“You give me that bottom of the ninth, last at bat, tied game, grand slam, full of butterflies kinda feeling”

Our Story isn't your typical love story but it’s ours and We love it! Derek and I originally met back in 2007. I was a senior in high school who found myself pushing my parents’ boundaries a little more than I should have. Derek was a 22-year-old boy working hard, riding around on a motorcycle, having fun, and raising a beautiful little girl. We met for the first time through a mutual friend at a party but didn't really talk. A few months, later he walked into my KFC while I was working, and I hooked him with the free food. We had a great run for a few months. He was the first guy to get me on the back of a bike. We did all the things normal young kids do. After a few great months our lives took us in other directions. Over the years, we both went on with life, started families, raised kids and went through trials and tribulations. After years of no contact, no sight of each other, we ended up seeing each other from time to time at the softball fields. Not talking to each other almost like strangers passing in the night. It wasn't until I was vacationing in Maine with my kids and parents almost 13 years later, that he “slid into my DM” apologizing for the past, leaving and going our separate ways without a trace or a word, and hoping to be friends. While I accepted the apology, returned small conversation, I then left him unread for a bit. A few months later, after a few drinks one night, I replied again, filled him in on my life and he filled me in on his. We agreed to meeting for a drink but with the understanding that both of us coming out of serious relationships, we weren’t looking for anything but a friendship, just someone to talk to. For months, almost a year, that’s exactly how it was. No expectation, no relationship status to blast on social media , just a beautiful friendship. I can't tell you when it exactly changed for us, it could have begun when we started hanging out again, it could have been months after we started hanging out, but what I do know is it was just easy, fun, lightweight and what we both needed. I think for me deep down I may have known all along but with past relationship history I was afraid of admitting it. I just remember getting this feeling of waking up and looking forward to speaking to him each day, the good morning text, the endless conversations on the phone throughout the day, the hangouts, the going out, the spending time with each other. Before we knew it we were in the relationship of a lifetime. I have never felt so loved, respected, cherished and valued. I couldn’t ask for a more perfect Soul mate. He is the calm to my storm, the comedian to my seriousness. He lifts me up when I am down, encourages me every day and loves me endlessly. I can’t wait to spend forever with him. Our love story, while not traditional, is ours and I would not want it any other way. #GoingGillard2024