6 years already?

It's hard to imagine that it was exactly 6 years ago that I met my amazing husband in person, after several weeks of chatting via email. Even in my current state of pregnancy brain and just a horrible memory, I remember those first few days very vividly, and always remember with a twinkle in my eye and a grin.
I was out with friends from work on what was a pretty normal night - starting off at the Waterfront in Little Italy then after several rounds of drinks, making our way to The Field - arguably the best little Irish Pub in all of San Diego. Over several rounds of texts, Matt agreed to meet us at the Field and I remember being nervous and giddy with anticipation. I may not have met him yet, but from the email exchanges we'd had, he was a down to earth, NORMAL guy from the mid-west, and I really liked him.
I made an almost critical mistake and told my crazy friend Carissa to keep an eye out for Matt because I had to go to the bathroom and empty my bladder. "You can't miss him, he's 6'6". I came back and found Carissa talking with him - even now I can remember the exact spot they were standing. I remember my mind swimming with several thoughts at once - "damn he's tall!", "he's even better looking in person", "I hope I look ok", "God, I hope Carissa isn't telling him some crazy story about me!". It wasn't until shortly after that I learned of how she when she saw Matt, she said to him "You must be Matt. Jen is in the bathroom growing a tail, she'll be back soon". I'm still to this day shocked that he didn't turn around and run after that comment (Disclaimer: I did NOT go #2!)
I won't share every detail of the night, because to be quite honest, I don't remember everything and you don't need to hear how we cut a rug on the dance floor or how Carissa lost her camera and Matt stayed after the club closed so we could look for it, etc. Believe it or not there were several rounds of drinks (several meaning MANY) and it was what was once a normal night of 20 something debauchery in downtown San Diego. I do remember that at the end of the night, after walking out of the Red Circle club, seeing my 4 girlfriends all hop in and speed off in a cab while I'm yelling "don't leave me here!", leaving me curbside with Matt standing by my side. I recall very vividly turning to Matt and saying "you can take a cab home with me but I am NOT hooking up with you". And trust me, I kept to my word! The only thing we shared that night was our first, and well, maybe our second, third and fourth kiss!
I spent the better part of the following morning at David's Bridal helping my friend JenB try on wedding gowns for her upcoming wedding, and of course, thinking about Matt. On our way back, Matt texted me asking if I could give him a ride to his car downtown so we picked him up on our way home, and JenB joked to Matt about having MY wedding gown in the trunk of her car. Yet another crazy comment from a friend that I still can't believe didn't make him run for his life!
I was already cautiously hooked at this point - we already knew via our email chats that we were compatible but after meeting him on Friday night and seeing him the following day....this tall drink of water with a great sense of humor and easy going personality, in his basketball shorts and a hat on backwards, driving out of the downtown parking garage in his Jaguar - I was done. He was funny, attractive, down to earth, and obviously successful if he drove a Jag, count me in! I may have played a good game for several weeks afterwards, but I knew I was done. And as much as he may like to pretend that he wasn't, he was more smitten than I was!

It's fun thinking back to those days when life was SO different, and there was so much anticipation about what MIGHT happen. I wouldn't change my life now for anything in the world, but if given the chance I'd go back and do it all over again exactly the same way - just to experience it all again. The nervousness of a new relationship, spending a first Valentine's together eating Papa John's pizza and sharing a slice of chocolate cake from Joe's Crab Shack because it's only been 4 days since you met and you don't want to overdo it. And slowly, actually, in our case, very quickly, realizing that this is REAL and then the nervousness all over again that "Holy crap, I think this is it! This is what I've been waiting my entire life for!". The many walls we both had up quickly tumbling down, until we were both vunerable in our obvious love for one another and all the future plans we started making, knowing that this "thing" was going to last.
And thinking back to those days makes me appreciate and love these days even more. We have amazing memories of places we went and things we did, and how carefree we truly were - we experienced life in a way that many others never have the opportunity for, and were so very fortunate to have been able to do so. Now, those crazy, carefree days are somewhat behind us, but what has replaced them is comfort, unconditional love and unending joy that no one but a parent could possibly comprehend.
There's a country song with the line "and I thought I loved you then" which always makes me think of Matt when I hear it. Every year when I think back to the day we met and the following weeks and months, I remember falling so quickly in love with him, and though I knew I loved him then, I had no idea how much my love for him would grow as our life together grew. I am sure that in another 6 years, I will look back and probably say the same thing. I don't know how that could be possible, but I'm sure that's what I thought 6 years ago as well.

PS. Babe - thanks sending me the big bouquet of not Proflowers.com flowers that I didn't have to arrange myself and the Phase 10 games. You know me too well. I love you.