that's amore

Geez. I'm really sorry that for the past week or so I've been M.I.A. (fly like paper get high like planes). I guess I sorta like going a while without checking blogs, because it means when I do get a chance...I get to read a whole bunch all at once!

So I loved seeing your posts with past boyfriends and crushes, so I thought I'd put together a little highlight reel of my own love life. (I can't include them all - I was quite boy crazy throughout school so we'd be here all night if I scrolled through every last one.)

Let's start at the beginning.


This is James. He was my very first boyfriend. We dated in 8th grade....if you can call it dating. We rarely hung out outside of school, and he moved to Mississippi while we were dating...and I didn't know about it til everyone else did. But I had a huge crush. I remember he asked me out while we were in line to have our school pictures made. I loved his sense of humor. (Obviously).


This is Jeffrey. I didn't date him...but I REALLY REALLY wanted to. He was the freaking love of my middle school (and some high school) life. He was in the band and I used to wander around at the football games during the band break just so I could have the chance of seeing him. He was a cutie, and what was even better is that although he was really popular and I wasn't, he always went out of his way to be nice to me and talk to me. Amazing guy.



This is Christopher (and his fiance Meagan). He was my first longterm boyfriend (dated for about a year in high school). He was gorgeous. But we butted heads sometimes. We also had a long distance relationship. And like most relationships of that kind...it didn't work out. But I think it was my first really mature relationship because we had to keep it together without seeing each other all the time. I have some good memories of my time with him.


This is Taylor (the one in the center with the crazy hair and big smile). He is one of my favoritest people on the friggin planet. We dated for a short month in 11th grade. We were super close friends, and flirted a great deal in history class, so we decided to give dating a shot. We realized quickly that we were friends and only friends. One of the most genuine people I've ever encountered. His enthusiasm for life inspires me.

The last on my exes list will not be shown (I think we all probably have one of these). I have to admit, although I am over him, and have been for quite some time, I'm afraid the wound he left in my heart will always sting when I see a picture of him or think about that time in my life. The twinge is full of dull pain, and mostly regret. A lot of regret. Regret for my actions while we were involved...I am not proud of the person I was when I was with him. I did some really crappy things and hurt several people all in the name of what I thought was love (I was told later that it was not love on his part and my heart was subsequently shattered). Regret for how things turned out...that he is the only ex of mine that I have nothing to do with, and probably never will. Regret that our relationship and its repercussions will always be somewhere in the back of my mind. I think that when I'm at low points and the devil wants to kick me when I'm down....he reminds me of all this.

But there is one thing I don't regret about my time with him. It was through him that I met Cory. And I can never regret what brought me to meet my soulmate. That despite every bad choice I made with him and all the hurt that we caused, I think it somehow strengthened my bond with Cory and helped me understand what it is to truly love someone, unconditionally and with a forgiving heart. And for that, I am truly thankful.