This is the result of many months of reflection and recording...it is long, painfully detailed, and maybe a little too personal. It was written mostly for us, because I don't ever want to forget, and also for our children, so they know our story and can pass it on. But, if you have a few minutes and want to know how Blake and I were brought together, enjoy!
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| Our first date |
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| Our wedding |
This is a love story. Those of you who scorn sap, be advised that it is sappy. If you tend to roll your eyes at clichés, you may want to stop reading now. But if you are a sucker for a fairytale or a closet romantic, then take a few moments and savor this account of two imperfect people who by the goodness of God discover that they are perfect for each other.
Like all good romances, this story is laced with lingering glances, exotic locales, and hearts that yearn for each other across thousands of miles. Both of our protagonists confess that the outcome far surpasses their wildest dreams, and that such a story could only be written by an Author of infinite love and wisdom.
Welcome to the story of Blake and Brittany.
Names and dates have not been changed to protect the innocent or anyone else. If the reader unwittingly finds himself written into this narration, the writer apologizes for any embarrassment he or she may feel.
Part I: Writing the Script and Setting the Stage
Flagstaff, AZ, 1984
In typical God-like fashion, the prayers of Steve and Diana Thomas were answered years before they were even uttered when a baby boy was born to Rich and Marisa Bowen in the mountain town of Flagstaff. Twenty-two years later (almost to the day), that baby would meet the girl he was destined to marry, but that thought was generally far from the minds of the parents who devoted their energies to worthy pursuits such as keeping said child from falling into the Grand Canyon and being beat up by the bullies he pummeled with his trombone case. Despite the occasional aggravating impishness, Blake was an endearing boy, and his parents proudly hailed his accomplishments, knowing that such a lad was destined for greatness.
Side note: Blake, indeed truly a great man, graciously acknowledges his parents for the significant role they played during his formative years, for which he is eternally grateful).
A delightful childhood full of outdoor adventures and intellectual inquiry that fostered a love of music led Blake W. Bowen to a crossroads after graduating from high school: needing to get off the mountain, our hero left the wilds of Flagstaff for an entirely different kind of wilderness (one that would test his survival skills to the max): Hollywood, California.
Seattle, WA, 1986
Mary Solum took one look at her baby granddaughter’s dimples and shook her head. “That girl’s going to be a heartbreaker,” she predicted. Young Brittany was always confused by that statement. Unless her parents were heartbroken to have a dimpled child (this did not appear to be the case), there was no danger of her breaking anybody’s heart. Brittany
This is not to say that she was by any means unhappy. Brittany ’s parents provided her with many delightful adventures throughout the ruggedly beautiful state of Washington Brittany
What better place, all reasoned, for Brittany to meet such a man than Grove City College (known for graduating women with an MRS. Degree)? Not that Grove City Brittany set off to claim for herself all the mystic treasures western Pennsylvania
Part II: All Roads Lead to Washington
Hollywood, California
If Brittany were ever to doubt the hand of divine protection on her beloved’s life, it is confirmed every time Blake regales her with tales from his time in Los Angeles. Blake arrived in Southern California with grand aspirations towards a career in the music industry. This was reasonable, as he was an accomplished musician with a natural business sense. As Blake was moving into the dorm at Los Angeles Recording School, a significant thing happened: his father struck up a conversation with a kid named David, a western Washington transplant. While this may seem trivial, a friendship was born between Blake and Dave that day that had far-reaching results that neither of them could ever dream of.
Blake can certainly identify with the starving student persona, after living off Wonder Bread, peanut butter, and, of course, Top Ramen for months. After a weekend of homelessness spent in his car, Blake realized that he had grown disillusioned with the ruthlessness of the music industry and the glitz and grime of Hollywood. After a year of futile job hunting, when Dave informed him of his intentions to move home to Seattle, it took Blake only moments to weigh his current situation with the possibility of life in the Pacific Northwest (where he had never imagined ending up). He told Dave that he was coming with him. Thus the Flagstaff boy, now skinnier, tattooier, and slightly wiser, left behind the sunshine for unknown adventures in the Emerald City.
Grove City, PennsylvaniaThere were moments when she despaired greatly about this, and other moments when her faith was strong during her first two years of college. She clung to the idea of her fairytale prince, but deep in her heart she knew she would settle for someone less than captivating had she the opportunity. Looking back, Brittany now sees that her perceived rejection from the boys of Grove City was really God’s way of protecting and saving her from herself, keeping her free for the one He had created for her. Brittany was neither strong nor discerning enough to wait for Blake on her own, so God graciously did not give her the chance to settle for less than His best. Brittany is eternally grateful to Him for that.
