Bitchin’ Camaro

To make a short story long…

I see them everywhere – on TV, in magazines, online and, of course, on the road. I can’t help but take a second or two to stare. Whenever I see a 2010 Chevy Camaro, I immediately flashback to Memorial Day weekend.

My husband (who was my long-distance boyfriend at the time) and I, had the ride of our lives when we had the opportunity to cruise up and down the California coast in one Bitchin’ imperial blue Camaro.

The Big Move

It was in April that Mr. Right made the big decision to move to San Diego. Getting this car and driving up to Santa Barbara for the weekend was all planned as a celebration of this next, major step in our relationship, our future as a same-city couple.

The Big News

It’s funny how things work out and how the timing of many great, life-changing events can stop you in your tracks and cause you to change directions. Just three days before he was to get on the plane to meet me (and jump into the Camaro to head North), I found out I was pregnant.

Needless to say, this changed everything. How could it not?

Immediately, my mind started racing. How is this long-distance relationship going to work now? Could I handle being a mom all over again? How will Mr. Right feel about all this? Will he be able to move out here before the baby comes? Will he change his mind about our future together?

It’s amazing how pregnancy instantly turns a woman’s brain into a crazy mess of emotions, doubt, and fear.

Change of Plans

Our weekend ahead suddenly looked much different to me as I spent those next few days anxious, worried, emotional. Instead of thinking of our special weekend together as a chance to slow down, I was focusing on how everything had suddenly sped up for us.

Memorial Day Weekend

He landed in San Diego Friday afternoon and I remember feeling nervous (near tears kinda nervous) as I parked the Camaro and waited for him inside the airport. I felt different. Did I look different?

I could barely think, let alone stand and yet as soon as I saw him coming down the escalator and made eye contact with him, I knew. I just knew that everything was going to be all right. I was able to breathe easier, my shoulders felt more relaxed and somehow I just knew that our life together was forming into the perfect shape – and size – that it was meant to.

I just couldn’t think of a way to say this, or anything at all. I was at a complete loss for words, which is not like me.

Road Trip

As we drove along the coast, we enjoyed the sights, smells and sounds of the entire journey. We spent most of that time taking everything in without saying a word. We took pictures – of the view, the Camaro, and of the two of us as we cruised along with the windows down and the music blaring.

The fact that we could plug in our iPhone into the car and see our playlist displayed on the screen and use the controls to select our music was pretty cool. My phone automatically connected through the Bluetooth and I loved absolutely everything about the car (although visualizing an infant car seat in the back wasn’t quite working for me).

Driving the Camaro was an amazing experience, but this post isn’t really about the car (in case you just joined us).

Perfect Getaway

The entire weekend was perfect; unplanned and unexpected in many ways, but as we lay on the beach just South of Santa Barbara, we talked, finally, about everything.

We talked about our past, our future and how excited we both were to be on this crazy adventure, together.

Road Trip

Mr. Right and I got married in July (on a different beach in California) and even though his every intention was to move out to San Diego to join my son and I as quickly as possible, things didn’t go as smoothly as we had hoped.

This weekend, Halloween 2010, he’s on the same road trip that I embarked on eleven years ago. He’s leaving his home state and driving West with all of his belongings to join us, finally.

He may not be behind the wheel of a bitchin’ Camaro, and I’m not in the passenger seat just yet, but the fact that our paths are finally merging is pretty exciting.

Final Destination

No one can predict their future, although as I type that, I’m reminded of the time I spoke with a psychic who told me I’d be married (to Mr. Right) but that where we would end up living didn’t really matter. It’s true. Our journey has taken us in a direction neither one of us could’ve imagined just one year ago, but our memories intersect (15 years or so of memories) and Memorial Day weekend will forever be linked to our incredible journey – and one bitchin’ Camaro.

To be continued…

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Modern Family

Most fairy tales finish with a happy ending, but the story does still come to an end.

