As Promised (continued) ...

(please read "As Promised" blog first ... this is a continuation!)
So over the next year and a half our friendship blossomed. My "relationship" with the "other guy" was very rocky, at times heartwrenching, but Terry was always there with a listening ear or a shoulder. He treated me better than "the other guy". He always bought me gifts, especially when "the other guy" wasn't being so nice ... but I was TOO DUMB to clue in and dump this "other guy" (I'm being very kind here ... I am a lady and my mama taught me not to call people nasty names). So from May 1986 to July 1987 I stayed in that "other relationship" and it finally ended when the "other guy" was going away to University and confessed that he couldn't be faithful in a long-distance relationship (I later found out he hadn't been faithful at all over the year+ we'd been together, but that's water under the bridge). However I on the other hand HAD been faithful, and boy, it had sure been hard, with hunky Terry right there by my side. Terry had dated other girls over that year+ but we always kept in touch.
The day after that "other relationship" ended I went out drinking with my gal pals to drown my sorrows (or to celebrate, actually). Terry found out that night via Sherry that my boyfriend and I had broken up, and he called me the very next day and asked me to dinner. He listened to all my woes, anger, frustration for those next few weeks, hanging out with me every night with the patience of Jobe. I finally smartened up and realized everything I always wanted was RIGHT in front of me. Then things got serious real quick. For my birthday in October he gave me a beautiful ring, called it a "promise" ring, and told me he wanted to marry me someday, whenever I was ready. How sweet is that??!! I thought it was too good to be true. But in December of that year I finally had an AHA moment. It was like cupid had smacked me in the back of the head with his bow and arrow and said, "girl, give your head a shake ... snag this hunk NOW". So I called Terry (it was very late, we had already been out for the evening and had said our goodbyes) and asked him if he was busy next November ... when he confusingly asked why, I asked him to marry me. Point blank. Of course he said YES!!! LOL
So our wedding was planned for November, 1988. I chose November as we were both in jobs that had typical "slower" times in the late fall (he was a builder of custom homes, I was a real estate secretary - yes I chose the full-time job over going to business college). So I knew a week off for our honeymoon wouldn't be a problem. We bought a little "fixer-upper" house in north Oshawa (ah, the Dirty 'Shwa, my hometown extraordinaire), married November 12th, 1988, and the rest is history. 2 beautiful children later (Brittany 1990 and T.J. 1991), a house-build of our own in 1994 relocating us to Newcastle, numerous pets, and of course some rocky times and struggles, we are still together 22 years later. And I just adore him ... I think even more! (if that's possible) We have both changed (matured actually) as we were a young bride and groom (21 and 22) but I can't imagine life without him. I just realized that next month it will be 24 years since we met on that blind date to the hospital ... WOW. What an amazing journey it has been ... wouldn't trade it for the world!
So yes, our 2 children are doubly-related (is that a word?) to Ron and Sherry's 2 children ... through my side and Terry's side. Kinda cool.
Oh, and the "other guy"? He lost out big time. Just wish I had spent that year+ with Terry instead of him. But it was all a learning experience. Hindsight ... you know. But I'm so grateful Terry was there all along and never gave up on what he believed in ... I guess it's called LOVE! LOL

Thanks for reading!
Janet xo