Jennifro

The Package

or

Then and Now II

It was 20 years ago that I met the guy down below, and today is his 40th birthday. I've long since thought that it's Nick who should have the blog because he has lead an extraordinary existence. From the way he was raised, to the way he has chosen to live his life, he is not your typical dude and has his fair share of tales to tell-- that's for sure. One of these days, and it won't be long I'm going to start sharing some of our earlier adventures together, because they were the best of the best, if I do say so my darn self.

We here in blogland seem to cling to birthday lists--and so in honor of twenty years of acquaintance and 20 + 20 years of life, I give you 20 things I knew THEN and NOW: Ala Nick.

THEN

I first saw Nick (but never met or spoke) on a blind date of about 18 people in the fall of 1988. The girl he was with had a huge black smudge on her nose but was flirting her head off with him. My best friend Jill and I just kept laughing secretly at the "poor girl flirting with the cute guy with all that soot smeared up her nose!" Nick carried on as normal...

Nick moved into the yellow house across the street from our apartment (2nd semester) with the coolest guys at BYU. He was a great compliment to the mix---we (us girls) watched from the window wondering "who IS that new guy with the motorcycle?"

Nick and I first kissed in a game of truth or dare. If you remember our good buddy Eric--he's the one that orchestrated it. He's a sneaky one.....

One time I said, "but I really like musical guys..." so he learned to play the harmonica.

Nick was my first real boyfriend at 18 and the first guy to say he loved me (cept Daddy).

I was completely intrigued by a boy who could kayak (huh?) down waterfalls, was raised in the woods, dared to skinny dip, could hop trains and ski like a crazy banshee. It seemed he knew how to do absolutely everything and could do it exceptionally well.

When Nick was on his mission he wrote me over 200 hundred letters--daring me every time to find someone better for me...."if he's out there, you deserve it." He also learned to knit while in Holland and made and sent me a green sweater. (very tiny indeed but it was the thought...)

Nick would always twist my ring for good luck before we parted for the night.

Nick introduced me to Classic Rock. Never heard of Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Bob Marley, the Doors, CCR, the Eagles or any of that sha til him.

Nick loved motorcycles and took me on many rides through Utah Valley. "Don't I a need a helmet I would ask?" "Naw, you're fine." Little did I know that IS his mantra.

Nick used to say "I'm just a simple guy." He's never said anything more fitting.

We both bawled when we left for summer vacation after my Freshman year at BYU. First time I saw a guy cry over me.

Nick and his brother lived in a big blue school bus for a semester and would park all over campus--plugging in wherever they could and showering in the RB. They'd move from place to place to stay ahead of the cops. Once they even lived up at the "Y". Jill and I thought we were campus celebs there for awhile since we were dating the "Blue Bus Brothers."

Nick and his brother Alex kidnapped me and Jill from work during college and drove us to L.A. in the VW to see Phantom of the Opera cause they knew how much we worshipped the show. We lost our jobs--but no one cared.

The first time Nick came to meet my parents he brought an entourage from the East in a beat up brown station wagon--including a hitchhiker they picked up somewhere outside of Texas. Needless to say, Mother slept not a wink that night.

We went on countless roadtrips and dates in his periwinkle VW vintage bus with Mexican blanket curtains. Got some good mileage out of that sweet ride.

Nick was the quiet type but was up for absolutely anything adventurous. He could hotwire motorcycles, break into condos, whatever needed to be done to make the night exciting.

Nick didn't have a mean bone in his body (does now after being exposed to me). He'd give anything away, lend anything, and not really care how or if it ever came back.

Nick and his brother used to pull the leftover Subway rolls out of the dumpster (they were in a Hefty bag to give you some peace of mind) and eat them for the week. I think they visited the Winchell's dumpster too.

I knew Nick was loyal, family oriented and good through and through from the very first time I met him.

One time we went on a camping date and some dog ate the hamburger. Nick and Alex mixed the canned dog food into the stew unbeknownst to us. "How is it girls...? Yummy? Is it really great stew?" "Oh yes, boys...we love it!" (just a little greasy on the roof of our mouths maybe) Stupid sophomore girls--so eager to please.

NOW

Nick is a humble, behind the scenes type of guy. He's gonna HATE this post.

Nick makes a great breakfast every morning, bringing it to my bed half the time.

Nick is a jack of all trades. He builds Christmas sets, Haunted Forests, fixes cars, and will NEVER, NEVER quit until what is broke is fixed.

Nick is man who loves Broadway plays and English films. His two favorite movies are Gladiator and the Shawshank Redemption.

Nick tears up every time he listens to "Les Miserables" he is very sensitive and emotional (in a good, hearty manly type of way!)

Nick loves projects and is the fastest worker you will ever meet. He has hung chandeliers, designed and built the mantle in our living room, and put crown moulding in every room in our house.

Nick loves the beach and would probably choose to retire to one.

Nick adores his children and reads to them, teaches them and builds them up continually. I often think the roles are reversed in our house. He is a perfect wife. Every morning he bakes fresh baked cookies for their lunches.

Nick is rarely hateful or rude--though he's tough as crap. I'm not kidding when I say he's one of the strongest guys out there. He has no malice for anyone (except our freak neighbor) but I maintain that the guy's gay and is secretly in love with Nick....that's all I can figure.

The only thing Nick loves more than me is the Haunted Forest. He adores that little piece of heaven and is giddy when October rolls around.

Nick is part of a close knit family where there is love and respect for each other. He is a devoted son and would do anything for his parents and siblings. He loves his Bulgarian heritage and danced in a folk festival last spring.

Nick is up for anything. He has let nearly every member of my family live with us for long periods of time......never, ever complaining about it. Why would he? They're perfect!

Nick will always look on the bright side of a situation. He is upbeat positive and never thinks anything is too bleak or too hard to conquer. He started a summer camp with his brothers as a result of this attitude. It is a wonderful business that has benefitted countless kids through the years.

When I say there's nothing to eat, he'll make a beautiful spread in 20 minutes flat. It usually has something like bananas with peanut butter and wheat germ sprinkles on top served alongside.

Nick makes you feel safe. He has promised me, "Jen, I will NEVER flip the canoe." He's sort of a snob that way.

Nick is so fine with pink. Pink kitchen, pink car, pink room....pink panties. It's all good.

Nick is a die-hard conservative. Ronald Reagan and Rush Limbaugh are two of his greatest American heroes. Nicks says, "Rush is right."

Nick never asks me about money. He never really questions what I spend or where it's gone. I'm not at all implying this is a good trait.

Nick is super competitive. I've given up on ever beating him at anything. The first year we were married I was convinced if we ever divorced it would be over cards.

Nick can hold a stare like no one's business. If you know him, you know the stare. He can get so deep into a book you could want to kill him--concentration of steel. We finally banned books from entering the house at the beach trip. That, and computers of course.

Nick was my first true love.* 

Nick plans on kickin' some major arse at bowling tonight. Even though Kelley (whose getting induced on Monday) will most likely show him what's up.

*unless you count John Travolta

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!