Our story, too, includes a happy ending, only it’s just the beginning to a new chapter.

I am thankful for your support and grateful for the advice, encouragement and insight you provided as I shared my story with you over the last several months, the one that Mr. Right has starred in with me – our adventure in this long-distance romance.

Our relationship works for so many reasons, although the distance and time spent apart isn’t working, which is why we have decided to finally (eventually) transition to a same-city partnership.

Partnerships, at least successful ones, don’t happen overnight. There are a great many details that must be discussed before we can move forward and put these plans into action.

That is what the next six months will be about. Our happily ever after is just around the corner and we know there are several ways to get there, we’re just taking our time in mapping out what the path before us will look like. What we know for sure is that Mr. Right will be moving here. We will finally be together.

I’m very excited. I’m both anxious and eager for Mr. Right to become a full-time member of our modern, blended little family. I’m overwhelmed at the idea and thrilled to have such an exciting adventure to look forward to.

Fifteen years in the making. It’s still very surreal but I keep pinching myself to remind me that this is no longer just a dream. It’s really happening!

Thank you for joining us on this journey. It’s been a fun, exciting ride and it’s only going to get better.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Psychic Shauna

My session with Psychic Shuana was over five months ago, at the very early stages of my relationship with Mr. Right. We spoke over the phone and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was blown away by what she told me and of course, nearly half a year later, I still think about the things she had to say.

The first thing she mentioned was my loneliness. She totally caused my heart to stop when she said simply, “You’re surrounded by people who adore you and yet you still feel very lonely.” This really hit me hard.

Always, especially near the holidays, I miss my family and friends who are over 2,000 miles away. I may have thousands of friends and followers on the social media sites I am involved with, but it doesn’t change the fact that the people who know me the most (and love me) are so far away.

She brought me to tears with that one and I took a few deep breaths before I was able to hear what she said next.

I asked her about my relationship and my love life, not giving her any details or sharing anything with her since I was hesitant to reveal any clues that would lead her in one direction or another. Right away she said that she saw marriage in my future. I started laughing and she moved on to a different topic.

The second time she brought up marriage, it took my breath away and by the third time she mentioned it, I felt myself nodding in agreement, as if this were something that I had already been thinking about. (I hadn’t.)

I think about it often lately, I admit. I blame the fact that most of my female friends (who are, ironically, single) keep asking me when we plan on getting married, or looking at my left hand after I spend a weekend with my long-distance boyfriend.

I do think about marriage often, how wonderful it would be to wake up with that special someone and lean on each other for support in all aspects of our daily lives. Long-distance dating is certainly not easy, but it’s made us both pretty cautious and yet I think we’re both eager (if not anxious) to see where things are headed.

My son’s teacher got engaged last month over her birthday weekend. Last week, a friend shared her engagement story on her blog and just the other day my son asked me if I was getting married (because I suddenly started wearing a ring on my finger). In the last few days, an online friend asked me for a list of wedding photographers and my sister mentioned that she could see me and Mr. Right getting married. This is why I can’t get the thought of marriage out of my mind.

Am I out of my mind?

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Our Long-Distance Relationship

I’ve been dating Mr. Right for several months now (seven, if you’re keeping track) and every time his name comes up, the same question is asked: When is he going to move here?

At first, I avoided the question, letting people know we take things day by day and are in no hurry to rush into anything.

If you asked either of us directly, we’d say the same thing. We enjoy our time together, look forward to those long weekends and cherish the time we have to ourselves. In that time, we’re able to develop our individual interests, careers, goals, and hobbies so that we can fully give to one another when we can.

But…

We’re not kids anymore, and our relationship with one another has quickly become one of the most important components of who we are. We schedule time to chat during the week so that we can devote quality time to one another, checking in on a regular basis, gaining an understanding of the daily situations, experiences, thoughts, and emotions that same-city couples encounter.

Again, there’s no rush. In fact, I would argue that we’re more cautious because of the additional challenges we face.