One Job Leads to Another…
Blake spent his first weeks in Washington in Enumclaw, helping Dave’s parents with some construction work. It rained every day, and Dave would gesture off into the distance and say, “There’s a mountain right there.” Blake did not believe him, until one day, the clouds lifted, and he beheld the splendor of Mt. Rainier for the first time.
Blake soon found a job working for an inventory company; he traveled all over the Puget Sound area working at department stores in the middle of the night. It seemed like a dead-end job, and perhaps would have been, had it not been for one of his coworkers. John mentioned to Blake that he should call his wife, who worked in air cargo at the airport. His wife, Judy, was hiring, and John thought Blake might like the work. Blake was sick of inventory, and on a whim he decided it would not hurt to call. Judy asked him to come interview, and he was hired on the spot.
And in Grove City…
As the months away from home spent with friends in academia continued to shape her, Brittany began considering summer employment for after her sophomore year. Finding a summer job from out of state was never easy, and several criteria had to be met. To begin with, Brittany did not want to work with kids, having been day camped out the previous summer. Second, it had to pay in double digits to help fund her coming semester abroad. Finally, the job had to be accessible by bus, as she had no vehicle. She intended to work a lot and play very little so she could save lots of money for Argentina
It seemed the job search would be brief and painless when a friend from church in Seattle assured her that she could hire Brittany as a summer assistant for her civilian military job. Brittany was thrilled, and gratefully ended the quest. However, as a couple months passed, the friend was less and less committal, and she finally told Brittany that she could not get permission to hire her after all. With just a couple months of school left, Brittany feverishly began the hunt again, knowing her dad would be breathing down her neck until she had something secured. A logical place for a job, Brittany concluded, would be the airport. Surely her Spanish skills would be in demand, and it was easily reached by bus. A quick internet search revealed airportjobs.org. Many international airports do not have websites devoted to employment opportunities, however, Seatac does. Brittany perused all of the available job postings, taking note of any that she might be remotely qualified for, from ticketing agents to baggage handlers. Most of the jobs, though, required one to go to the office and apply in person, a luxury Brittany could not take advantage of from Pennsylvania. A few of the positions she had noted, though, were accompanied by a miraculous little thing: an email address. Please send résumé to… So, Brittany forwarded her résumé to every address, with a note explaining that she was seeking employment only for the summer.
It was a long shot that she’d hear back from anyone at all, and of all the possibilities, it was the one least likely that replied to her petition: British Airways (so much for speaking Spanish) World Cargo (cargo? Is that like baggage?). A company named Aeroground handled all of British Airways’ commercial freight, and it just so happened that one of their agents was having a baby and would be going on maternity leave for the summer. They were hoping to hire a replacement only for those months, to save having to fire someone when she returned. Thus, Brittany seemed a perfect solution.
Meanwhile, in Seattle:
Lisa, the office manager for British Airways, called her lead agent over and handed him a résumé. “Here’s one that may work for the summer. What do you think?” Blake scanned the document and was intrigued. This girl was in college, so she might be smart (a refreshing thought). She was studying Spanish, which was pretty cool. And she volunteered a lot and did church activities, so she must have morals. He was sold. “Let’s call her.”
Back in Western PA:
Brittany, of course, was thrilled. She had no idea what an “export agent” did, but it sounded important, and, even better, paid an astonishing $10.50 an hour! She figured working at the airport would even be fun. She replied to Lisa’s email and expressed her interest in the position. It seemed things were falling into place until a couple days later, when Judy (the boss) emailed her a potential schedule. They wanted Brittany Brittany Brittany Brittany Brittany headed into summer prepared to earn a lot of money and make no relationships of lasting value, in preparation for Argentina
Part III: That Summer
The following text may be considered tedious by some, and, granted, is laced with details that seem trivial. However, the writer is intent that not one detail should be forgotten, and invites the reader to skim as he or she deems necessary.
It seemed her summer was to remain blissfully free of crushes. After a couple of cursory questions, Judy announced that they had already decided to offer her a job. Judy went to get some paperwork and Blake attempted to set the nervous Brittany at ease with casual questions about school and Pennsylvania. Brittany was not sure what to make of her new boss…he did not seem to fit into any particular box (a fact that proved itself as the summer went on, and which intrigued her greatly). To begin with, she was having a hard time judging his age- he did not really look much older than her, but he carried himself with the confidence of age, and it was already clear that he was someone important in the office, which also did not mesh with her perception of someone young. His dyed hair and tattoos made him edgy and most certainly cool (which Brittany could not relate to at all, being neither edgy nor cool). Though he had an undeniably attractive and fascinating face (such great regularity of features!), there was no danger in falling for this cool man, whose priorities, she assumed, were quite different than her own. Surely the future he dreamed of for himself was nothing like what she desired; he probably wanted to either rule over his own island or be a drummer in a punk band. Or maybe a jazz band? He was hard to peg. But, he was friendly, and some of the others seemed so as well, so the summer seemed off to a decent start.
