We talked about anything and everything. The things we discovered we had in common were unbelievable, same favorite ice cream-mint chocolate chip (yum!), same favorite cereal-frosted mini wheats. It's crazy enough that we even drive the same kind of car, VW Jetta...just wait, it gets crazier, we drove the same kind of car before that too, GMC Sonoma.
Things just kept getting better and better. What I couldn't believe is that even though we met while he was half way around the world, I live in the same small town as his three sisters & Mom! How crazy is that?
This continued for three months. The rest of his time in Japan, after which he was to come home and be released from the Marines, after five years of service. Talk about perfect timing!!
The day he came home was so exciting. He had told his family that he wouldn't be able to come home until mid June. So they weren't expecting him for another two weeks. I went to the airport to pick him up. I was so excited & nervous waiting there in the international terminal for him. It seemed like it took years for his plane to arrive. Then he had to go thru customs and find his bags. Ugh.
Finally, I saw him for the first time in person. Wow. There were no words to describe the feelings then, & now months later still...no words to describe those first minutes.
We couldn't believe that we were finally together. On the whole drive home we just kept holding hands and poking each other, being able to actually touch each other was so new.
Other then that, everything was so natural. We fit together just like we had while he was in Japan; talking non-stop and laughing all the way home.
That was just the beginning of the most memorable evening.
I was still the only one who knew he was actually home.
We drove to his Mom's house to surprise her. He knocked on the door...and when she opened the door I thought she was going to faint. She immediately burst into tears and couldn't believe it was him. She was so excited to see him, it has been a year since the last time he had been home. It was the most awesome thing to witness their reunion.
Then, I got to meet her. Yes...I was getting to meet him for the first time in person, and his whole family in one day. Besides that, we were surprising them with his early arrival. It was CrAzY.
We had planned to tape the whole thing for posterity...but when it came down to the actual moment, we were just too excited to stop and grab the video camera. I'm sad about that now, but in the moment it was the right move.
After his Mom calmed down enough to breathe, and she had stopped 'oohhing' and 'aahhing' over me (and my bambi-like eyes, she loves my eyes), the three of us went to surprise one of Otto's older sisters, Monica.
When she answered her door, she also flipped out & couldn't believe that he was standing there on her front porch. After a hysterical conversation, we were all off to surprise their oldest sister, Mary Ann, at work.
While Otto & I hid behind a column (it felt so good to have his arms around me), his Mom, Claire & sister, Monica, went up to the store & asked Mary Ann (MA) to come outside, there had been a family issue.
Mary Ann came outside, fairly worried. Then, she saw Otto and freaked out. Screaming and crying at the same time. She jumped into Otto's arms. I must say, I think her reaction to Otto's homecoming was my favorite.
Then, she greeted me. Telling me how much she had looked forward to meeting me and how she wasn't usually this crazy. I really do love her!! Unfortunately, after that she had to go back to work.
So, our merry little gang decided it was time to take Otto 'home.' To Mark's house where he would be living. Mark is one of Otto's best friends, basically a member of the Schmid family, and now Otto's landlord.
So, we went to see where Otto would be staying and I was introduced to Mark.
For those of you who have been keeping track, Mark is the 4th 'new' person I just met in about a two hour time period (not including Otto). Phew. Believe it or not...there are more to come.
It took until the next day for us to get in contact with Pam, Otto's little sister, & her son Nathan, Otto's nephew. They both came to see him & were so excited that he was home.
That is a 24 hours I will never forget. So full of craziness and happiness. I met some of the most wonderful people that day. Otto & his family are fantastic. I am so thankful to have each of them in my life.
While Otto is no longer officially an active duty Marine, having served his full 5 year service, I keep telling him he will always be a Marine in my heart. We met while he was a Marine, and I am so proud of his dedication to himself, his family, and our country.
This song is wonderful. She makes me wish I could play guitar. Her Marine is a lucky man, I hope he knows that.
Mr. Fantastic & I
How did you met your man?
Glitz & Glamour,
Kat
<3
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