This weekend marks 20 years from when I met Steve. Yup, TWENTY YEARS! Man that's a long time.
I can still remember the night I decided he was the one for me. Not quite a Cinderella story but, in my book, as close as it gets. I met Steve my freshman year of high school. We all hung around the same circle of friends but he stuck out like a sore thumb. He was so funny, always happy, always making me laugh. I was hoping he would ask me to homecoming dance but the loser waited too long and instead his good friend Kevin Gallagher beat him to the punch. I couldn't say no, I knew poor Kevin had worked up every last bit of courage to ask me by the deep red color on his face. Besides, he was a really sweet guy (not my cup of tea at all).
Finally, homecoming dance came and I couldn't lead Kevin on anymore. He gave me his blessing to talk to Steve after I confessed that I had huge crush on him (I thought honesty was the best policy). So I worked up the courage, with the help of Kevin (I told you he was a nice guy), to talk to Steve. Luck was on my side, he had gone stag (the cocky bastard). And that was it. We talked, and laughed all night long.
His smile got me. This is the one. I knew then, twenty years ago on the bleachers in the St. Monica High School Gym, that this was the guy for me. It was such an instant connection that it's hard to explain. I just knew that from that moment on we would become best friends and it's been that way ever since.
He became my best friend and I became his. We exchanged hundreds of notes. Talk for endless hours on the phone. This is my one (and only) apology to my sisters, because of me they never got to use the phone this was p.c.w. (pre-call-waiting).
Looking back on these last twenty years it's so comforting to know that he's still my best friend the one I can (and do) tell everything. I know I won't be judged. He's my security blanket.
If there's an earthquake or thunder he instantly holds me because he knows I'm too scared to move. He takes ice cubes out of my drinks because he knows I like my water room temperature. He's my scuba buddy because hundreds of feet under water I trust no one else. He's my running partner because he keeps me motivated and stays with me (even if it means going slower) so that we can cross the finish line together.
The best way to describe how he makes me feel is safe. It's like if I close my eyes and just let myself fall backwards he would always be there to catch me.
I can't believe it's been twenty years, I can't wait to see what the next twenty will bring (other than wrinkles).
Steve: I look forward to coming across more finish lines with you. I can't imagine my life without you.