That same day: The new girl was nervous and Blake thought that was cute. She was cute in general, actually, and Blake wished he could put her at ease. It occurred to him from the start that she was different. Later he would consider her uniquely delightful. He thought of the unsavory boys that worked in the warehouse attached to the office- they always went after the new girls. Blake determined that that would not happen with this girl. He went out to the warehouse and approached the worst offenders. “We just hired a new girl. Leave her alone.”
Side note: All summer long Brittany wondered why the warehouse boys gave her so much distance. They were pleasant to her, but never more than that. She was grateful, but figured it was proof that there was, indeed, something wrong with her. When Brittany
Brittany accompanied Blake on his trip to US Customs that first day and was impressed by his grownup Volvo. She still had no idea how old he was. They made polite conversation, which only served to puzzle Brittany more. She determined to put him out of her mind and devote no more time to figuring him out. He was certainly too cool to even be a friend.
As the days passed, putting him out of her mind became an increasingly difficult task, much to her annoyance. For one thing, she was surprised by how attractive the traits of patience and respect were (her mother would be pleased to hear this). Blake also seemed to have morals, despite the hair and tattoos.
Side note: Two additional positive things happened in Brittany’s heart That Summer: she realized that she was guilty of judging people based on their appearance, and she began to humbly realize the illegitimacy of this. And, being for the first time in a grownup, non Christian environment, Brittany matured in her faith and learned the value of lifestyle evangelism and being herself- it was possible to be friends with nonbelievers. So Blake had morals, but couldn’t possibly be a Christian…he was probably raised by an angry, dysfunctional artsy cool family that celebrated the solstice instead of Christmas (oh that tendency to judge). Much to her distress, though, Brittany
Blake continued to impress at work; as she grew more familiar with the process at British Airways, she appreciated more and more the pressure he was under and the way he exhibited such patience with aggravating coworkers and customers. At moments he was truly diplomatic, and other times he stepped up as the leader and took charge. Brittany was alarmed by her growing feelings for this man. Every time he closed his eyes and tried to rub away a headache, her heart melted for him.
Brittany began to spend the bus ride home each day asking God to take away her feelings for Blake, and also asking that He would work in Blake’s life.
Brittany never felt more bumbly and incompetent than when Blake was around her, but somehow he was always patient and kind to her. She would staple together flight packets at the back table and silently wish he’d come check on her. When he did, Brittany ’s heart would thrill (he smelled so good!), and he’d encourage her or (as they grew more comfortable together) make fun of her a bit, while Brittany
The Era of Valerie
Valerie was everything that Brittany was not, and the first morning she showed up for work, it was just moments before Brittany concluded that they had very little in common. Valerie was always late, Brittany Brittany
With Brittany and Valerie being the two new girls, it was impossible not to make comparisons between them, which played greatly in Brittany’s favor (in Blake’s eyes, anyway). On one instance, Valerie was talking about a party she had attended the weekend before. She asked Brittany from across the room if she liked to party. Brittany gave a lame reply about how she did not like to “party” in the sense that Valerie meant. While she figured Blake must think her a complete dork upon hearing her answer, he had filed it away in a folder in his head titled “Brittany” that was becoming surprisingly thick with instances that struck him as to her uniqueness. There were other things that distinguished Brittany from Valerie, such as the latter’s tendency to not show up to work and the stories she told that accentuated her pettiness and immaturity.
Side note: This is not written to judge Valerie, rather to point out that Brittany, at this point in her life, was comfortable with (or at least resigned to) her own uncoolness, and though she wished she were cool enough to get the attention of Blake, she would never aspire to be a Valerie. Besides, he did not seem too impressed with her anyway…
Another side note (Blake’s perspective): The arrival of Valerie only increased the worth of Brittany in his eyes. The differences between them, he noted, were extreme, and constantly reminded him how refreshing he found her character and intelligence. Not only was she cute, she was far different than the Valeries of the world, whom he had known plenty of in Flagstaff, Los Angeles, and Seattle. While Valerie complained about not being able to qualify for a credit card, Brittany was dismayed about her poor command of Central Asian geography (a concern that Blake found quite endearing). He liked that she was studying Spanish, not something “lame” like psychology or exercise science (his opinion). Blake found himself growing protective of his cute coworker, grumbling about her riding the bus home and insisting she be careful.
