A Valentine's Tribute--A Little Late

Last night I got called in to work at around 10:30 p.m., and I got sent home at around 3:00 a.m. When I got home, I got in to bed and snuggled up to Garrett's warm body. I felt his chest rise and fall with each breath. I started to think about how grateful I am that he is alive, and I started to cry. I started to think about our long journey together and how much it has all meant to me. If you're not familiar with our story, let me enlighten you.

Garrett and I met when I was 14 years old--a freshman in high school. We both liked each other and started "going out". We broke up a month later because of peer pressure, and we didn't talk to each other for about 7 months. In June of the next year, I got a phone call one evening. It was Garrett wanting to hang out. We hung out that night and we just never stopped being together after that. A couple months after getting that phone call, we said "I love you" for the first time on the front porch of my dad's house. And we did.

Garrett left for his mission when I was a senior in high school. Although I dated while he was gone, I wrote to Garrett every week. When he got home, we eventually decided to tie the knot.

Lying in bed last night, I was thinking about our high school years. My heart smiles when I think about those years that we had together. Together we endured many trials during those years. I was experiencing my parents divorce and home life being generally uprooted. Garrett was experiencing other home life difficulties as well. I think we both found peace when we were with each other. It was like none of the bad stuff in our lives were really happening. Garrett had already experienced what I was going through, and he was there for me through everything. I was also able to be that support for him--there for him through thick and thin. I think these experiences really made us become close at such a young age. We were best friends.

I love thinking about all the good times. Last night I was remembering going on drives in the "Old Red" (Garrett's old Ford) and listening to Tim McGraw. I remember kissing Garrett while he was driving, and then I would get mad at him for not paying attention to the road. I remember Garrett throwing rocks at my window to wake me up when he was off of work. He worked at Teriyaki Stix/Hogi Yogi. I would sneak downstairs and let him in, and he would have a big cup of frozen yogurt that we would eat in the basement. I remember rough housing in my dad's kitchen and breaking his window. I remember going to the river late at night on several occasions to go swimming. I remember sitting on the front porch at my dad's house watching the cars go by and talking for hours. I remember talking about how it would be to get married one day. I remember loving to cook together while listening to Norah Jones or Peter Breinholt. I remember being so much in love. It was such a magical time.

I still feel that magic in our relationship. I am so grateful for a man who loves me for all that I am. I am grateful for the solidity he brings into my life. I am grateful for his ability to make me laugh. I love how he makes me feel like I am the most precious thing in this world to him. I really, really love him.