[note: apologies for the saccarine level. tred carefully if you're diabetic.]
Relationships are a tricky thing (if you know where this is going, bonus points!). I just thought I'd let you Jatraqueros know about my relationship with Bernard.
The two of us met at Presidential Classroom (Jeni, you're beloved!), in a book signing line. I wasn't even talking to him--he turned around and talked to me. That was on Sunday, and for the rest of the week, we hung out whenever we could--I was in Caucas 2, he was in Caucas 4. On Friday (everyone left on Saturday) they put on a dance for us... Bernard and I didn't dance. We sat in the back and talked for what seemed like hours.
Finally, we had to go upstairs to sleep. The two of us were somewhat reluctant to part (we were both too shy to say anything to one another), but fate stepped in at 4:45 in the morning in the form of a fire alarm. The two of us sat up in the halls (as opposite sexes weren't allowed in rooms), and when my bus left for the airport home, Bernard came down to see me off, and he kissed me on the cheek.
I didn't think it was possible, but that single kiss threw me into more of a tailspin than anything that had ever happened to me. I fretted for weeks over what that kiss meant. My best friend A (now my roommate in college), calmed me as best she could, but to no avail. Bernard and I were excanging emails and IMing one another, and he was sending complete mixed signals. Sometimes blant flirting. However, I sometimes tease my guy friends to what looks like flirting to the untrained eye. I had no idea if this relationship was the same.
On February 4 (and I only remember the date because I printed it out), I got an email from Bernard in which he told me that he loved me. I'm still walking on air from it. At that time, he lived in Oregon and I in Louisiana, so our long-distance relationship consisted of lots and lots of emails and IMs and the very occassional phone call. I told my parents that we were dating in April, and they allowed me one phone call a week.
During this summer, Bernard began attending Beloit college, for their summer CLS program (the man's a masochist, I swear: he took a year's worth of Mandarin in the span of nine WEEKS). It was sad, we were estatic about being in the same time zone. We both got our own cells, with free minutes after nine so we could talk almost all night if we wanted.
CLS was a lifesaver: There was a week's break between the end of CLS and the beginning of school for him. He managed to secure a plane ticket, and my parents (God love them) allowed for a boy they had never met to stay for a week in their house, on the grounds that if I trusted him then he must be a good person. That week was... Amazing. There's no other way to describe it. My boyfriend, the one person that I loved above all, was with me. During that one week we became so close, we could literally feel our souls wrapping around one another. At the end of the week he left, and we both still felt each other's presence, even though we were miles apart.
This past week, neither one of us couldn't take it anymore. He had a week off before midterms, and he came down to see me. While he was down, he asked me to marry him. I accepted.
We're both young, we both know that. We're only freshmen in college, so we're going to wait until we both graduate and Bernard goes into grad school. It'll be tough, waiting for graduation and even after when we'll have all those student loans to pay off, but we'll manage.
So thank you to all of you who've read through this thread.
AND I'M ENGAGED! To a wonderful, honest, amazing man. Bernard, I love you.
Mayday
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
SWEET!!
DUDE! DUDETTE!
SWEET!
Posted by Jeni (Member # 1454) on :
I can't think of anything better to say right now than "wow!" and I've already said that to both of you. So, congratulations! You're both very sweet and I'm very happy for you. Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Hobbes Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
B!!!! Mayday!!! THAT IS SOO COOL!!!
(hugs you both) Congratulations!!!
I'm so happy for you guys!!
Posted by Lalo (Member # 3772) on :
I've been busy using exclamation points at Bernie in the chat room, but I have to offer congratulations to both of you. Bernie is, naturally, a great catch -- and you sound so intelligent and articulate that I have difficulty believing you're an American citizen. From what little I can tell, Bernie's made as great a catch as you have.
Young and in love. This is just so damn sweet.
Posted by Emperor Palpatine (Member # 3544) on :
People. Honestly. Stop getting engaged. You might give me ideas. Posted by BYuCnslr (Member # 1857) on :
:: looks down and shuffles feet :: I'm still trying to get my head wrapped around the "We" part of "We're engaged." Small note though, we did dance, though...only with the cohersion of one of my roommates (thank you Jeni for introducing me to the Presidential Classroom). I know that quite a few of you are going to say that we are too young to be married, and we both agree whole-heartedly, right now, we are engaged, and not even officially (saying that neither of us can afford rings). We plan on finishing our schooling at our seperate schools because I love Beloit (yet again, thank you Jeni), and she loves LSU (where the uber-cool Toretha is also at). We both have the thought of finishing our education before marriage beaten into us, thusly tis very important to us. Afterwards, we will live closer together to see if we can deal with each other on a daily basis before we finally marry. At the moment, I'm rather fuzzy with the euphoria. I love you, dearest Maribeth. Satyagraha
Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :
Lalo: My mother was an English minor. I've had proper grammar crammed down my throat since I was two. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Congrats to both of you!
And I just have to add, AWWWWWWWWWWW! Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
'Grats, guys. Posted by Mr.Funny (Member # 4467) on :
Congratulations!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by esl (Member # 3143) on :
Yay! Thanks Mayday I love to know the story behind everything.
Happy Day!
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Congratulations!
I'm proud of you for making the right decision and for finding each other. May you have all the happiness you dream of!
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Bernard....as in our Oregon Bernard? Engaged? Adoring girl? This is so exciting!!! Bernard!!! I'd give you a hug if you were close by!! (btw, I thought of you this last weekend...guess where I was??? Yep! Canby! Your favorite place!)
But seriously folks, this is great news and I'm so excited for you both! Congratulations!