During the Era of Valerie, several significant things happened. Brittany, while still battling her feelings for Blake, began to try desperately to win his approval. She brought in cookies and other baked goods, much to the delight of the rest of the office, though it always seemed to be something Blake did not like (much to Brittany’s dismay). She kept a sack of gummy bears in her drawer, since they were his favorite. Brittany found Blake’s myspace page and spent many minutes at night “stalking” him and mourning the fact that he was way too cool for her (always reminding herself that it was not like he was interested in her anyway). She eventually created her own page, as a way to attempt to connect with Blake. Later in the summer, he’d occasionally leave poetry in her comments section, which caused her to wonder… Her mom casually mentioned that she sure talked about her boss a lot, which Brittany reluctantly had to agree with.
The occurrence of a significant event which happened during the Era of Valerie:
The Hanging Out
Brittany had somehow managed to become friends with Danijela the Bosnian (who initially scared her very much). As she grew accustomed to Danijela’s brusque manners, she grew to enjoy her company. This was beneficial, since Danijela and Judith (whose maternity leave led to Brittany getting hired), would on occasion go see a movie after work with Blake. Since Brittany had been there, they had already seen one movie together, which Brittany
The first outing Brittany was invited on was a trip to see the new Spiderman film. Brittany reminded Blake, Danijela, and Judith that because she did not have a car, one of them would have to drive her home after the movie. They were noncommittal, but assured her that she would not be abandoned. Brittany rode to the theatre with Blake, who she would go so far as to call a friend by this point (Brittany had never really had a friend that was a guy before, so it was very strange). Danijela and Judith beat them to the theatre and called to let them know that Spiderman was sold out but there were some seats left for The Devil Wears Prada. They had already gone in and found two seats together. A few rows down there were two more seats together, and Judith wondered if one of them should sit with Brittany. Danijela blew off that suggestion and said that Blake and Brittany would live (she now likes to claim that she was instrumental in bringing the two together). Brittany and Blake, of course, were both secretly thrilled by the arrangement. After the movie, Brittany inquired as to who would take her home. After a bit of hemming and hawing from Blake and Danijela (Judith was exempt from consideration due to her child), Blake had the nerve to suggest a round of rock paper scissors, loser takes Brittany. Brittany was highly offended by this slight, but weeks later Blake would tell Brittany that he was praying desperately he’d lose (he did), and that he was just trying to keep Danijela (and Brittany) from guessing his feelings. A precedent was started that evening though, and after all other movies and events during the summer, it was unspoken that Blake would take her home, without rock paper scissors.
Brittany did truly feel bad that Blake had to drive her all the way across town. One morning while on the way to work, she was astonished to see, while driving down Snake Hill, a peacock nibbling on the blackberry bushes! Peacocks, as the reader already knows, are not indigenous to the Pacific Northwest , and such a sighting was certainly newsworthy. She excitedly announced her discovery at work that morning, and each time Blake drove her home, she tried to make it worth his time by mentioning that perhaps he’d see the peacock (he never did, but he didn’t care). The peacock would later turn into a meaningful symbol of their relationship. Both enjoyed the conversations they were able to have during these car rides, and both were always disappointed when they reached Brittany’s house (though they never would have said so).
The Era of Valerie ended suddenly when she was fired from Aeroground. No one was sad to see her go. In her stead was hired a cute little Ukrainian girl, Olga. Blake made an innocent comment on how cool it was that she was from the Ukraine , and Brittany Brittany Brittany Brittany Brittany
Brittany knew she would never share her feelings with Blake, but she was enjoying very much their growing friendship. Even though Blake was too cool for her, she thought that perhaps one of her cool friends was worthy of him. Brittany
About halfway through That Summer, several notable happenings occurred that contributed to her growing affection towards Blake. The first was the Revelation at the Outback. One evening after work, Blake took Brittany and Danijela out for dinner at the Outback (an apology meal for being grumpy). While dining, Brittany Brittany never would have been bold enough to bring up (it was as if Danijela were reading her mind and asking all the personal questions Brittany Brittany Brittany
As she was trying to convince herself to get over Blake, he made it increasingly difficult. The second notable happening was the Phone Call. Generally Blake ate lunch in his car, stealing some quiet time. On this day, however, the office was empty except for Brittany Brittany Brittany
It occurred to Brittany that even when she left in August, maybe she could stay in touch with Blake and they could keep up their friendship. With this in mind, she collected email addresses (she got them from everyone so Blake would not be suspicious when she asked for his). That weekend she watched a movie with Lindsay, Matt, and Scotty, Waking Ned Divine. During the course of the movie, she kept thinking about how it seemed one that Blake would greatly enjoy. She determined to be unusually bold and emailed him, recommending he watch the movie one day. Brittany
Side note: The following email interaction contains references to a certain Marty, a coworker of Blake and Brittany who was rather pitiful: lazy, dirty, crass, and smelly. “Blake Whitney Bowen: I saw a movie today that I think you’d like, despite its lack of vampires and science fiction and arts aesthetics and all that business- it’s called Waking Ned Divine, and it’s the Irish lotto movie thing with lots of adorable old people and really is quite amusing in a very British sort of way. So look for it sometime if you ever get an hour and a half off work (which is, of course, ridiculous to assume). I hope Hiroko-san or whatever they call girls in Japan built you a beautiful flight! Have two swell days Blequito!
