JTK

Prepare yourself.  He doesn't know I'm doing this.  He'll love it though.  My sister will be mortified.  Some friends will be too.  Honestly, 365 days ago I would have never dreamed I would be writing something like this.

Back then, I was probably jamming some Mary J. Blige or Beyonce.  Anything that screamed I'm single, I love it.  I'm fierce, I don't need you.  Woman power, I tell you.

In January, I met him.  I had the hardest time letting him in.  He honestly thought I hated him because I would never initiate a conversation.  But living six hours away from each other, I just knew it wouldn't work.  And let's be real.  I am, after all, a SOUTHERN girl...I don't call you, you call me.

And one night, out of the blue, he did.  He called.  I looked at his name flashing on my phone.  I, of course, stalled.  Almost to the point where he was about to be sent to my voicemail...because, let's face it, I was super busy.  Hearing his voice made me giddy.  After we talked it was the classic scene you see in a movie...where the girl falls back on her bed kicking and giggling uncontrollably...with a smile that could not be removed from my face.

His calls became more frequent...like every few days, every other night, until we gradually moved into every night. He started saying things like:

"It's only highway"
"I am pursuing you"
"I knew when I met you, there was something different about you"

Who pursues, anyhow? He had me swooning.  Knew all the right things to say.  But I still wasn't sold.  I very hesitantly asked him to an engagement party in February.  As the date approached, I was like, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?  You are about to take this man to meet the large majority of your friends in one night.  This will be the second time you've ever seen him.  You've talked a hand-full of times on the phone.  He'll hate you in real life.

But he didn't.  He fit like a glove.  He mingled with all the right people, and was beside me when he needed to be and wandered when he didn't.  I was proud to have him there with me.  We held hands that night...which is something I never do...walking across the Square.  It felt as normal as brushing your teeth every morning...plus this extra jolt of oh-my-gosh-I'm-holding-this-guy's-hand.

The next day we had to say goodbye.  I was surprised that I actually felt a pang of sadness come over me.  Would I actually miss him?

That afternoon, on the way back to the Big City, my flight was booked to see him on Spring Break.

We didn't see each other for a month after that.  In that month, we celebrated Valentine's Day, his birthday, and my birthday.  I struggled with this inner turmoil of: do I get him a gift, do I not get him a gift, what does this gift say, should I mail it, should I wait...I mean it went on and on...and I called everyone under the sun...and he knew...before he even opened the package...that it was golf-balls.

It was hard being away from each other that long.  Not nearly as hard as it is now to not see each other every weekend :).  But in that month, we talked and we talked A LOT. All the getting to know you kind of stuff...seems like every topic was covered. The week after Valentine's Day I told my mom I loved him.

And the night I showed up at his house for Spring Break (after his sister and brother-in-law picked me up at the airport, after I had dinner with them AND DIDN'T KNOW THEM, after I met his parents without him there to introduce me...after all of that)...I was finally able to say that to his face.

I never imagined on January 8th I'd walk into a bar, see a man in a sports coat (that's seriously why I was attracted to him), make a connection, and never look back.  But it happened.  In this (nearly) one year I went from being the girl who almost didn't let the right guy in to the girl who really needed him.  I can't imagine him not in my life.  My secret keeper, anti-anxiety, peace maker, comedian, and best friend.

 (Clearly we have our chosen sides)

Can't wait to see where this adventure takes us.  Many more nightly phone calls.  Many more trips up and down the highway.  Many more laughs and cries.  Many more years.

I'm glad it's you, JTK.