Edit cause I can't spell
[ October 20, 2003, 08:35 PM: Message edited by: Narnia ]
Posted by BYuCnslr (Member # 1857) on :
Thanks Narnia! Though, pray tell, why were you in Canby?
Thank you everybody for your blessings! Satyagraha
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
Congrats, both of you!
Hmm...you must be the girlfriend who got the signed copy of Enchantment Bernard bought while we were all at Powells.
You know he's only marrying you to get it back! Posted by Nato (Member # 1448) on :
Hey, you two!
I wish you the best of luck. Even if something awful happens, remember how bloody happy you were to be in love.
Right here I could wax poetic for a while about how wonderful that is, but I'm sure you already know. So, enjoy!
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Congratulations!
And how wonderfully, marvelously caring you are about each other. The waiting part is hard, I know, but you will not regret it. It's one of the most tangible ways to say "I love you so much that I'm willing to do what's best." Very cool!
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Congratz to both of you!
We want pics from the wedding, in a few years or whenever.
One side note: Presidential Classroom, I reintroduced this to my school during my senior year, and was the only person that went. It was a fantastic experience. I met Vice President Bush amongst others (does that date me? No. Just because I was doing the Presidential Classroom before you two were born, aaaaahhhhg.)
I have to go now. I'm feeling a bit depressed for some reason.
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
I'm speechless.
That's amazing, guys.
::mucho hugs::
Posted by Zevlag (Member # 1405) on :
CONGRATULATIONS!
I knew this was coming, I just didn't see it this soon, then again, 3-4 years of engagement!?
I wish all the best for both of you, so cool!
((MB)) [[Bernard]]
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
Yay! this is so cool.
::hugs Maribeth and Bernard::
Ni!
[ October 20, 2003, 11:37 AM: Message edited by: kwsni ]
Posted by Toretha (Member # 2233) on :
I've already said this to Mayday, but now to both of yall-YEAAA!
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :
Congrats to both of you. Especially for having the good sense to wait. You are awfully young, you know. Posted by Lalo (Member # 3772) on :
quote:We want pics from the wedding, in a few years or whenever.
Pictures? We want invitations.
Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :
Bernard and I would like to thank all of you who have posted (and will? please?) giving us congratulations. It really means a lot to us, y'all giving us support, especially since we are so young, we'll be the first to admit it.
So thanks, y'all.
Mayday
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
Congratulations!! I wish you both the very best - much happiness and much love!
I'm also very proud of your maturity for waiting. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Congratulations!! Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
You know, invitations WOULD be nice. All these Hatrackers keep getting married, but nobody ever asks me to send them gifts....
Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :
If we can't find a big enough church... Could you still send gifts? Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote: All these Hatrackers keep getting married, but nobody ever asks me to send them gifts...
Well, I'm not getting married, but if it'll make you happy, feel free to send me a gift.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
See, I KNEW the gift angle would make me new friends. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Tom, if I ever stand still long enough to get married, you owe me a present.
I like books. And those flower-shaped bunt pans from William Sonoma.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Yay for cooking utensils!
This is what I drool over.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Christmas is coming up, and my birthday is january sixteenth.
Thank you.
p.s. Congrats, Beranard and Mayday!
Posted by Mormo (Member # 5799) on :
Awww, that is a very sweet love story. Thanks for sharing it. Congratulations and the best of luck to you both, Bernard and Mayday!! Morbo Posted by ana kata (Member # 5666) on :
Wowowowowow! Bernard and Mayday! I'm so happy for you guys! This is so wonderful! <gets tears in eyes> I'm SO coming! So I hope you do have it in Louisiana. <laughs>
Ah, I love you wonderful khe khe! I'm so happy you are happy! And I'm looking forward to getting to know my sis-in-law better! Welcome to the family, Maribeth! We are so delighted to have you! Posted by Zotto! (Member # 4689) on :
CONGRATULATIONS! Awesome, awesome, awesome! Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :
Ana Kata: Does this mean that I'm your fiancee-in-law now instead of your girlfriend-in-law? Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
Posted by ana kata (Member # 5666) on :
<laughs> If you like! I had already skipped ahead to sis-in-law! Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :
Whatever you want, sis-in-law.
Posted by JaneX (Member # 2026) on :
!!! !!!
!!!
...
!!!
*regains coherence*
*laughs* Wow, that took me totally by surprise...That is SO COOL! YAY! YAY YAY! I'm so happy for you guys!
(((((bro))))) (((((sis-in-law-to-be)))))
~Jane~
Posted by JeweledHeart (Member # 5833) on :
Let me say: AWESOME!!! I know how good it feels to be young and in love (and hopefully "young and engaged with the intention of waiting" soon) ::hint, hint:: Lol...JK...no pressure Emp...I love you!
But yeah, MUCH CONGRATS!!! May it all work out and may time fly by til the time you get married.
Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :
And me again, with a shameless link of Bernard and me. This is the only picture I have of the two of us, and yes, I really look that white next to him in real life, that is not a photography glitch.
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
Congratulations to both of you. Long-distance relationships can be tough (I know from experience), but it's so worth it when you've found the right person (which I also know from experience).
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
By the way, we got an All-Clad grille pan as a wedding present, and it is pretty freakin' awesome.
Posted by JeweledHeart (Member # 5833) on :
Off topic question: OK, I noticed that of the little partying guys in a lot of the posts here, only the little orange guys turn colors...and they turn the shade of green that cartoons turn when they are about to puke. So, are the orange ones the partiers/drinkers and are they drunk off their butts in this particular animation? Just pondering... Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :
In this thread... They're the Irish part of my family.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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So, congratulations! You're both very sweet and I'm very happy for you. ![[Group Hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
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