Brittany Joy Thomas”
“August 1, 2006
Dear Miss Thomas,
That is a great movie, one I have devoted many an hour and a half to. I am dreadfully sorry to announce my termination of responsibility for the duration of…well, only Tuesday. But one can only appreciate the joys of freedom for so long before they wither into indifference. Miss Thomas, I do say this, I pity any woman or man who lives under the judgment of fools and has to fight the injustice of mediocrity (i.e. working with Marty). Be strong, and as I fear this letter will reach you too late, know this: you are a stronger woman than I.
Acquiescently yours,
Blake Whitney Bowen”
Blake showed the following email to Dave, who was impressed (Dave had always said that Blake was too picky, and that either he’d never get married, or he would find the absolute perfect girl). This particular email convinced Blake that he had to stay in contact with Brittany forever:
“Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Sir, you are too kind. I fear laudations of such strength are undeserved, as even a soul so affable as myself nary can be petitioned to bare such griefs as befall those who dwell too long in the presence of such unfortunate a person (Marty). Be thou alpha-male or no, it is with great anticipation of the morrow and a return to desirable company that I write.
Ever,
B.J. Thomas”
While Brittany tried to take advantage of every opportunity to spend time with Blake (and to impress him with her wit and cookies- ventures which usually failed, she thought), Blake, too, sought chances to be with Brittany (always in groups, of course, so she would not suspect his interest). He would take Judith, Danijela, and Brittany out for dinner, always driving Brittany
Partway through That Summer, Brittany left for her annual family reunion in California. She was loathe to lose any potential time with Blake, but it was just for a weekend. However, she could not get Blake out of her mind, and she called Aeroground everyday to “talk to Olga,” when of course her real intent was to hear Blake’s voice. Thankfully Olga understood this and insisted she say hi to Blake too with each call. Hearing his voice was elating and devastating.
After California, things began to pick up speed a bit…Brittany was down to less than a month left, and the reality that she would soon have to leave Blake hit her hard. She determined to make the most out of the remaining summer. One key instance occurred on a Saturday. Brittany Brittany
Side note: Brittany had taken to occasionally hanging around late at work (she said that she wanted to overtime), then picking her mom up at work at seven. Her sole purpose in doing this was spending an extra hour or so at work while Blake was there, when the flights were done and most of their coworkers had left.
On this particular Saturday, the office was pretty empty, as many people had requested the day off or gone home early. Brittany Brittany Brittany
Side note: As a thank you gift for being her chauffer throughout the summer, Brittany presented Blake with two books: “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “Billy Budd”. She had tried cookies and popup cards to win him over, and hoped that quality literature would prove more effective than her previous efforts (though she later learned he was not unmoved by cookies and popup cards).
Blake gets a confidant
Judith came back to work part time in early August. One evening, she, Blake, and Brittany were deliberating who would drive to the plane to deliver the documents. All three of them wanted to go, which was unusual (generally it fell to Brittany or Olga). It was determined that all of them could go together. Brittany got to ride up front with Blake on the way there, and Judith called shotgun on the return trip (Brittany
Judith turned to Blake after he parked the van and Brittany had gotten out. “She’s cute. You like her, don’t you? You do!” “Shut up.” Blake responded. Now Judith was Blake’s confidant, as Olga was Brittany’s.
That Sunday was the baptismal service at New Heights, a lovely, sunny day. At the park, a friend of her mom came up to Brittany Brittany
Meanwhile, at Aeroground, Kim (in charge of sales), who was always looking for ways to build “team unity,” organized a bowling outing for the exports staff. This evening would prove significant in endearing Blake and Brittany to each other even more. Since Blake would be taking the autoless Brittany to the bowling alley, she was forced to accompany Blake to his home after work so he could change clothes. Brittany greatly enjoyed the glimpse into Blake’s “sanctum,” and most significantly, she met Dave, who happened to be home. She and Dave chatted amiably about the Muppets (Brittany did not realize that Blake had talked about her, and thus Dave was viewing her as a girl his best friend was potentially interested in). Upon meeting her, Dave uttered something along the lines of, “So you’re Brittany,” something that Brittany would ponder the significance of for many bus rides home. Bowling itself was quite fun- Brittany was terrible, which Blake found quite adorable. He thrilled her by trying (hopelessly) to improve her form. She enjoyed the attention. Blake drove her home when the festivities were over.
