A Sweet, Smart, and Soulful Girl

In the summer of 2000 I got home from a trip to the British Isles. It was a a lot of fun (despite everyone else that was SUPPOSED to go flaking out).  On a side note, I also learned on my return that making ATM withdrawals across international borders costs a lot in surcharges.  But this is only tangential to the story. 

You see, a week after returning there was this party.  Nothing momentous, just another summer pool party for our single adult ward (a congregation made up of mostly 18-31 year old single Mormons).  The party was at someone's house with more money than sense.  I remember this party for two reasons.  First of all there was a giant dolphin fountain (See, more money than sense!) and secondly I met a girl.

Well,  I had met her before but had never exchanged more than a few words with her. She was tangentially a part of the group of people I hung out with. (It was a big group with lots of people cycling in and out.)


Several of "the group" we're sitting around a table chatting about artistic endeavors.  (I remember talking, rather pretentiously, about "my art".)  At the other end of the table I heard this girl talking about David Lynch.  My movie geek sense began tingling.  David Lynch? The famed auteur?  The guy that gave us one of the most brilliantly bizarre films ever made, Eraserhead? I had to talk to her.  A cute Mormon girl discussing David Lynch at a party is not something you ignore!  Needless to say, I worked my way over to the other side of the table and we began to talk movies. Lo-and-behold, we hit it off. We agreed that a movie night in the near future was in order but left it at that.  I sensed that she was more than casually interested in me and I was still tingling.  She was awesome.

The next day was church and I wasted no time. I Immediately tracked her down and we agreed to a movie date at her house.  A few days later I brought a suitably artsy movie over and, not surprisingly, she liked it.  She seemed to like ME too.  We took a walk and began to talk.  We finished the walk and talked some more, several hours more.  I remember going home late, heart a flutter.  I had wanted to kiss her that night but thought that might be a little premature. 

Fast forward to our third date.  We returned home to her house, sat on the couch, and talked some more.  When it was time to for me to go we hugged and, on a whim, I leaned in and kissed her then quickly left, not looking back.  I wasn't sure if I had been too forward or not but it felt right.

Luckily, it was right.  The next day we hung out and she let me know in no uncertain terms that she was fully ready and willing to kiss me too.  (Did I mention she was also very good at it?)

Time passed.  I remember, sometime around my birthday that year, realizing that I really and truly was in love with this lovely, artistic, smart, and soulful girl.  (She tells me she knew I was in love with her when I once called he " My Main Squeeze".)

We dated into the summer 2001. I had just finished a principal photography on a very dysfunctional and ultimately failed short film that had ended up stressing me out beyond words.  One warm summer evening, a week or so after the shoot, I was decompressing over at her apartment. Glad to be done with the film, my mind was turned to more serious matters.  I was thinking that maybe it was time to ask her to marry me.  I loved her, she loved me, and we were great together. There really was no reason to prolong the inevitable.  I had a problem though.  I was irrationally scared at the prospect of the actual proposal.  In other words, I was a big fat wuss.

Luckily, the stars aligned.  It seems she had been thinking along the same lines.  Sitting there on her futon, we had "the talk".  She wanted to know where this relationship was going (and rightly so).  We had dated for a year and she wanted some clarification.  I remember the conversation going something like this,

Amy: "Nate, we've dated for a year now.  Where do you see this relationship going?"

Me: "Well, I think we have something.  I guess I see us getting married. How about you?"

Amy: "I see that too."

Me: "Why don't we then... get married."

Amy: "Okaaay. (long pause) Does this mean were engaged?"

Me: "I think so."

(Long pause)

Amy: "Ok, but I want you to do it the right way."

Nate: "Huh, ok. (kneels and takes her hand) Amy Glaser, will you marry me?"

Amy: "Yes!"

Then we kissed (we were very good at it by now) and called our parents.  Not very romantic I realized.  We immediately shopped for rings and I put a deposit down on the one she wanted.  I payed off the ring and planned to do a better proposal at a nice restaurant.

 A couple weeks later we went to the nice restaurant.  (Plan working so far!) It was a lovely evening: great atmosphere, warm summer evening, great food. (Huzzah!)  Then, they sat us in a weird little section of the restaurant with tiny booths all bunched together.  The booths were so closely packed together we were essentially sharing a table with a couple of complete strangers. (Alert! Plans fizzling!)   I managed to contort my body to fit in the little booth. (Kinda' hard to kneel now. Ugh!) In retrospect I should have asked for a different table but the thought never crossed my mind at the time.  We had an akward dinner, trying to ignore out tablemates, and I recalculated my plans. (Sigh.)

Later, over at my place, I remember sitting on the couch thinking, "In the long run it doesn't really matter where it is I give her this ring.  I think she'll be happy regardless."

I pulled it out of my pocket and I remember the look in her eyes when she saw the little velvet box.  I was right.  It didn't matter.  

