As I’d shared before, Eddy and I met on Twitter.
Yes, collective gasp, yes.
He was so charming, so sweet, so thoughtful… and so interested in me. That’s not to say, the narcissistic kind of “of course he would be,” but it is to say, “interested in” instead of “infatuated with” or “attracted to.” He genuinely liked my company and I, his.
We’d spend hours on the phone, into the wee hours of the night, fall asleep on the phone, and then wake up – still on the phone – to the sound of the other’s voice.
We’d actually set a record for the longest phone call we’d ever had – 23 hours, 14 minutes, and 52 seconds – which was only disconnected because I lost my signal.
We were semi-somewhat-sorta-in swoon with one another, and then came the day that he proposed. The air filled with magic, and it felt like he’d brought the sky down to me with his bare hands. I’d look down at my hand and see this tiny pearl, and “SQUEEEEEEEE!!!!!” every single hour, on the hour. He’d walk around with this smug little grin, as if to say, “Yup – I’m the reason she’s squee-ing.”
I’ll never forget that day. June 4th, 2011.
That night, we shared the news on Twitter – of course – and it erupted into a night of congratulations, cheers, praise, love, well wishes, and bacon confetti. We were in love, and sharing it with people who truly wanted to see us happy.
Time would pass and, before we knew it, we’d marry and move to New York. The man knew how to make me take risks, even if it took me some time to bounce back from them. We gleefully celebrated the anniversary of our first phone call, the night we decided to be exclusive, and the day we first shared “I Love You’s,” but would we celebrate the day he proposed to me? And, if so, how?
We decided to go out to a restaurant to celebrate, that night. I jumped in the shower to wash and fro-ify my hair, and came out half-dressed, only to find Eddy. One knee bent on the ground.
“I hope I’ve been someone worth knowing, someone who treats you right, and I hope that, if I ask, you’ll say yes.”
I smiled and sat down on his one knee. “You don’t have to ask me, the answer is yes.”
“You gotta let me ask! Stop messing with my moment!”
I busted out laughing, and stood up. He then proposed… again. And I said yes, again.
And every year, on that date, he has proposed. And every year, again, I say yes.
This tradition, intended to celebrate that “first” time he asked me to make that commitment and the “first” time I said yes, has served as our opportunity to solidify our commitment to our family. It kicks off our opportunity to look at one another, laugh and reminisce about that first day and every day since. It’s our night to look at how far we’ve come, look at how far we have to go, and plan for our family’s future… all while remembering the promise we made to each other: to love, to cherish, and to obey.
No matter what your first may be, it most assuredly means the world to you. All over that very same world, programs like Shot@Life are granting children the opportunity to experience as many firsts as their hearts desire, all because you chose to share with me – right here, and right now – what “first” matters most to you.
During Shot@Life’s Blogust 2014—a month-long blog relay—some of North America’s most beloved online writers, photo and video bloggers and Shot@Life Champions will come together and share stories about Happy and Healthy Firsts. Every time you comment on this post and other Blogust contributions, or share them via social media on this website, Shot@Life and the United Nations Foundation pages, Walgreens will donate one vaccine (up to 60,000). Blogust is one part an overall commitment of Walgreens donating up to $1 million through its “Get a Shot. Give a Shot.” campaign. The campaign will help provide millions of vaccines for children in need around the world.
Share with me in the comments below, family – what “firsts” matter most to you? Remember, for every comment left below, every share sent on social media, and for every tweet on the #blogust hashtag, a child across the globe will get a chance to experience a “first” of their own!
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