now this, this is a good day.

5 years (and one day) ago my friend Stella convinced me to go to a party at a fraternity I'd never been to before. It was called Psi Upsilon, and honestly, I didn't want to go. I didn't know anyone, and I didn't think I would have that much fun. But we went. And within 5 minutes of getting in the door, I had met Travis. We hung out that night, long after Stella had left, talking, listening to music, hanging out with his fraternity brothers, and when it was time for me to leave he kissed me, and said "Come Back Tomorrow".

The next day, Friday the 13th, I headed back to Psi U... a little nervous, very excited.
I don't remember exactly what we did that night. Talked some, hung out with the other guys, played beirut (typical romantic evening... lol), watched some tv, and listened to some music. Your typical college evening. But I remember, that I knew that this was a guy that I could really go for. And he did too, when he sat me on a bar, and asked me if I would be his girl.
Yes, he really asked, and it was very sweet.

We had been together only about a month and a half, when Christmas break came around and he was off to Pittsburgh for a month. It was hard. We went from seeing each other everyday, to talking every two or three days on the phone (and Travis is not a phone person). When we returned, I was scared to go see him. Scared that it would be awkward. Scared that he wouldn't want to be with me anymore.
But the moment we say each other, it was like the month apart hadn't happened. I don't know that I know I loved him at that point, but I knew that I could love him, I knew that I would love him.

I don't know that I can pinpoint exactly when it was that I realized that I did love him... but somewhere between seeing him cry for the first time, at the thought of going to Pittsburgh for the 3-month summer break... (he didn't, he stayed in Philadelphia with his grandfather Willy)... and having him take care of me when I was super sick (he cleaned up my puke, and honestly, at that moment acted as if there was nothing in the world he would rather do)... I did know.

When Psi U became like home, and we had spent sleepless nights unburdening our childhood secrets onto each other.... when we had talked about children and about our hopes... we knew that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.

When he survived meeting my parents, I didn't do anything too stupid through a week with his, and our families found they rather like each other... well, at that point we knew there wasn't anything we couldn't get through.

A lot has changed since then... there's more bills and less booze, mortgages and impending marriage instead of homework and hell-raising, and 9-5 instead of 10 until you pass out!... but a lot hasn't changed. He still makes me laugh. I still know that I can go to him with anything. And honestly, no one makes me happier.

The next Friday October 13th is next year, 2006. And on that day I will happily pledge, once again, to be his girl. This time, as his wife.

Happy 5 years, love.
You are my best friend and soul mate, you make me so happy. It hasn't always been easy, but it has always, always, been worth it. Thank you for so many great years. Thank you for all those we have yet to experience.

I Love You... always and forever.