A Few Corrections ...

Yes, I'm still alive and still very much pregnant! (Kate here, by the way. :-P)

So I've been meaning to chime in with my two cents on the on going Pup and Ben chapters Michael's added here to the blog recently. Now it seems like we've shared our cinema-like story nearly a hundred times already and it only felt appropriate to get it down in print finally, but unfortunately it doesn't have quite the same effect as the live version with my little side comments and what-about-this-and- what-about-that dialog! So, if only for our female readers, here's my feminine take on things:

Although Mike did take the initiative in making the first move (which any self-respecting man should) he was on my radar before I had even seen his face! Starbucks had become my regular hangout soon after moving to East Greenwich since the library had inconvenient hours and fire walls which inhibited me from roaming the internet freely and using my web cam to communicate with my fellow ASL-using friends. As a creature of habit I would usual go into the coffee shop around the same time in the afternoon, plop myself down in the same spot near the window and camp out there until sunset. Now in my line of vision in my spot by the window happened to be the employee board with little envelopes with each person's name on it ... which I've never asked Michael about, but I'm assuming was used like a mailbox system. Of course the name, Mike jumped out at me on day one. Now, if you don't already know, I've had a minor obsession with the name Mike, Michael, Mikey since I was a toddler. I named my first goldfish Mikey, and my favorite toy for years was a little construction worker figurine (with a Boston cap) who's name was also Mikey. Naturally as I matured I grew out of the "ey" thing but my love for the name Michael never left me and swore to myself that if I were to ever have a son I would name him Michael James (no joke) ... little did I know that was the name of my future husband instead!

Alright so after spotting the Mike envelope, his voice is what struck me next. I had come in one night, sat down and got down to business on my laptop when I couldn't help but overhear the conversation going on behind me. I heard his rich, yet lulling voice explaining the events that followed his mother's death, from redefining his relationship with his sisters to having to clean out and divide up (their own, and their mother's) belongings. The subject matter touched me of course, but even more so was his delivery of it ... articulate, calm, and heartfelt. The conversation concluded and who ever the woman he was speaking with (to this day he still can't recall) got up, hugged him, and as she left turned to say, "You take care now Michael". The name rang in my ears and I was dumb struck for a moment. I knew right then and there something significant was about to change in my life!

I made no efforts to strike up a conversation with Mike, because honestly at that point romance was the furthest thing from my mind, and I wanted to keep it that way, at least for awhile. Our next encounter however lingered even more deeply than the first. The night Michael slipped me that on the house strawberry frappuccino I drove home almost in a daze. It had been a whirl wind night of emotions for me after having finally broken ties with someone that was long over due. The biggest feelings I experienced that night though were first, relief ... and second, much stronger, gratitude. I really could not believe that this guy had noticed that I perhaps needed a little something special, and delivered it ever so subtly. Now I must admit I HATE strawberry flavored ice cream, drinks, etc ... but I kept this precious frappuccino for a week moving it back and forth between the freezer and the fridge (neither could maintain the proper consistency) all the while being amazed at this man thoughtful, tender gesture! I had thanked him ever so briefly the night he'd given it to me I felt a more proper and deliberate thanks was in order the next time I saw him. The following weekend our eyes finally met and confirmed what our hearts already knew.

After that initial exchange Mike and I began "stalking each other" at Starbucks, only to keep missing one an other, until finally one Saturday evening I hit the jack pot as Mike was working that night!

As he got ready to leave about an hour before closing he came over to my table with his tousled hair, sporting his Dartmouth sweat shirt (my favorite to this day), squatted down next to me (*gasp* I felt like he was proposing already) and proceeded to ask me if I would be interested in having dinner with him. I must have kept my composure, but I'll admit to having the worst case of butterflies EVER! And, correction to his version, he actually did take down my name and number in one of his school note books!

It didn't take long for him to call, as I feared it might, but I missed it since I was out having dinner with my mom, sister, and two nieces. Now, it's important that I add that I had been dreading my 22nd birthday for months ... I HATE even numbers just about as much as I LOVE the name Michael, and on top of that I just felt like my own life had kind of flat lined with no particular direction in sight. The day was approaching whether I liked it or not though and my mom and sister where doing their best to keep my spirits up! Although I missed Mike's first call, he did leave a message inviting me to accompany him up to Boston to pick up a friend at the airport. This still makes me laugh because at the time the only vehicle Mike had was his little 2 seater convertible BMW, so unless he planned to stick his friend in the trunk his invitation would have backfired quite horribly had I accepted. Heading up to

Boston with a man I'd just met and who's last name I'd yet to find out was a little too wild for my taste though, after all he could have been an axe murderer for goodness sakes! The conclusion of his message indicated otherwise of course, with his closing line being something to the effect; "you're probably busy with your mom and sister right now though, and I can only envy the time they get to spend with you" ... Smooooooothe Pup! My sister and I giggled over that for the next 2 days ... but secretly I adored his romantic statement!

After my mom and sister had left on Sunday night I was doing some errands in East Greenwich and worked up the nerve to call him back. I pulled into (our) Starbucks parking lot and dialed ... you know how the rest of that played out.

The next day I decided I deserved a nice new dress for our up coming date so I went to the mall and found the perfect dress ... black, button up, with pleats down the front, sash around the waist, and tiny little poof at the shoulders! Conservative, yet fun and flirty all in one ... It was definitely my intention to make a statement with that dress, I knew if he didn't like IT he wouldn't like ME. I finished off the ensemble with some cute little red heels (made sure they weren't too tall though, didn't want to scare the guy off, ya know) and a simple beaded necklace to match! By the time I left the mall my dread of turning 22 was slowly starting to fade.

Tuesday arrived, and I don't recall much of the day, I think my thoughts were probably consumed by the excitement and uncertainty of spending some actual time with this Sutherland fellah! I was dressed and ready, perched at the dining room window in my grandmother's house as I awaited his arrival. There was a momentary pang of worry that he might actual stand me up when I looked at the clock and it was ten minutes past the time we'd agreed upon for him to pick me up. But the phone rang and he apologetically explained that he was on his way and would be there soon. He was, and when I opened the door to greet him my heart didn't do that cliche leap into your throat thing, but quite the opposite in fact ... it settled. His gaze fell upon me and I felt at home in his stare.

Michael's account of the actual date was pretty on target ... free flowing, romantic, fun ... and by far one of the best nights of my life! Before we knew it, it was nearly 1 am and I being the Ivory girl I am probably said something about needing to get home. Of course he was a gentleman and respected my request, gracing my lips with goodnight kiss. Thinking to myself that this date could not have gone any better, I headed for the door only for him to stop me and handed me a birthday gift! (I've learned this wasn't just a sweet over the top birthday gesture ... that's just how Michael is!) We said goodnight again, I went inside exhausted, elated, and in awe that there could be more ... I plopped down on the bed and proceeded to unwrap the multiple balls of tissue paper from the bag. Of course the teddy bear was a cute touch (and I held him tight during those many night when Mike was away in the Gulf), but what the

rest of the bag held meant more to me than I can even express. A small conch shell, two different colored star fish, and a sand dollar were the gems I unwrapped ... I laid them out in front of me and tears filled my eyes. In my move from the west coast I had left all of the beautiful, rare rocks and shells I'd collected behind, knowing it would be nearly impossible to get them all here in one piece. I had treasured those shells and leaving them left me with quite a heart ache. I found it so significant that his gifts to me were exactly what I'd left behind!

I went to bed that night, the happiest I'd ever been ... with no dreams left to dream, because they had already come true!