Mundo!!
So here's the rundown. We would talk maybe once or twice a month from about May to December 06'. She's my foster dad's wife's daughter, so every so often when I would call over there to chat with everyone, I would talk to her too. It was mainly just mindless chat, but I felt a connection with her for some reason, and always looked forward to talking with her. December of 2006, I went home on leave for 14 days or so. I didn't see her for the first couple of days, because she was at her dad's house for that time. I remember feeling anxious to see her, although we really didn’t know each other very well at that point. We all went down to Bend, Oregon, to go skiing for the weekend, and that was really the first time we talked in person. We talked on the ski lift, and in the lodge a little, and I really appreciated the time I got to talk with her. She is an amazing person, funny as hell, and so colorful. Well on of the nights my friend Alex and I went to go get some beer. We got back and we started drinking. Not heavily, just having' some beers (Alex, Megan, Amanda, and myself). Throughout the night Amanda and I started to become quite fond of each other, talking, and having fun with everyone. We eventually got a little touchy, and started to hold hands. This was crazy awesome for me because the whole night, I was crushin' on her. We gave each other backrubs, and were talking about our interests and personal stuff like that. She read my palm (so neat)! This continued throughout the night until it was around 0200. It was time for bed, we were leaving the next day. Alex and I went out for one final smoke before we scuttled off to bed. When I came back in, I saw Amanda in the hallway. I went up to her, and said "I'd kiss you right now, but I smell like smoke". That second, she came to me, and landed one of the best kisses I have ever received in my life. We said goodnight, and our hands slipped off each others with smiles on our faces, and went to bed. That night, all I could think about was her. I had to keep reminding myself that it happened...I was so excited, and a little worried. I was worried because she Is the daughter of my foster dad's wife, Barbara. Scott (Foster dad) married Barb about two years prior, so I am very much not related to Amanda, but I could see why it might be weird to the folks. Anyway, the next morning, I could tell there was a small amount of tension between us. This was because we both thought that the connection between us the night before was only there due to the mild intoxication. Well we both still wanted each other. I found this out by grabbing her hands while no one was looking, and asking her if she still wanted to pursue it. She said yes, so I was quite happy. When we got back, we had to kind of keep it a secret, (although both parents knew something was going on). I was going to the mall the next day to to some last second Christmas shopping, and she came with me. Our hands were locked the whole car ride, and we were both still in shock of the whole situation. We both really liked each other before this all happened, of course neither of us knew the other had the same feelings. It was an amazing feeling. I felt as though I had won the lottery or something. For some reason, and I didn't know why at the time, I felt so happy, and complete with her, even though we(at that point) still didn't know really anything about each other. We connected so hard, and fast. I had never had such feelings for a woman so quickly as I did with Amanda. We walked through the mall, arms around each other, and shopped for jive. That night, (Christmas Eve) we were having Scott's side of the family's Christmas. The whole family was there. Amanda and I were in the kitchen, with Alan having a drink or two. I was rubbing her back, holding hands, and standing very close to her. (Still at this point it was unknown to everyone that we had this little something going on). Even when we were all around in the living room, doing the presents thing, we sat together and again I had my arm on her, completely oblivious that my Dad, or her Mom would notice. Well my Dad did notice, and later talked to me about it, while Barb talked to Amanda. He explained his concern, and doubt that it would work, but said I could pursue it if I needed to. It seemed weird to him because he sees me as his son, and sees Amanda as his Daughter. Neither of us are related by blood whatsoever. I’m not even related by law to Scott. So in our minds it was a perfectly fine thing to do! Barb pretty much could care less if we were together, and told Amanda this. That night Amanda and I stayed up til' the wee hours of the morning talking about it, and we decided to do what we felt was right in our hearts. And in ours hearts was a fire that had already been lit, and was not easily going to be extinguished. So we decided to stay together. Good thing too, because were still together. Soon after that she went back to her Dad's house to do Christmas with her Dad's side of the family. I had a few days before I went back to base, and those few days were spent talking to her on the phone. This continued for about a month and a half. We would talk about anything and everything, for about 2 hours a night. We desperately missed each other, and I scrambled to find a way to come and see her. I came home for a month on recruiter’s assistance. The whole time was spent with her. Before I came home I declared my love for her, and it was graciously returned. I really meant it when I said I loved her. On recruiter’s assistance, we were inseparable, except when she was at school, which was often during the last week of my visit due to finals. Bah! We really had some good times that month, we went camping, took a small road trip to the beach and back, cooked together. Its funny, by ourselves, we can’t cook worth shit, but together we made all kinds of badass food. We snuggled up as much as we could. It sucked though, since we were in Scott's house he saw it inappropriate for us to sleep together. (It was still weird to Scott that we were together) but we found all sorts of creative ways to be with one another at night. I remember one night I was over at my biological parent’s house, and I just did not want to be there at all. The house was a mess, and the atmosphere there is depressing. Plus, all I wanted was to spend every moment with Amanda. So, I called her and was telling her how I was feeling. She offered to come pick me up, and I accepted. It was so hard for me to spend just one night away form her. I felt instantly better when I saw her; I kissed her, and held her head in my hands, then let out a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, all leave comes to an end. This was all too true in this case; I left after a full month of joy, love, fun, and attempting to recruit fine young men into the United States Marine Corps. (In which I was unsuccessful) Leaving the woman you love is most certainly the hardest thing a man can do, and it was no cake walk for her either. We both cried... I never want to see her cry like that again in my life. Ill tells you what, if there’s one thing I hate the Marine Corps for, its ruining relationships, and making innocent woman cry. I just keep reminding myself that I’ll be out one day, and I get to spend the rest of my life with her. That makes me think, whenever I tell people about How much I love Amanda, and how we plan on being together Forever/having kids/marriage whatever, I get almost bitter responses, “oh that’s crazy, your young. Nothing lasts forever”, or shit like “Long distance relationships don’t last, don’t get your hopes up, anything can happen while your gone”. I do know that this kind of thing happens, and people cheat on one an other, and fall out of love. I have had both those thing happen to me. But it’s so hard for most people to believe in absolute love, which is what Amanda and I have together. There’s nothing we don’t love about each other, and I don’t even feel physically right when I’m away from her. I fall in love with her every time I see, or talk to her. And we communicate so well, every time we have had any tiny little problem (which happens more rarely than the Pope railing some lady) we talk about it so well, and we both feel 10 times better afterward. Sigh, that’s all…
