Because at some point I wrote a blog about Paul and I - but then in transit... it got lost in cyber space and lets face it, I don't have the time or patience to look for it... so I will just revisit our story for some of those who may be interested and not know. Don't worry Paul I will save the embarrassing parts (from both of us) for those who really are in the inner circle...
Paul and I met when we were 21. I was working at Bennigans (or Begin-Agains as I called it - because no matter how many times you got fired or quit you could always come back to Begin-Agains) as a hostess/waitress. Paul was a full time student at UH.
I probably should mention that I was wearing an engagement ring at the time from someone else...
And this is where we think differently on how the "us" story began - lets just say I think that both of us had some stalkerish tendencies between the both of us... hehehe
Paul would come in and "read" a book at a table up by the hostess stand and I would occasionally see him looking my direction. One day I asked him what page he was on. he said some number and I asked if the book was any good... We made small talk but I went about my business and so did he. A few days later I asked him again what page he was on and it just so happened to be the same exact number. I told him that he could talk to me or ask for my number if he was not that interested in his book (not sure the exact words - but in my mind it went something like that).
I should note that before this interaction I did call my mom and mention to her that "My future Husband just walked through the door" she asked if it was my current fiance and I said no. About 30 min later she and my dad show up for dinner just to see who I was talking about (I should also mention that they really did not like my fiance and were OK with the fact that I may have found someone else attractive - but that is a different story entirely - and will never be on this blog because it is not worth the mention to be honest). She told me that she was not sure what it was but that she thinks I was right - looking back I am not sure if she just wanted me to break up with my fiance... or if she really did think so - but she has always loved Paul and opened her arms and home to him (mostly feed him, which if you know him - is the one way to his heart... although this baby coming seems to have hit him in the softies of his heart too)
A short while after our first interaction we started hanging out as friends at Bennigans and soon I was no longer engaged (my choice). We started hanging out more and dating you could say. He was not wanting anything exclusive because (I believe) not looking to get hurt. Who was I to rush him? But I also came to the conclusion that if he was willing to date other ladies... I would be willing to date other fellas... but that only lasted one date before I was asked to be his girlfriend... (His exact words... are you really going to make me ask you? ... YES I AM)
A little while later (I am horrible with dates as where Paul remembers these things) he took me on a trip to Corpus and said we were just going for a relaxing weekend. I thought OK! We went to the OMNI and it was really pretty! We were going up the escalator and there was a perfectly set table. I made the comment of "That would be perfect at our wedding one day" to which it was as if the escalator stopped and time stood still. Paul's face showed signs of panic as he said to me "whoa... I am no where near ready to talk about that!" - I cringed inside and said - "I'm sorry - I didn't mean it to come out that way" and spent the rest of the afternoon freaked out and had my mind made up that Paul was actually taking me here to dump me and I was going to have to walk home from Corpus to Houston... The rest of the day did not go as planned either - I was getting ready for dinner and my hair dryer burned up - there was not one in the room. I had left my make up in the car and it had melted. My dress was a little too tight... And my attempts at making him re-think about dumping me that night had been ruined.
We order dinner (me being from Cypress and had never been to a fancy restaurant) and I was told that the lobster I requested was market price. I said OK - cant be too bad we are on the coast right? Plus... if I was going to have to start my walking journey here in the next couple of hours I needed the energy right??? (Little did I know that Lobster tail was $84. when we got the bill) He waited until the restaurant was empty - I mean no waiters were even in sight... I asked if he was ready to go and he asked me to take his camera... I said OK....??? he asked if he could pull my chair out - I said I guess (I know I know - my irrational thoughts were great not only is he going to dump me but he is going to throw me on the floor to add to the humiliation - as if I did not know this guy at all) He pulled my chair to the side and got on one knee... "What are you doing?" I asked - He went on to tell me that I was his best friend and that I made his life complete. He wanted to know if... "YES" (technically I think he never got the question out - total Joey and Rachel moment) and I cried... I proceeded to tell him "so this isn't how you dump me?" to which he laughed and said "NO - Why would you think that???" I explained why and he hugged me and said that was the only lie he has ever been able to pull off with me (which is true because he giggles and smiles when he lies to this day).
Fast forward to today (10 years married with one kid on the way). We have experienced loss, excitement, love, and heartache all together. He has been my rock solid when I couldn't be. We have two little ones in heaven... one little one on the way (17 weeks along), and 3 fur children - their stories will be here later, and live in what we hope is our forever home (until we retire by the beach).
I cant remember any of my adult life without Paul... and to be honest... I wouldn't have it any other way. He is the hands down most caring guy I could ever have imagined, and I am not talking material things, I am talking down to earth, loving caring, taking my needs into consideration type of guy!
Bottom Line - I am blessed and LUCKY to call Paul my husband.