Side note: He still smelled so good!
Additional side note: Blake had taken to remarking that he and Judith planned on kidnapping Brittany and taking her to Canada so she could not leave in a couple weeks. This pleased Brittany immensely. Blake had not returned to Flagstaff since moving to Washington, and a desire to see his home and family (and a lead on a potential job) made him decide a journey to the Southwest was in order. He made plans to take some vacation days the end of August. Brittany was working at his computer station one afternoon (it smelled like him) and noticed a time-off approval slip signed by Lisa; Blake had indeed requested time-off, and the requested days included her last day at Aeroground! Brittany was devastated; the fact that he would disregard her last day proved that he was completely uninterested in her. She informed Blake that he could not take his vacation then. The next day she was shocked to see a revised time-off request form on his desk, beginning a few days after she would be leaving. He had changed his vacation so he would be there for her last day! Brittany was sure it did not mean anything, but she got warm fuzzies anyway.
However, the summer was winding down, and Brittany had only a little over a week left to work at Aeroground. The Thursday before she was to leave, her coworkers threw her a surprise party. Olga made plans to take Brittany on some errand, but ended up driving her to Judith’s apartment, where she and Danijela were waiting. Blake showed up a few minutes later. They ate ribs and funny Russian wafer cake and played videogames (Brittany beat Blake at boxing once!). Someone mentioned going to see a movie, but this never came to fruition (this will prove significant later). Blake drove her home at the end of the wonderful evening, and as they pulled into her driveway, Brittany inadvertently sighed, and Blake’s heart quickened- could that sigh mean what he hardly dared hope it did?
Brittany left the next morning for the weekend, a family reunion in eastern Washington. The coming week would be her last at British Airways before she returned to Pennsylvania. She was subdued during the drive across the state, her heart aching and thoughts filled with Blake. Though it was wonderful to see her grandparents, she could not get Blake out of her mind, and she was blown away by the intensity of her feelings for him. The thought of losing him forever was, albeit cliché, devastating. Saturday evening, Brittany called Aeroground to “talk with Olga.” Olga informed Brittany pointedly that work was going horridly and Blake was having a terrible day. Brittany spoke with him for a minute, and her heart broke upon hearing how stressed he sounded. She hated that there was nothing she could do to comfort him. All that occurred to her was an email letting him know she was thinking of him, and was sorry he was having such a bad day. Grampie had impossibly slow dialup internet, but Brittany persevered and managed to send Blake an ecard with an opera singing monkey, in which she expressed her distress over his situation. All night long she wondered if Blake received her message, and if he cared at all.
She woke up early the next morning before church to check her email, and got her answer:
“August 20th, 2006
Dearest Brittany,
Your contributions and efforts towards my happiness are well received and greatly appreciated. Now I must request you consider not returning to Pennsylvania for the betterment of all blake-kind.
Sincerely,
Blake Whitney Bowen”
Words cannot express, the writer laments, the feelings that overwhelmed Brittany all day. With the email committed to memory, she could do nothing but run it through her mind over and over again…he called her “my dear!” Surely he must care at least a little! Even he was only a friend, they could stay in touch (he indicated that he would prefer her not leave, after all), and maybe one day…he wished she were staying! The drive home was agonizingly slow, providing Brittany with hours to overanalyze and despair and occasionally hope.
Monday. Normally Brittany would not work, but she claimed that she needed the hours after missing work over the weekend. Truthfully she could not care less about the hours, but Blake would be there on Monday, and she yearned to spend every possible moment with him before leaving at the end of the week. Brittany was fraught with nerves all day…should she bring up the email? Would he? Or had he already forgotten it? Blake was friendly to her, but not unusually so. Thankfully, it was a slow day, and the office emptied early as people completed their work and went home. Blake and Brittany were left alone in the office. She tried to occupy herself with busywork, then decided that it was futile and steeled herself to take the risk she had decided on earlier (such were her feelings that she had considered confessing them to Blake, but had determined not to; she felt that any initiative would have to be made by him, and since she doubted he had any interest in her, her pride would not allow her to take that drastic step). However, Brittany did decide that she could suggest one final group outing before her departure, to give herself one more evening in the company of the man she esteemed above all. So she made the comment, knowing that if she did not, she would forever regret it. Looking over at Blake, busy at the computer, she mentioned casually, “Hey, we should all go see that movie this week, the one you guys wanted to see at my party, since I’m leaving and everything.”
