From THEN to NOW: the JOURNEY continues...

9 years, 1 month, and 21 days is how long Nikki and I have been friends…

Within that time frame I have gotten to know my sweet friend pretty well. In the beginning we spent many summer nights in silence losing ourselves in music. I would sit at one end of the sofa and with Nikki resting comfortably in my lap, I'd caress her head and just listen to song after song into the wee hours of the morning. We’d also hang out at her “Real World” parties on Tuesday nights and the occasionally go out with mutual friends. Shortly after becoming friends I left Milwaukee and moved to Atlanta, but still our friendship remained connected; sharing music, emails and visits when each of us was in town.


1 year, 10 months and 10 days is how long we’ve been in an intimate relationship…

There were many flights from Milwaukee to Atlanta and Atlanta to Milwaukee. As our routine long weekends approached our excitement intensified. For the next 3-4 days after arrival we’d play catch up on wining and dining, movies, quiet evenings, long talks, listening to music, visiting friends, and doing all the things we didn’t want to do in each other’s absence. Then that dreadful day would come when we would have to make that trip back to the airport. Those rides worsened as the months passed: tears, attitudes and silence. I couldn’t stand making the drive on departure day. On arrival day I-285 South was my best friend. However, on departure day I would curse at every exit: Atlanta Road -I hate this place; S. Cobb Drive-I can’t wait to leave here! Hollowell Pkwy - tears stream down my face as I try not to make eye contact with Nikki because I see the tears streaming down her face as well. By the time we'd reach Hartsfield-Jackson we were emotional wrecks. It was always a bittersweet visit; loving the time spent but hating to see it come to an end for the next thirty days or so.


3 months and 4 days is how long we have lived together...

Finally I am here and it’s been lovely. Getting to know Nik on day to day basis is interesting and appreciated. Before my arrival we had the "live together talk" and she thought I’d be the OCD one because I am rather organized. Not to say that she isn’t but for some reason she thought I was kind of over the top because all of my hangers are white, bed has to be made before I can get in it, toilet paper roll is under and seemingly I was always cleaning. Au contraire mon soeur (on the contrary my sister)! Nikki my sweetheart, love of my life, woman whom I plan to marry in less than a year-- kisses! A few weeks back she was looking for something that belonged on the second shelf in our toiletry cabinet and it wasn’t there but on the shelf below. Laaaawwwwwd you would’ve thought the world depended on this item being in its place. It was then I learned the cabinet is important to her. It has to stay ‘in order’ or me and all three girls will be in TROUBLE! After our Wal-Mart trip, she sat on the floor and quietly organized this cabinet to perfection while placing the items we just bought on their respective shelves I didn’t say a word only laughed to myself. But this right here… this right here (in my Katt Williams voice) takes the cake. One evening we were putting pictures on a stand in the family room. Me, I just placed them up there and thought it was okay. Uh-uh… nope. It wasn’t that simple. Can you believe we were in there for well over an hour strategically placing picture frames on a shelf! Like for real… really, are you serious the picture can’t stay right here?! She shot me ‘that look’ so I sat on the sectional and watched her mull over where to place a 4x6 photo frame on a shelf. I sat there in disbelief as she looked from every angle in the room at this shelf and the picture. By this time I am cracking up but she’s dead serious--still I am cracking up and started teasing her until finally she had positioned the picture to her liking. During this phase of our journey it’s been amusing to experience her quirky ways of doing things as I’m sure she finds humor in mine.
 

10 months and 10 days until we say …. I do

We have so much to ready ourselves for: Briana leaves for the U.S. Navy 10/24/11 and Jasmine and Courtney graduate 06/12. After those significant events we will then exchange vows and begin our lives as wife and wife.


#ourjourneyshallcontinue

 

©BNasha, September, 2011