My Hero!

After finishing a sweet love story book last night made me reflect on my own love story.

Back in High School, I experienced love and heart break.  When I think of being heart broken, I picture a heart shattered into pieces that need to be put back together.  My heart break was different.  I was so in love with this person and when our relationship ended, he actually took a piece of my heart with him.  I never felt like my heart would be whole again.  That is how I would describe my broken heart.

Many years of dating men (boys really), I started to wonder if I would just have to deal with a 3/4 heart and just be happy with whom I could find.  Then one blind date, my life changed forever.

It was a time where I lived by myself in my apartment, had my career going, and was getting set in my ways.  I was very independent and lived life how I wanted to.  The only problem was I was lonely.  Many friends and family were setting me up on dates, trying to help me find that special someone.  Unfortunately their choices were falling short of my approval.  Unlike most women, I had a list of things I did not want to see in a husband.  It was amazing to me how many men were doing my list and that did not give me much hope.

Then one day a friend at work, one whom sat back and observed my dating life, suggested a blind date with her friend.  Her reasoning for setting us up, we had NASCAR in common.  We both enjoyed the sport and loved to discuss it.  By this time, I had given up on finding someone that would be perfect for me.  I agreed to the date, figuring we could argue about NASCAR to entertain us thru the night.

My first meeting and impression of Brian was his truck.  I saw him coming down my street and I was happy to see a manly truck!  That made me think there was potential in this man.  When I opened the door, I was greeted by a cute smile and "Hi" in such an attractive, manly way.  I was happy with this set up.  The night continued on with me just happy to be having such a fun time.  Brian and I enjoyed discussing NASCAR and the different drivers we liked.  But we also found many other things in common:  softball on the same night, a love for golfing, football, and generally all sports.  He too had his career going strong and was pretty set in his ways as well.  Finally I am dating a man!  And a gentleman to boot.  He was very insistent on opening my door and making sure ladies first.  This was something I wasn't used to and was surprised that men like this even existed in this day and age.

I will admit, I was smitten after this first date.  I hoped and prayed there would be a second date.

I could go on and on about how our courtship went and how we fell in love and got engaged... maybe another post.  I can honestly say though that Brian came into my life with the missing piece of my heart.  The best part is that the piece he brought was bigger and stronger and better than the piece that was missing.  I truly found the love of my life.

My hero!