Long-distance relationships require additional effort. It hasn’t been easy and I wouldn’t expect anyone to understand our situation if they haven’t been in a long-distance relationship themselves, or in a relationship with a single parent.

The fact that the two of us have known each other for so long seems to be the key to our success. What happens in the future depends on our continued commitment to being open, honest and receptive. I see no reason why this would change.

We create our destiny. It is what we make of it. We allow our experiences to influence our emotions and shape how we feel about where each step will lead.

As I write this, I think of how far we’ve come, the distance between us and the history that keeps us moving forward, together, looking in the same direction, focusing on where we hope to be twenty years from now – by each other’s side.

It feels good. It feels right. It feels safe, comfortable and perfect. In every way.

I hold on to this feeling…knowing that every moment we’re apart brings us closer together in the end, and yet there is no end…

This is just the beginning.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

How Will We Love?

Chris Brickler was one of the keynote speakers at the It Takes a Village  Parenting Conference this past weekend in San Diego. His presentation touched everyone in the audience and his film truly inspires and challenges us to change the way we, as a society, view – and value – commitment and marriage.

Starting with an interview of his grandparents and honoring their marriage of over 68 years, Brickler’s documentary, How Will We Love? seeks to determine why it is that over 50% of marriages end in divorce while many of us still cling to the hope of a happily-ever-after, life-long romance.

Speaking with experts in the field of marriage, relationships, sexuality, and communication, as well as sharing insights from couples – both young and old – How Will We Love? is a bittersweet and inspirational journey through the heartache and exuberance love can create.

Whether you’re married, engaged or healing from a heartbreak, this film is a much-needed discussion starter on dating, pre-marital sex, love, marriage and what it means to be in a committed relationship.

I’m pleased to be able to give away a copy of this DVD. To win this copy, please let us know which couple inspires you and why. It could be your grandparents, your friend’s parents, or another couple you know – perhaps even a couple on TV! One winner will be selected – at random – on Sweetest Day (October 17th).

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Where Do We Go From Here?

Now what? What’s next? Where do we go from here? These are the questions I asked myself as I sat crying in the airport after saying goodbye to the man I spent the last five days with. The man I gave my heart to years ago. The conversations and moments that we shared were long overdue but perfect in every way. Except for the sunburn.

I thought about sharing every detail here and relive the exact moment when we made that next step, the words that we spoke, the way he tasted and felt, but I also want to keep the memory of these events in a special place – between the two of us. Because it was a very special occasion, consummating our relationship after being friends (with much sexual tension between us) for fifteen years. Not that I’ve been keeping track or anything…

He got the approval from my friends and my son but now he’s gone. The five days went by so quickly and now it’s a big reality check for the both of us and I’m back to the same questions that I do not know the answers to just yet. What’s next? Where do we go from here?

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Giveaway: Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult is a prolific writer who does a great deal of research on the often-controversial subjects she deals with in her novels.

First introduced to me with The Pact: A Love Story, Jodi quickly became my favorite author and has not let me down, publishing a new book every year. All of her books are written with unbelievable depth and feature characters who are very well developed and who readers can easily relate to or identify with.

My personal favorite from her long list of titles has to be Nineteen Minutes, a book I could not put down once I started reading it and have since recommended to every parent and teacher that I know or come across.

I recently finished Change of Heart in less than 24 hours so that I could get started on her latest title, Handle with Care. I was excited to get her newest book when it arrived, but I was even more surprised when I received a second copy (that I had apparently pre-ordered months ago and had forgotten about). I am now offering this second copy as a giveaway here on this blog!

To be eligible, simply leave a comment here with your favorite Jodi Picoult book and why it is your personal favorite. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read one of her books yet, let us know who your favorite author is or how you first heard of this giveaway. The winner will be chosen at random on April 1st (no April Fool’s jokes here). Open to U.S. residents only.

Good luck and Happy Reading!

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home