I've experienced an emotional rollercoaster, this week, of proportions I don't think and I pray I shall never have to rival. I have much news to share with you all and I apologize in advance for the lack of informing and sharing some of the news with most of you personally. I ask that you please pardon this as I am simply drained from this week. That said ...
Randy came to visited this weekend. Even thought I was scheduled to work Saturday we decided that we would make the most of the weekend and enjoy our time together. However, I failed to get my taxes done ahead of time. ( I know many of you are shocked and awed by the presence of procrastination. I would never!) At any rate after an early night Saturday, we got up and at 'em reasonably early (and by reasonably I mean before noon!) on Sunday to go to the Shedd Aquarium. Though a bit on the crowded side the it was by far an amazing day. We spent time together and seemed to be at the right place at the right time. After a full day at the aquarium and being all but swept out the door by maintenance at closing time we headed back to my apartment for a brief bathroom break before embarking for dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant.
Upon arriving back at my apartment I collapsed on the couch while randy um... relieved himself. Once he got out of the bathroom his tricky plan unfolded I will leave the remaining details a personal story, except that it was the most romantic gesture possible. (And that the chosen date was because at some point I said that tax day was the worst day of the year.) But I am now sporting some new shiny hardware on my left ring finger. (I think it makes it more palatable for guys if you use hardware like they bought a new drill or a circular saw) What was my response to his proposal? Don't think me cruel but I laughed I don't know why but I think it was out of nervousness. After the laughter subsided my answer unquestionably was yes.
I was floating on cloud nine, not wanting to let him leave the following morning when he came to drop off my apartment keys at work. It was a surreal but amazing feeling, I really am in Love. I waited after work to show my friends in person and to gush to them about my amazing love of my life.
While at work my manager was on the phone with is partner and informed me of a school shooting in Virginia. I began to panic and thought of my sister.. Oh god not my sister. I ask what school and he had hung up the phone already, he called back, Virginia Tech. Thank God it's not Radford, but wait that's close by, shit; wait Eric, mike and Jenna fuck..
I called my sister and got no response. I calmly left a message and asked her to call me. Called my parents and they had heard from her, she was ok she currently was in band and then directly on her way home after. Time passed at work and pushed all severity of the situation out of my mind not knowing the grand scale of the incident. When I arrived home the urgency of the situation was realized. I began as many of us did trying to use the internet to find out who had been heard from. AIM, and face book, I left messages with friends on face book asking if they hear from so and so to just make a post so all know that they are ok, asking other friends that were closer to the location if they could make a post that they heard.
Shortly after I heard from my friend Cheryl, her brother was ok; he had taken the semester off. I was feeling pretty confident. 26,000 students, what are the chances of my lone few, surly the first was safe the rest would continue to post that they were alright as well.
I continued to work on my taxes and chat it up with my sister and friends passing along my exciting new from the weekend.
Later I received a confusing message from my friend on face book saying her sister was safe and ok but that mike had been confirmed. I wasn't sure what the meant confirmed alive, amazing thank God, confirmed injured will he be ok? I IM'd her repeatedly hoping for a more timely response...
(Written a couple days later from the prior bit, so pardon the change in tone)
All that to say that Mike was among the victims of the shooting at Virginia Tech. It's been a rough week, I've spent allot of time talking and getting back in touch with childhood friends and neighbors. And offering my most sincere apology for their loss. I only wish that I could be there to comfort them in this terrible time. My parents sent flowers on behalf of our family and we've cried and hugged allot in the past week.
I kept going from the most happy I have ever been thinking about all that is ahead of me with my new life with Randy and how a new chapter is to begin, to looking back at the one that was ended so suddenly with Mike. At times I feel guilty for my happiness, but then I know that the lesson learned from this is that I would lead my life to the fullest and that life is with Randy.
I'm very excited and honored to announce that Randy and I are engaged.. We haven't set a date but all that will unfold in due time. Right now we are just floating on cloud 9 and it's a lovely view!
Randy came to visited this weekend. Even thought I was scheduled to work Saturday we decided that we would make the most of the weekend and enjoy our time together. However, I failed to get my taxes done ahead of time. ( I know many of you are shocked and awed by the presence of procrastination. I would never!) At any rate after an early night Saturday, we got up and at 'em reasonably early (and by reasonably I mean before noon!) on Sunday to go to the Shedd Aquarium. Though a bit on the crowded side the it was by far an amazing day. We spent time together and seemed to be at the right place at the right time. After a full day at the aquarium and being all but swept out the door by maintenance at closing time we headed back to my apartment for a brief bathroom break before embarking for dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant.
Upon arriving back at my apartment I collapsed on the couch while randy um... relieved himself. Once he got out of the bathroom his tricky plan unfolded I will leave the remaining details a personal story, except that it was the most romantic gesture possible. (And that the chosen date was because at some point I said that tax day was the worst day of the year.) But I am now sporting some new shiny hardware on my left ring finger. (I think it makes it more palatable for guys if you use hardware like they bought a new drill or a circular saw) What was my response to his proposal? Don't think me cruel but I laughed I don't know why but I think it was out of nervousness. After the laughter subsided my answer unquestionably was yes.
I was floating on cloud nine, not wanting to let him leave the following morning when he came to drop off my apartment keys at work. It was a surreal but amazing feeling, I really am in Love. I waited after work to show my friends in person and to gush to them about my amazing love of my life.
While at work my manager was on the phone with is partner and informed me of a school shooting in Virginia. I began to panic and thought of my sister.. Oh god not my sister. I ask what school and he had hung up the phone already, he called back, Virginia Tech. Thank God it's not Radford, but wait that's close by, shit; wait Eric, mike and Jenna fuck..
I called my sister and got no response. I calmly left a message and asked her to call me. Called my parents and they had heard from her, she was ok she currently was in band and then directly on her way home after. Time passed at work and pushed all severity of the situation out of my mind not knowing the grand scale of the incident. When I arrived home the urgency of the situation was realized. I began as many of us did trying to use the internet to find out who had been heard from. AIM, and face book, I left messages with friends on face book asking if they hear from so and so to just make a post so all know that they are ok, asking other friends that were closer to the location if they could make a post that they heard.
Shortly after I heard from my friend Cheryl, her brother was ok; he had taken the semester off. I was feeling pretty confident. 26,000 students, what are the chances of my lone few, surly the first was safe the rest would continue to post that they were alright as well.
I continued to work on my taxes and chat it up with my sister and friends passing along my exciting new from the weekend.
Later I received a confusing message from my friend on face book saying her sister was safe and ok but that mike had been confirmed. I wasn't sure what the meant confirmed alive, amazing thank God, confirmed injured will he be ok? I IM'd her repeatedly hoping for a more timely response...
(Written a couple days later from the prior bit, so pardon the change in tone)
All that to say that Mike was among the victims of the shooting at Virginia Tech. It's been a rough week, I've spent allot of time talking and getting back in touch with childhood friends and neighbors. And offering my most sincere apology for their loss. I only wish that I could be there to comfort them in this terrible time. My parents sent flowers on behalf of our family and we've cried and hugged allot in the past week.
I kept going from the most happy I have ever been thinking about all that is ahead of me with my new life with Randy and how a new chapter is to begin, to looking back at the one that was ended so suddenly with Mike. At times I feel guilty for my happiness, but then I know that the lesson learned from this is that I would lead my life to the fullest and that life is with Randy.
I'm very excited and honored to announce that Randy and I are engaged.. We haven't set a date but all that will unfold in due time. Right now we are just floating on cloud 9 and it's a lovely view!