Day 25 - Happy Anniversary to us

Well, people, we made it!  Mike and I have officially been a couple for 10 YEARS.  I know I am not supposed to get too personal in these posts, but I wanted to take a quick trip down memory lane and talk about "the beginning."

Mike and I met in the library of Stevenson High School on a Tuesday or a Wednesday.  It was the afternoon, so maybe 6th or 7th period, and I was in the library for study hall.  I was sitting at a table in a "tweedish" Abercrombie sweater.  I can't remember what I was wearing, but Mike remembers that sweater.  He remembers how my blonde hair looked against that sweater.  I can honestly I don't remember what Mike was wearing that day - and wish with all my might that I could.  If I had to take a guess, it would be his polo carpenter Jeans (you know the baggy kind that had the loop where the "hammer" was supposed to go if you were in construction?  I should have known at that moment that it was Mike's calling to be a construction manager.  Boy did I miss the signs!).  He was probably wearing a polo Rugby shirt as well.  He loved Polo, and looked great in it. 

We chatted at the library table for some time, until - for some reason I have yet to justify - I signed my name on piece of a paper and told him to keep it; that'd it be worth something some day.  That was the beginning of our friendship.  I find it worth mentioning here that he didn't keep the paper, which is fine because it certainly wouldn't be worth anything today (but there's still time).  He got the most important signature of all - my name on a marriage license 8 years later.

That following Friday I was hanging out with some friends at some one's house, when I got a call from my BFF Mike Zmuda.  Zmuda and I had become friends the month prior at a high school dance.  We hit it off one night, and we've been best buds ever since.  On that Friday, Z was with some of my other friends, and they were heading back to his house; he invited me to come over.  He also mentioned that he was with Mike Andre.  At the time, I had no idea that Mike Zmuda and Mike Andre were friends - let alone BEST friends.  Turns out, Mike Z. and Mike A. had gone to grammar school together and have remained close through it all.  In fact, Mike Z. is our newest neighbor!!!!!  I digress.

I went over to Mike Z's house and hung out with Mike Andre, and whoever else was there, and had a great time.  We exhanged numbers, and chatted the next day.  We decided that we should hang out at Mike Z's again on Saturday night.  Come Sunday, St. Patrick's Day, Mike Andre had asked me to be his girlfriend.  The rest is pretty much history.  Sure we have had moments of ups and downs, highs and lows, but we have always come out on top.  We have learned how to communicate.  We have learned how to fight fires with humor.  We have learned how to be an unstoppable duo.  He makes me a better person, and I like to think that I do the same for him.  I think we are each other's soul mate.  So cheesy. 

So now, we are off to celebrate the last 10 years with a dinner at RPM Italian (Giuliana & Bill Rancic's new restaurant), the Bulls game (3rd row), a couples massage, and some much anticipated alone time.  I can't wait to tell you all about it.  Cheers!