srs bsns...

100th blog post!!!!

Today, I'm going to show you what love is...

I woke up this morning at 6 AM. If you've been reading my blog, you know that this is much closer to a bedtime for me, but a piercing shriek stung my eardrums just as the morning sun had broken the horizon, and I suddenly found myself standing under a jet of cool water, reaching for soap through one half opened bloodshot eye. I quickly threw some things into a suitcase (still sitting in the middle of my floor from England), packed some leftover foodstuffs into a cooler, and started driving to HBoO's house. I arrived at 7:16 AM, ten minutes late, much to the chagrin of my darling sugar snuffles. I immediately sensed imminent danger as I listened intently to the orders she gave me...

"You're late. Grab my TV from the garage. No, you're suitcase won't fit. Get in the car, we need to leave."

This was not a time for arguing. We sat in silence as HBoO drove north to her house at school. Forty-five minutes and not a word. Our mission today was sentry duty at her house. The electrician was going to arrive at some point between 8 AM and 4:30 PM (no joke), and it was our job to let him in. For two and a half hours we sat on an unfurnished wooden floor. Today's heat index was a record high (106 degrees), air conditioning was nonexistent. For hours we sat around impatiently waiting. Hugs and kisses were sparse. Finally, the electrician showed up, freeing us from our piping hot prison...

The next order of business was to get lunch and buy me some shoes. We went to a sub shop, one of those Jersey-style places that are proud to prepare their food two parts grease to one part food. For some reason, it took about twenty minutes for them to prepare two sandwiches, an act that only fanned the flames. Our shoe shopping excursion proved successful, but not before a small meltdown where I was scolded for being too picky about my footwear...

We still had some time before HBoO's interview, so we stopped at Border's Books to read some stuff. We sat silently across from each other, her reading Cosmo and me the new David Sedaris memoir. For half an hour, all of my attempts to communicate epically failed, driving my morale lower and lower...

The turning point came when it was time to decide what to do for dinner. She suggested eating out at TGI Fridays which I (stupidly) opposed because of a lack of funds. I asked if she wanted to buy some ingredients and cook dinner to which she coldly responded, "No. It's no fun to cook with you!"

Silence. It took an hour to get home, and, again, not one word was spoken...

Back at her house, she gave me the cold shoulder and ran away to her basement. Even her sister knew something was up. I chased after her and an argument ensued...

"We need to talk. Tell me what's bothering you..."

"Nothing..."

*At this point she turns the TV on and starts playing guitar to avoid me. I sit in silence for a moment...*

"I'm not stupid. I know you're mad about something. Tell me..."

"I thought we were going out to eat, and then, all of a sudden, you didn't have enough money. You got my hopes up, that's it..."

"I don't think you understand my situation, I'm $1200 in debt and..."

*Her mom*

"DINNER!!!"

Saved, for now. Dinner distracted us, then she had to drive her sister to a music lesson. I sat in the back seat in silence until we got there. An attempt to resolve the situation was thwarted by a rogue fly which caused HBoO to storm off in frustration. I escaped to a bathroom where I collected myself for a few minutes before taking HBoO outside to finish our argument. It ended in tears...

At her house, we made our way to the basement to talk, when, suddenly, HBoO was doubled over in pain. She had a UTI, this one much worse than usual. Without even thinking about anything that had happened prior to that moment, I began listing options to fix the problem. Do you want me to get you some medicine? Drive you to the emergency room? Let's call the doctor. Anything. What can I do..?

I ended up driving her to the supermarket to pick up some cranberry juice and Tylenol. We joked in the aisles and I gave her lots of hugs and kisses, promising that everything would be fine. We got back to her house and she began drinking the juice as we looked up remedies on the internet. Before I knew it, we were cuddling on the couch as I assured her that she was going to be okay...

There's a lot to say about everything that happened today. Despite serious arguments, frustration, and unhappiness, there wasn't a single moment where I doubted my feelings for HBoO. She is the best thing that ever happened to me and I know that I'll be there for her when she needs me. Love transcends petty arguments and ill feelings. When the moment comes, you are there for the person you love no matter what. There's nothing that will ever be more important in life...

Love may be the most difficult part of our lives, but it's also the most rewarding. I'm proud to say that I love my HBoO..:-)

-Matt