On October 11, 2001 we were married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. 

Now here we are living in a quiet little town in Ohio expecting our 4th child.  We've grown a lot in these last ten years.  I'm more in love with her now than ever and  I look forward to many more years.

I love you Amy Kathleen Frary.  You are are the superlatives I can think of and damn sexy to boot.


Nate

In Which My Eldest is Adorable in an Entirely Creative Way

If it hasn't been clear to those that know me already, I've always wanted to write professionally (in one form or another).  As my school career has been winding down I've been flexing my writing muscles more lately.  I'm finding the process more personally rewarding than ever.  (Here's to hoping it can be as financially rewarding someday too.)  

As part of my increased activity I've been writing weekly(ish) installments of a story for my two oldest boys in which slighty exaggerated versions of themselves partake in perilous and hilarious adventures.  This was never intended for anyone but them and I'm using it as much to entertain them as I am practicing my craft.  It's a great exercise that's fun to do and with almost immediate gratification from the boys. (What kids wouldn't love to read adventure stories starring themselves?)

Last week when I hadn't been able to write my weekly installment in time, Ian took it upon himself to write a story to share with us.  His characters of choice though were not his family but his current ardent obsession, Calvin and Hobbbes.  (He spends hours reading and rereading the various collections we've acquired.)  What's great about Ian is that when he gets really interested in something he can focus on it with the kind of intensity rarely seen in most eight-year-olds.  This story was no exception.  I showed him how to bring up MS Word and off he went.  Three days later, after spending every available moment he had working on his story, this is what he came up with (video follows as well):

 (Note: The only changes I made was to space things out so it wasn't a gigantic lump of text.)

Calvin and Hobbes

Let   me  introduce  you  to  Calvin  and  Hobbes  Calvin  is  spikey  haired, age  6  and  has  a  big  imageanation.  Hobbes  on  the  other  hand  slim,imagenary,no  one  knows  his  age  and  he’s  Calvins  friend.This  is  their  life.  One  day  dot  dot  dot  Calvin[This  is  saterday]Came  bumping  down  the  stairs  yelling  its  saterday![Note:he  does  this  every  saterday]  When  his  parents  herd   him  his  dad  said  to  mom  go  and  break  his  little  legs.  Calvin  got  down  rotted  his  inards  with  chocolate  cereal  and  rotted  his  brain  waching  cartoons.

Finaly  Calvin  manged  to  get  upstairs  get  his  clothing  on  and  go  outside  finnialy  the  house  was  quiet  at  least  for  a  while.Meanwhile  outside   Calvin  was  digging  in  his  yard  like  always  is.  This  time  he  wasn’t  digging  for  dinosoar  bones  which  he  usually  does  that.  Even  I  don’t  know  why  hes  digging  this  time.Well  lets  see  what  he  says.  What  are  you  doing  to  are  yard!  Yelled  mom  furiously.  Makeing  speed  bumps. Said  Calvin.  Then  he  went  inside.   Hobbes  was  their  waiting  for  him.  

Hobbes?asked  Calvin  in  a  stammerd  voice.

YYYYYYAAAAAAHHHHHH! Yelled  Hobbes  AUGH  TIGER  ATACK! Scremed  Calvin  in  a  very  screamy  voice.

Would  the  two  of  you  keep  it  down!Yelled  mom.  It  was  Hobbes  mom  I  fighting  for  my  very  surviveal.Said  Calvin.

Sure  Calvin  I  don’t  want  to  sew  Hobbes  up  again  why  don’t  you  two  go  do  something  quiet.  Said  mom.

  Okay  okay.Mumbled  Calvin  as  he  walked  away. You  sissy  mom  always  takes  your  side.  Said  Calvin  to  Hobbes.

Thats  because  she  wanted  another  tiger  not  you.Said  Hobbes. Well  it  looks  like  our  friend  Calvin  went  outside  again. This  time  he’s  takeing  Hobbes  with  him  so  when  he   comes  back  in  he  will  not  be  pounced  on.  Ok  I  was  kidding  about  that  one.  It’s  actually  his  bedtime. 

Time  for  bed  Calvin.Said  mom.

NO  MOM  NO  DON’T  PUT  ME  TO  BED. I  INSTRUCTED  HOBBES  TO  MESSILY  DEVOR  ANYONE  WHO  PUTS  ME  IN  BED  BEFORE  9’PM.Yelled  Calvin.

Your  stuffed  tiger  is  in  the  washing  machine.Said  mom.

Fine  time  to  take  a  bath.Mumbled  Calvin.

Listen  just  because  you  never  take  one.Said  Hobbes.Well  I  guess  its  the  end. 

Yes, he borrowed from the comic A LOT and maybe this is just my daddy blinders but I was quite impressed with his effort.  He now plans a sequel.