Once upon a time there was a boy named Shane and a girl named Melissa… They hated each other, then they loved each other, then they got married. True story.
Just kidding. Kind of.
You all know I am a Jersey girl, born and raised, and proud of it. Shane grew up in Vermont. We couldn’t be from any two places that are more different. So how do a Jersey girl and a Vermont boy meet? In college!
(our first picture together)
We went to college in a beach town on the northeast coast. After freshman year, most students move off campus and rent beach houses to live in during the semester. (I know, how awful, right?) Long story short, our two groups of friends somehow connected and started hanging out together. I remember going to parties with my friends and never knowing whose house I was at. Years later I was looking at pictures with Shane and discovered it was his house!
Most of our college parties took place at my friend’s house, which is where I first met Shane. I remember the night so clearly, which is strange because we weren’t immediately attracted to each other and it was just another college party. Most people left the party and there were only a few of us who remained, including Shane. He was so cocky and arrogant and I was probably coming off a little snobbish myself that we instantly HATED each other!
Our two groups of friends were hanging out more and more so our mutual hate turned into an okay-I-guess-I-can-at-least-have-fun-with-you-in-a-group-setting relationship. We were hanging out every weekend with all our friends so our relationship became tolerable. We even had a little bit of a flirtatious tension going on. But, hold on; pump the brakes, because I HAD A BOYFRIEND!
(“Nooo! She did not just say that!”)
Let’s rewind. I was in a long term, long distance relationship with someone from my hometown. He was a very nice, very sweet guy, but the relationship had fizzled out. Even though he was a great person, I didn’t see our relationship moving forward in the future. I didn’t have much of a connection with his family, either, which is important to me.
I was also not in a good place myself. I was struggling with facing the reality of graduation coming up and entering the real world. I wasn’t invested in the relationship as much as I used to be and we both didn’t deserve that. I was prepared to be single for the first time since I was (hmm) fifteen or to start a fling and see where things went with Shane.
All right, fast forward. During winter break of my senior year Shane sent a blast invite to our group of friends inviting everyone and anyone to visit him in Florida where his family had just recently moved. My girlfriend and I were like “FLORIDA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER! YES PLEASE!” At that point, I was just looking for some fun in the sun with my best friend.
So, we went to Florida along with Shane’s best friend and I saw a completely different side of Shane. I was able to be with him on a more personal level since we weren’t in such a big group of friends like we normally were. And, what I always tell people changed my mind about him was seeing him with his family. Now, you know I am a huge family person, so seeing Shane interact with his parents and his brother was totally different than the college party boy I met. I was hooked. But the whole boyfriend situation…
By the time we went back to school for the spring semester I knew I had to break up with my boyfriend. I wasn’t happy and I couldn’t string him along. It wasn’t fair to either of us.
Shane and I took things slow to see where they would go. I ended up staying in college for another year to earn my master’s degree while Shane finished up his senior year (yes, I’m a year older). After graduation Shane moved back to Vermont and I moved back to New Jersey. I remember packing up his house and driving to the beach to say good-bye before we drove our separate ways. It was so sad to say good-bye because we were also saying good-bye to college, but it made each visit to Vermont more special and exciting for me.
We had a long distance relationship for about two years. In that time, I started my “big girl” job and Shane was looking for a job in New Jersey. It came to the point where we didn’t want to be apart any longer so Shane moved to New Jersey. For me! We couldn’t afford to move into our own place at the time so he moved in with my parents and me and lived in the basement. Now this is starting to sound like a fairytale where I’m the princess living in my castle and the prince is locked away in the dungeon. I don’t think it was as bad as it sounds. Well, I guess it depends who you ask!
Anyway, Shane found a job. We moved into an apartment and we got a puppy! Every year, we try to go back to visit college and to the beach (where we said our good-byes). On February 15, 2014 we were driving to the beach in the snow and Shane wanted to get out of the car to watch the waves crash. I was reluctant (ARE YOU CRAZY?) because it was freezing and snowing and what was he thinking!? We walked up to the beach, wind blowing, snow falling and Shane getting down on one knee. He proposed!
This is our first “engaged” picture.
We got married a little over a year later on April 25, 2015. Stay tuned for a post about our wedding and wedding planning. Shortly after we bought our first house together and that brings you up to date!
We’re married!
We’re homeowners!
I honestly don’t know where I would be without Shane. We still laugh today that we totally hated each other when we first met. He is my best friend and I’m still falling in love with him every day. I am so happy and excited to share my life with him and to see what our future brings.
