Reality vs. The Fantasy

Tonight we celebrated Scott's birthday with a dinner out to ourselves on a beautiful summer night in Kirkland. I got to thinking about how much I love his company. Just him and me. I enjoy it. I just LIKE him, ya know. He is easy to be around, we have good conversations, and the best part is that it is real.

Then I started thinking that it was about 3 years ago that we were "falling in love". It was a great summer in Salt Lake City and falling for Scott came really easy and natural for me (like I said, he is easy to love). I am often reflective about what I was doing ____ years ago or "this time last year" or your last birthday or last New Year's etc. So in celebrating Scott's birthday I was reminded of this time when we were semi-dating and I was contemplating what level of present to get him at that stage in our relationship. Nothing was official and we were supposed to just be making out but then I was starting to actually like him (surprise, surprise). He ended getting a tie from the Nordstrom's sale. That was safe, right?

So tonight after a lovely evening together we came home and watched the last 15 minutes of one of the best movies in the world with my dad. The clip below really hit me this time.



Let me explain.

A few weeks before we got married (and pre-engagement truthfully) Scott got really worried about the ending chapter of his single life. No more flirting. No more first dates or first kisses or first cuddles. No more nervous feelings wondering if the other person likes you. All that stuff that makes the beginning of the relationship so magical. Was I really "the one" to give up all that for?

I think everyone feels a little sadness about the ending of this chapter but some experience a bigger grief with it. I held my breath and just hoped that my charm and good looks would be enough and that maybe he would end up feeling like Rob Gordon did in this clip, that the reality of our love, though real and had its problems, would end but being better than the fantasy.

I can tell you that being able to marry Scott was one of the best things that ever happened to me and by the time our wedding approached I had no worries about his worries. I knew that he knew that I was the one to share a life, become a "we", and grow old with.

So I am happy to say that 3 years later I am still smitten with the kid that I was only supposed to make out with, and love him so much more than I did during the fun, new, first stages of love (although those are scared in their own rite).

Scotty, Happy 28th Birthday. You are better than any fantasy relationship and I never get tired of you. I love you tons and tons and feel so lucky I got you. Thanks for keeping it real.