Happiness.

Where, oh where, do I begin?

I guess I'll begin on day 1.

Day one for this story happens to be almost a year ago, December 15, 2009. . . .

This happened to be the date of the Cheboygan County Firefighters' Association meeting in Mackinaw City. This was the day we first saw each other. Now, yes, I realize this story is likely to be incredibly long, but I am going to thoroughly enjoy writing it.

Back to December 15, since the meeting was in Mackinaw, he decided to go for once. Dad (always more observant about how guys look at me than I am) asked me afterward if I noticed the new firefighters. I said yes, one in particular, and described him. Dad said yeah, well he noticed you too. . . Now, me, being me, my nose was too far into my knitting to pay attention. (I'm not joking. . .)

From then on I saw him once a month at the Association meetings, and I would always try to find a reason to talk to him, but I'm never good at that. . . it certainly didn't help that I didn't even know his name. At the house he was referred to as "the attractive Mackinaw City firefighter" or "the cute Mackinaw City firefighter." I remember one day in the beginning of April (right after I started working in Mackinaw) that I ran into him in Walmart and came home and told my parents who I ran into, still not knowing a name. . . lol.

Shortly after the Association meeting at our station, I went out to the Dixie after work and Bob, the other Mackinaw City firefighter was there. We were talking about the meetings and I said I felt bad because there were a lot of people that I still didn't even know their names and he said "well there's John and I from Mackinaw City"!!!!! FINALLY!!! After over four months, I finally had a name. Not that it really helped me much, but it was a start. :)

The next day he friend requested me on Facebook. I remember that I found it so ironic that I find out his name one day and the next he decides we should be virtual friends.

Of course, I went flying up the stairs and was like "DAD! Guess who just friend requested me?!?" And Dad, not knowing nor being that excited, asks who. I replied "John" and he says who? THE ATTRACTIVE MACKINAW CITY FIREFIGHTER, DAD! Oh, ok. Haha, not nearly as excited as I was.

So, of course I added him. And we talked on Facebook now and then, I remember wanting to hang out with him but being far to scared to ask. . . (this is just funny now. . .). After some time he finally asked for my number (or I gave it to him). We met up at the Dixie a couple times and hung out.

When I moved into the Aqua Grand we would go for drives together. It was beneficial in more ways than one for me. First, I got to spend more time with him and got to know him a little better and second, I got out of that damn building and got a little bit of my sanity back. We went out a couple other times, once for food, once to the movies. He was always willing to help me out of I needed something. I'll share two of my favorites. . .

I had to have a biopsy on my finger (turned out there was nothing wrong) and the spot hurt like hell. Wearing a band-aid made it not hurt at all because it kept me from hitting the stupid thing. Well, I had decided to do dishes and got my band-aid wet, so it fell off. I needed a new one, but couldn't find one at the Aqua Grand. Meanwhile I was texting John (like normal) and had mentioned this to him. . . so what does he do? He delivers a handful of band-aids for me. . . .

Another day, life was insane at the Aqua Grand and I was talking to John, telling him about my day and that I was hungry. He asked what I wanted and like 10 minutes later I was eating. And if I remember correctly he brought me enough food for like a week. Haha. . .

I have never had a guy willing to go out of his way to just help me without expecting anything out of it. And he certainly didn't seem like he was expecting anything out of it. I didn't ever feel pressured when I was with him. He did mention at a couple points that he wanted to date me but when I said I wasn't ready he said he would wait.

And he did. Patiently.

When I told him I wanted to move to Mackinaw for real, he helped me find my apartment and move in. . . OK, he did all the work. He got me on Mackinaw City's Fire Department and just kept me company in general.

That's what got me. Had he been pushy or moody, I would have been very *very* hesitant to give him a chance.

I had time to get to know him. Time to decide whether I wanted to give him a chance. Time to realize how great he was. Time to realize how well he treated me. Time to realize what I wanted.

We've been able to spend quite a bit a time together lately, thanks to not-so-crazy work schedules and no fire meetings in the last week. We went for a walk in the woods, went grocery shopping, watched a movie, got (three) Christmas trees and drove around a lot (he drove, I knitted, we talked). It was great. :)

Also, he's met my parents. And they both like him. . . not only do they like him, they both like how he makes me feel, how happy I have been, how comfortable I seem.

Now you know. . . :)

Oh!! One more story. . . The other day when I was at work he told me that he had a surprise for me. Now, those of you who know me well, know that I don't mind surprises IF I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEM. He knows this, but insisted on telling me that then not telling me what the surprise was, ass. Well, I came home from work (well, went to his place from work) and found a bouquet of flowers, just because he could. This is incredibly significant to me for two reasons. 1) I once told one of my friends that if I ever found a guy who got me just because flowers, I was never going to let him go. 2) I had NEVER gotten "just because" flowers. Sorry Flowers? Yes. Birthday Flowers? Yes. Valentine's Day Flowers? Yes. Yay Day Flowers? Yes. Just Because Flowers? NO.

My flowers. :)

us.

Yes, it snowed for the first time while we were looking for Christmas trees. . .

♥ Sara

“Well, it seems to me that the best relationships - the ones that last - are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is... suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with."
-Gillian Anderson