"She knew she loved him when 'home' went from being a place to being a person." - E. Leventhal
***
Emily had been working in our department for a few weeks before I even realized we had hired her. She was halfway across the country in Maryland and what did I care? Then it happened on a call one day. That voice. That personality. Who WAS this person—and why did she sound so damn happy?
I began the customary Facebook stalk. Wow! This girl was beautiful! I must get to know her a little better. My approach was hardly stealth. It was full on flirting: flirting on IM, flirting on the phone, flirting via email. If I had to see or hear any of those conversations today, I’d probably die of embarrassment. Yet, for some reason, she was receptive to my awkward advances. In fact, she could really dish it herself! After a time, I got up enough courage to call her outside of work. I was nervous, so those first few conversations were a little rough for me. It did not take long though for me to really feel at ease talking to her. Hell, I really WANTED to talk to her. ALL of the time! She must have felt the same way, because it seems like suddenly we were texting, calling, emailing each other throughout the day, every day and night.
I had to meet her in person. We had planned to get together in early 2014. Unexpectedly, I had an opportunity to go to Florida for New Years for the Iowa Hawkeyes bowl game, and, almost jokingly I asked if she wanted to meet me there. I was floored and SO excited when she agreed and I bought her ticket.
Finally, the day came—New Year’s Eve, 2013. As I waited for her to arrive at the airport I was understandably nervous (not to mention a little over-medicated from an allergy pill I took earlier in the day). It was her who spotted me first and when I looked up, my knees began to buckle as I looked into those eyes in person for the first time. I felt like I was dreaming and that I could just jump right into them (though full disclosure, it may have been the pill).
In less than two hours together, I felt like I had known Emily my entire life. We spent the next two days hanging out in Tampa, laughing and talking. It was wonderful (I didn’t even care that the Hawkeyes had lost the game). I HATED to see it come to an end, and I cried when I took her to the airport (something that became a common occurrence when we parted throughout the next year).
The longest 36 days of my life happened next, but when I finally arrived in Maryland to celebrate Em’s birthday with her I felt like I had just arrived home. For the next few days, we both discovered that HOME is actually how we feel when we are together. Nothing compares and nothing is quite right when you are not there. HOME.
2014. In what was all in one the happiest, most frustrating, and anxiety-ridden year ever, our love, respect, and admiration for each other grew. While pet names, songs, jokes and stories over the phone all took a little of the edge off of being apart – there was no substitute for the time we were actually together.
Em eventually came to Iowa to meet the kids. Emily was so wonderful with the kids—just a natural. They warmed to her as only teenagers can---but I could sense through the apathetic teen outer shell that they knew this girl was “right” for their dad. Many conversations with them would confirm my suspicions and I could soon see that they had developed a genuine like and respect for her.
That significant hurdle out of the way, I began to plot to ask Emily to marry me. I could not stand being apart or the thought of someday losing her because of logistics. I wanted this woman to be a permanent and official member of my family, but first---I needed the blessing of the rest of the family. We both realized this was a BIG change for them, and it was important to us to have the kids on board with the concept of family expansion.
As expected, another hurdle cleared. Now I had to work on Emily’s family. I cannot describe the admiration and respect I have for Sandy, Donny and Ann—not to mention the appreciation I have for them opening up their lives and welcoming me in. I was genuinely worried about this and VERY nervous when I asked Sandy and Donny for permission to propose. A few idle threats aside, they eagerly agreed and the plot was on.
I wanted to do something special for the proposal, and thanks to Sandy and Kristin, I was able to pull that off. Looking into Emily’s beautiful eyes as she said “yes” to my proposal filled me with a euphoria that will only be equaled by her saying “I do”. I am so completely honored to have Emily in my life, in my children’s lives, and by my side for the rest of our days.
Ours is a story of love, family, home, honor, respect, admiration, and separation anxiety. But most of all, it is a story of dreams coming true and that there IS someone for everyone. And though they just may be half a country away, if you open your heart and mind-you just never know WHAT can happen. I found my Penguin. Em found her Lobster.
~Kevin
Our Story