The Miracle
Side note: Even today Blake cannot explain what happened next; it was, he confesses, very unlike him to be so brave. He is gratefully mystified by his words.
“Sure,” Blake replied, not looking away from the screen. “Or, we could maybe do something just the two of us.”
Despite the fact that the earth had tilted off its axis, Brittany managed to keep her cool. “That’d be fun,” was her immediate reply. She was both disbelieving and deliriously elated at what had just been uttered from his mouth. She refrained from the instinctive if undignified reaction of running around the room crowing and pumping her fist. He wanted to do something “just the two of them!” She had scarcely permitted herself to dream of this impossible moment, and here it was! She reminded herself that it was certainly not an official date, and that it was entirely possible he had no romantic interest in her. But at least he must consider her a friend! Being his friend was certainly better than losing him forever. Before they left that evening, Blake told her he’d come by the office tomorrow (his day off) so they could decide on an evening.
Blake did come by the next day. She met him outside, and they determined that Thursday evening (she was due to leave Friday morning) would be the best time. He told her that she should plan on getting dressed up, but refused to reveal his plans for the night. Brittany had told Olga of the thrilling news earlier, now she pulled her frantically aside and begged her to go shopping with her. Olga, agreed, naturally, and after work that evening they went to the mall. Olga helped Brittany pick out a simple but beautiful little black dress and a classy pair of pearl earrings to match. Over dinner that night, Brittany told her parents that she’d be spending Thursday evening with Blake, though she hurried to assure them that it was not a date. Her father narrowed his eyes suspiciously.“If it looks like a date and it sounds like a date, it’s a date!” She told him that they were simply friends, but he did not buy it.
Brittany sent Blake a message that evening: 2108 miles isn’t so very many. It is definitely not unreasonable for you to visit frequently so I can maintain a high blake-interaction level and basically not die….
He replied:
We must have one amazing Blake and Brittany night before you leave me, full of fancy dress, cynical points of view, passive aggressive optimism, and all the other great things that make what we are.
“I wish the world were flat like the old days
Then I could travel just by folding a map
No more airplanes, or speed trains, or freeways
There’d be no distance that could hold us back.”
During the whole week, they spent as much time together as possible at work, hardly saying a word, though every time they so much as looked at each other, the air fairly crackled with emotion (cliché). On Wednesday, when it came time to take the documents to the plane, the office was hectic with last minute flight details. Rather than devoting himself to clearing up the mess, Blake looked at Brittany and asked if she wanted to go to the plane with him. She nodded wordlessly and they left together without regard for their coworkers. They were quiet on the tug ride out to the plane, emotion charged glances and heavy sighs communicating more than words could. When they made it back to the warehouse, they lingered on the tug for a long while, ignoring the knowing winks of the warehouse boys, savoring every moment with each other.
Thursday came quickly, and Brittany’s heart was heavy with emotion. It was her last day at work, and she was going to miss the people who had become dear friends. Of course, everything paled to the thought of leaving Blake, and the anticipation of the evening to come. She left work early, clocking out for the final time, so that she would have plenty of time to get ready for what was to become one of the most significant nights of her life.
Part IV: The Most Magical Evening
Generally, both Blake and Brittany eschew clichés; both are rather unique beings and depend neither on the banal nor trite to contribute meaning to their existence. However, neither is ashamed to admit that The Most Magical Evening (i.e. their first date) was fraught with cliché upon cliché. They make no apologies.
There was an early indicator that the hand of God was on this evening: Brittany was having a good hair day. Somehow it fell just right, and was neither flat nor static-y. This in hindsight was a sign of the amazing miracle to come, but Brittany was still convinced that it was impossible that Blake could see her as anything other than a friend. She paced nervously through the living room, with her father occasionally interrupting to remind her that he intended to meet this young man and shake his hand. This horrified Brittany; she did not want Blake to think that she was interpreting the evening as something more than what it was supposed to be, and was sure that her father’s insistence on meeting Blake would seem excessive to him. When Blake telephoned to say that he was stuck in traffic and would be a few minutes late, Brittany informed him that her dad wanted to meet him, and Blake did not seem at all put out by this. Thus, when Blake pulled into the driveway, she waited for him to come to the front door, where she reluctantly allowed her father to shake his hand. As they walked down the path to car, Blake turned to face her and said, “Brittany Joy, you look gorgeous.” Brittany mentioned that he looked pretty fabulous himself (he was wearing a very dapper suit, and, of course, smelled so good).
