reminiscing

It was around this time three years ago that Ben proposed... so I'm in a reminiscing mood. These are two of our engagement pictures.

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1) Where did you meet?
Ben says that we met at my roommate's cross-country meet, but I seriously don't remember meeting him there! The first time I remember seeing him was when one random day, there was a knock on my apartment door. I opened it and there he was... he came to visit Yuliya (the roommate) and we were officially introduced.

2) What was the first thought that went through your head when you met?
I loved his smile. *sigh*

3) Do you remember what he/she was wearing?
YES! A gray jogging suit with "ACU" embroidered on the front. I later stole that jogging suit from him... hehe... and I still wear it all the time hee

4) When was the first time you kissed this person?
AY! Umm it was on the night he asked me to be his girlfriend. A tiny little shy peck ;)

5) Who was there when you first met?
Yuliya, and I can’t remember if any of the other roommates were there... maybe Nora.

6) Where was your first date?
I can’t remember the name of the place! It was this Italian place in Abilene where we went to eat gelato.

7) How did he/she ask you out?
It was my birthday, so he called me to say happy birthday and then told me he had a present for me and asked when he could give it to me, so we arranged a late-night date (since I was going to celebrate with the roomies first).

8) Has this person ever proposed to you, if so how?
He first gave me a "promise ring" while we were still in school. I’m pretty sure that was a control mechanism so that everyone would know I was taken! He then officially proposed summer '05... my family came to visit his family and we had this big barbeque party (including all aunts, uncles, grandmas, cousins) and then his dad asked my dad for my hand (you will only understand that if you are Mexican) and then Ben got on one knee... ah you know the rest.

9) Do you and this person have kids together?
No, thank you.

10) Have you ever broken the law with this person?
Um we've gone over the speed limit and maybe ran a red light or two...

11) When was the first time you realized that you liked this person?
He invited me to come over to his apartment like a month after we met, where we talked for a while about random stuff. He then got all serious and was like, "I like you. I also know that a bunch of other guys like you. I’m not going to waste my time pursuing you if you are interested in someone else, so just let me know how you feel." He was so direct, it shocked me! And it made me really like him =)

12) Do you get along with their family?
Yes, we're all close.

13) Do you trust this person?
With my life!

14) Do you see them as your partner in your future?
Forever and ever. I think we make great partners because we balance each other out and we have very different ways of approaching things... so one can always be learning from the other.

15) What is the most expensive thing they have given you?
Ben bought a car for me before we got married while I was in grad school. At this point, though, I'd say the IRA is worth more… hehe

16) When did you realize you were in love with him/her?
I'm going to be honest, it took me a while to officially claim to be "in love"! I hadn't ever been in a real relationship, so I wasn't sure how this romantic love thing was supposed to go. Let me see... we started our relationship in February. Then I traveled around during the summer for this internship thing I had and he went back to St. Louis. It wasn't until right before the school year started again, in August, that I realized I MISSED him A LOT! The night he came back to Abilene, sometime mid-August, I told him I loved him. It was really hard to say it! I had actually been practicing all day with my roommates, HA! Seriously! I'm a dork.

17) What is the thing you do that gets on his/her nerves?
I forget stuff. A lot. Like, Ben says "honey, can you get me a pen from the office?" and I’m like "sure" and walk over to the office. Twenty minutes later Ben comes to the office and is like, "WHERE’S THE PEN?!" And I’m all "ohhh right... THAT’S what I was in here for!" It drives him nuts. Sorry, babe.

18) Where do you see each other 15 years from now?
Pfft, by that time Ben will be CEO of the world and I will have my dream job of selling yukis and paletas all day in a pimped-out yuki stand! Next round of changuitos on meee!

19) What causes the most arguments?
Definitely me forgetting stuff and being absent-minded
"Honey, why did you cancel that thing I asked you not to cancel?" "you asked me not to cancel it? Oh I’m sorry, I forgot"
"Honey, why hadn't you told me your car needed an oil change 2,000 miles ago?" "oops, sorry"
"Honey, why is my chicken all jiggly?" "Oh... I guess I forgot to bake it"
"Honey, did you return that movie that was due three days ago?" "yes" "Then why is it still in the DVD player?!"

20) What do you like the most about this person?
Ben has a wonderful heart. I can't even explain it. He’s just the best thing that ever happened to me...