If by now you don't know the story of how Geoff and I met, here is the short version. I met Geoff when I was 18 years old and went to New Hampshire to visit a friend. He was my friend's ex and I was supposed to hate him. She asked him to take me out one day while I was there because she had to work, and for some unknown reason, he agreed to take her friend out for a day. A total stranger who he knew thought he was terrible. Best decision he ever made in my opinion!
We were together for about a year - technically we broke up before then but we still acted like we were in a relationship. Well, as much as we could given the distance between us. Long distance in those days sucked big time. The internet wasn't a household necessity yet and there were no cell phones with text messaging capabilities and unlimited long distance. Crazy how much the technology has changed! I was a Florida girl and he lived up north. His son was there and he wasn't leaving. I understood and offered to move but he felt I wouldn't leave my family so he thought it would be best if we were no longer together. If you know me, you know I am stubborn and I didn't accept this right away. So I scraped up the money (broke college kid) and took two weeks off to spend with him in New Hampshire in the middle of winter. It was the best and worst two weeks of my life. He broke my heart during that trip by telling me in no uncertain terms that we could not be in a relationship any longer. He claimed I was too young to realize what I was giving up if I left my home and moved there. Despite all of that, we had an amazing visit...I can never listen to "Tubtumping" without seeing the two of us sitting in his car and dancing along. When he took me to the airport, he was running late and I missed my flight home so I had to re-book a later one. We sat in the airport and talked (ok, well I cried and he talked) for a little longer before I had to finally go to the gate. It was an awful ride home. I cried the entire flight - listening to my Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On" cd over and over (yes, I know but this was 1998 for goodness sakes!). Years later, he admitted he made me miss my flight on purpose because he wasn't ready for me to leave.
So on with my life I went. Geoff was always there, always in the background, always my friend. Whenever I would doubt myself, he would talk me back up. He supported me when I felt like no one understood. And he was brutally honest with me. He would never let me get away with lying to myself about what was really going on. I met my son's father and he met another woman. As happens in life, our friendship drifted for awhile as we were both preoccupied with our relationships. Eventually we came back around.
After my ex and I split up, Geoff and I began to talk more and more. We broke a barrier we had been keeping up on New Year's Eve 2009 when he told me his biggest regret had been our break up so many years before. I knew that night that I still loved him. That I always had, and that I would never be as happy as I was when we were together with anyone else. But what were we going to do about it? After all, nothing had changed - we still lived almost 1500 miles apart from one another. And I wasn't sure if he felt the same because every time we would start to lead down that path in a conversation, we would remind each other again of the distance and how we were just happy we were best friends. More and more became every day. If we didn't talk for a day for whatever reason, it felt off. He was the person I wanted to share my good news with first, and come crying to when things weren't right. At some point we began discussing vacation plans, and we decided he should come down to Florida. He had made the promise to me when I left him years before that he would return the visit and come down to see me next time. He laughs now and says this was just proof that he always keeps his promises. It was just supposed to be a friendly visit...
When I picked him up from the airport, we hugged for a very long time. I had been nervous about seeing him again but it felt so normal to have him there in front of me. Before we admitted our feelings, we laid on my couch holding hands and watching random stuff on television, with me laying my head on his lap. Eventually during a trip to my kitchen to grab something to drink, he leaned in and kissed me.
It's been almost 8 months since we have been back together. I am lucky that he and I are committed to making this work despite the obstacles of the distance. I'm thankful for every day that we share because we missed out on so much. Our sons are supportive of our relationship, and their approval means more than you could possibly know.
He drives me insane regularly. He's also stubborn, and not as emotional as I am. He's maddeningly rational about things. He's a big Star Wars geek and a cheeseball. He hates Florida with a passion. You can't talk to him when the Patriots are playing. And if they lose, oh boy...He falls asleep way earlier than I do and sleeps in longer. He has a psycho kitty that he refuses to get rid of even though she stalks me and attacks me whenever he is not around. He's nine years older than I am and very set in his ways. He eats mayonnaise on virtually everything (so gross). We're both redheads (well, I am - he's going bald!). He would rather stay home and watch television on his huge screen TV and it kills him that I have a very basic 27 inch and no cable. He has an adorable northern accent and picks on my perfectly acceptable use of the word "ya'll". And we don't know when or how we will finally close this distance. But I love him. And he loves me. We're it for each other - rest of our lives :)
I talked to him about writing this and asked him if he had anything sweet to say to me to inspire me and this is what he said "You are more amazing than the blueberry ice cream with hot fudge that I am having for dessert" - See? Total cornball but it made me smile.
Without a doubt, I can honestly say that this man is the love of my life...and I can not wait until we are in the same place so we can really live happily ever after.
I think this is great Krista! You truly have put to test the saying, "Let it go, if it's meant to be it will come back to you." Love has no boundaries, or in your case- miles... I hope you go the distance! (No pun intended:))
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