Everybody Scream with Me Now

This first month since going "public" with the secret project has been such a rush; like a blind date. And a roller coaster. Or a blind date on a roller coaster.

"Hi." I extend a hand, battling the g-force. "I'm Crystal."

Teeth rattling, he reaches to shake. "I'm Exposure. Nice to meet you."

For the rest of the whirlwind ride we keep our heads forward, fighting the urge to raise our arms and scream, or puke--which ever comes first.

Of course after stepping off the ride we're reminded that mother earth is actually solid. We stand back to evaluate. Are we ready for another go? Do we have the guts/stomach to face the whip-lashing neck-twisting fury?

Yup. That pretty much sums it up, except this ride doesn't stop. It doesn't slow down either. Here we go, month two, clinging to our centers and wondering when the buzz between our ears will end.

How do you cope with the excitement and hope, the disappointment and setbacks of going "public"?

My Eternal Valentine

Today was supposed to be my wedding day.

Well not today, but today 11 years ago. 2-14-00. We referred to the date in code "twenty-one, four-hundred" so none of our family or friends got it. It was our "one day"...but I'm getting ahead of myself.

At sixteen I went on my first ever blind date. I never thought my date might end up being twenty and sporting a stylish goatee. In fact, I was such a straight arrow that the facial hair made me leery, but no more than a twenty year old who didn't have anything other than work going in his life. My dad was a doctor. I had high expectations!

And then he made me laugh.

Magic. We talked, we laughed. During our "activity", a volleyball game, (since he was on the opposite team) he served right to me every time! (He swears that wasn't his intention.) Granted, I was not overly impressed, but on our second date I knew.

We dated 5 months. He went away for two years on a service mission and we wrote every week, all the time planning toward this perfect 21-400. Finally after two and a half years of waiting, we were reunited--and his family wanted us to hold out for ANOTHER 6 months!!!

I came home from college, and we got married in January--because his parents planned to be out of town over our coveted date. Oye! Well, what can you do? I got the man, and two weeks sooner than I'd anticipated, so now we have an extended celebration: every year we celebrate an anniversary, and laugh about 21-400.

Here's to the sweetest man in the world who supports my dreams and tells me he loves me every day! Happy Valentines day Matthew.