Our Anniversary!

Today is dh's and my 5 year anniversary! We have been together 9 years and have known each other 13 years. We met at Jewel, were we both worked. I was 17, he was 18, we were both in other relationships. He was dating a cranky blond, and I was dating a wanna be punk rocker. Both of us had the typical rocky relationships. My exboyfriend and I fought more than we were happy together. When he broke up with me, it was because I wasn't happy enough. I was crushed, but felt a little bit of... freedom! People kept telling us we would get back together. Oh, how I tried, but he moved on and I... well, I made up for the not dating anyone else for the past 3 years. I went away to college when I was 20, dating random guys and working at Jewel over breaks. Jeff would talk to me, but he was really shy. He asked my roomate, Jessica, who also worked at Jewel if we were meeting lots of guys. Jess said "Well, Jo is!" Jeff said he wanted to visit us, but never did. When school let out for the summer, I worked at the Jewel greenhouse. One sunny Sunday, we were both working an 8 hour shift. I was looking forward to a carefree summer, determined to find a summer fling. I was in a great mood. I was finally over my ex and getting into the groove of things. I was extra goofy that day, and started telling people that Ricky Martin was my boyfriend (this was 9 years ago, when he was HUGE!). Jeff asked if he could be my boyfriend and I told everyone he was! I flirted with him all day, shooting him with a hose and probably being a little obnoxious. At the end of our shift, we were both filthy and exhausted. Jeff was acting all awkward and I assumed he had had enough of me and my weirdness and wanted to go home. But, instead, he asked me out! I was shocked, but said yes. Anyone who could like me at my goofiest, couldn't be all that bad...

We went out on our first date 2 days before my 21st birthday and had a blast! He was so sweet and funny. I remember laughing and feeling so comfortable with him. I remember looking at the stars and thinking "I could fall in love with this guy..." 3 years to the day, he proposed in the exact spot where I stared at the stars and a year later we were married! It hasn't all been hand holding and restaurant desserts, but it has been 5 years of falling in love over and over again.