'm Maggie, or Magdelyn, whatever you want. And this is Rod"
They do the weird guy chin bob thing that makes up 75% of guy's communications with each other
"So, I'm getting a group together to play some games in my dorm's common room tonight at 7, do you want to come?.... You both can if you want"( ArJay later told me that he thought Rod and I were a couple but he thought I was hot so he invited me anyways)
I Look at Rod for confirmation then get my own chin bob of acceptance
"Sure sounds fun, see you then!"
We show up at game night and there are 3 guys and about 12 girls and ArJay seems to know ALL the girls. I thought he was trying to be a player( I would later come to realize that this imbalance of the number of girls vs guys is just common at EA).
We start playing "Battle of the Sexes". ArJay starts telling me the answers, but they are mostly the wrong answers.He throws in a right one every once in a while to screw me up. I start getting really annoyed Dude I don't know you from Adam, go bug someone else.
Meanwhile, one of the other girls is blatantly trying to get his attention. At one point, she even sticks her head in between us with her back to me and starts loudly giggling at him and flipping her hair around.
Have at him! I'm just trying to play the game and he's messing with my head!( have I mentioned that I can get pretty competitive?) He manages to ward off the hair flipping and is back to mouthing answers to me. So now the giggler is mad at me and he's still telling me answers. So, being the mature person I am, I give him stink eye while the hair flipper gives me stink eye.
Finally it is dorm curfew and everyone starts packing it in. The Giggler is standing around expectantly but he walks around her and comes right next to me.
"Can I walk you back to your dorm?"
"It's just across the courtyard, it takes 5 minutes."
" But it's dark and who knows what's out there"
"Seriously, this is EA."
Rod then chimes in.
"Just let him walk you Maggie, your Mom would feel better about it"
Reluctantly, I start walking, making sure we are still with most of the group. Somehow they speed up or we slow down, and we are separated and sit in the grass and start talking. And we kept talking. When I finally made it into my dorm 2 hours later that night, I decided maybe he wasn't so annoying after all.
It's the Sunday before school starts at EAC and I'm sitting outside the bishop's office with my friend Rod. He is literally the only person I know here. He was my friend back home and decided to come to EA at the last minute.
 |
| That's me and Rod at my Junior Prom. I know what you are thinking "SUHHWEEET Bangs!" |
Being the nosy person I am, I look at the name of the person who signed up before me and is in the office right now. ArJay Gamble. That's a weird name, how do you pronounce that? Just then the door opens and out he walks still talking to bishop. HEELLOO! He is tall( but I'm 5'4" what do I know from tall?), dark hair, dark eyes, and a tie covered in sheep with a black sheep right in the middle( it's the tie that did me in). He glances over, then does a double take.
"HI. I'm ArJay"
" Oh that's how you say it, I was wondering"
Pause as he looks at me expectantly
"Oh I'm Maggie, or Magdelyn, whatever you want. And this is Rod"
They do the weird guy chin bob thing that makes up 75% of guy's communications with each other
"So, I'm getting a group together to play some games in my dorm's common room tonight at 7, do you want to come?.... You both can if you want"( ArJay later told me that he thought Rod and I were a couple but he thought I was hot so he invited me anyways)
I Look at Rod for confirmation then get my own chin bob of acceptance
"Sure sounds fun, see you then!"
We show up at game night and there are 3 guys and about 12 girls and ArJay seems to know ALL the girls. I thought he was trying to be a player( I would later come to realize that this imbalance of the number of girls vs guys is just common at EA).
We start playing "Battle of the Sexes". ArJay starts telling me the answers, but they are mostly the wrong answers.He throws in a right one every once in a while to screw me up. I start getting really annoyed Dude I don't know you from Adam, go bug someone else.
Meanwhile, one of the other girls is blatantly trying to get his attention. At one point, she even sticks her head in between us with her back to me and starts loudly giggling at him and flipping her hair around.
Have at him! I'm just trying to play the game and he's messing with my head!( have I mentioned that I can get pretty competitive?) He manages to ward off the hair flipping and is back to mouthing answers to me. So now the giggler is mad at me and he's still telling me answers. So, being the mature person I am, I give him stink eye while the hair flipper gives me stink eye.
Finally it is dorm curfew and everyone starts packing it in. The Giggler is standing around expectantly but he walks around her and comes right next to me.
"Can I walk you back to your dorm?"
"It's just across the courtyard, it takes 5 minutes."
" But it's dark and who knows what's out there"
"Seriously, this is EA."
Rod then chimes in.
"Just let him walk you Maggie, your Mom would feel better about it"
Reluctantly, I start walking, making sure we are still with most of the group. Somehow they speed up or we slow down, and we are separated and sit in the grass and start talking. And we kept talking. When I finally made it into my dorm 2 hours later that night, I decided maybe he wasn't so annoying after all.
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