Blake continued to keep their destination a secret. Normally they would spend a car ride talking and laughing, but both were so weighed down by the heaviness of emotion that, save for the occasional meaningful sigh and murmured distress that Brittany would be departing the next day , it was a quiet trip, with both wondering what the evening would hold.
When they pulled into the parking lot across the street from Teatro Zinzanni, Brittany was thrilled. It was a dinner theatre of sorts, serving gourmet meals while attendees watched an amazing circus type show…very swank! Blake told her that he had asked around for suggestions on where he should take her, and Teatro Zinzanni was highly recommended. They found their table and met the two couples they would be dining with, both older married pairs. One woman asked Blake if he and Brittan were dating, and he said, “We’re just friends…she’s going back to college tomorrow.” Brittany could have cried…just friends! Blake, too, was wondering if that was true, but he didn’t want to suppose that Brittany felt anything more than just friendship towards him until he had a chance to ascertain her feelings.
An artist came by the table to inquire if anyone would like to be painted. Blake insisted Brittany get a design done on her arm, and it looked quite fabulous. Waiters brought out the various courses as the show got underway, including a delicious salmon entrée and white chocolate lemon tarts. The show was spectacular, with acrobats and musicians undertaking amazing feats. Blake remarked that he and Brittany should become a team of acrobats, which made her laugh (though really she wanted to throw herself at him and declare that she would do anything as long as they were together). It was a perfect evening, until the end…"Here at Teatro Zinzanni, we have a tradition; we always ask our guests to end the evening with a kiss. So, on the count of three…" Brittany was mortified. She stared at her glass to avoid looking at Blake, who was “just a friend.” She felt his eyes on her, and he breathed a soft laugh, leaned over and touched her cheek, and gently kissed it. Brittany was so choked with emotion that she could not utter a word…it was a perfect moment.
When they were back at the car, Brittany couldn’t bear the thought of the evening ending. She mentioned that she was surprised at how early it still was. Blake said, “Oh, I’m not ready to take you home yet. I want to show you something.” Being a Thursday night, the city was quiet. Blake drove out towards Alki Beach, and (yes, it’s a cliché), the air in the car practically crackled with sparks and emotion. Brittany was still in disbelief that the evening was anything more than just a goodbye between friends, though never had she longed more to be wrong. They parked and got out at several different places to admire the view, but were always disrupted by revelers. Finally, they came to a beautiful lookout, and they stood quietly admiring the lights of the Seattle skyline across Elliott Bay. Blake nudged Brittany and pointed towards the water, “Look at the crane!” Brittany nodded and commented on how awsome the towering construction cranes across the bay were. Blake shook his head, “No, that crane!” Down at the edge of the dock to their right was standing a large white crane (the bird, that is). “Let’s go see it,” Blake suggested. He put his arm around Brittany to steady her (she was wearing heels) as they walked down the dock towards the ethereal bird. By the time they reached the end of the dock the bird was gone, but Brittany was so enjoying the feel of Blake’s arm cradling her back that she couldn’t care less. They stood and silently took in the view for quite a few minutes before turning around. This time, Blake took her hand, and it was at that moment, hand in hand, that Brittany finally realized that he did indeed care for her… as more than a friend. This realization blew her mind, and she wondered what was in store for them since she was moving thousands of miles away in a matter of hours.
Blake led her to a bench overlooking the bay, and they sat there, bathed in starlight, for a long while, her head on his shoulder. Not many words were said at this point, not many were needed. They felt the weight of coming separation, and that, coupled with the wordless acknowledgment at last of their feelings towards each other, made speaking near impossible anyway. After a while, Brittany again felt Blake’s gaze on her, and she looked deep into his incredible eyes, drowning in the emotion they expressed. He leaned in closer to her, paused for one heady moment, and kissed her. It would be futile to try to describe that moment with mere words…suffice it to say, every trite expression, from “her head was spinning” to “fireworks exploded” apply to this kiss…it was an entirely magical, fairytale worthy first kiss. Brittany all at once understood why so many poems, songs, and platitudes were devoted to this simple act.
They lingered by the water, marveling openly that neither could believe this was actually happening. They confessed long-harbored feelings for each other, and at one point, Brittany tearfully asked Blake, “What now?” She reminded him that he hated long distance relationships, but he hushed her (the reader can imagine how) and said, “What choice do we have? I’m not losing you, so we have to make it work.”
Eventually Blake reluctantly concluded that he should soon take Brittany home, as she had not yet even begun packing for her move to Pennsylvania. Both were loathe to leave the enchanting beauty of the Seattle night. Blake told Brittany that he had a present for her, and asked if she would mind if they stopped by his house. Once there, he delighted her with an impromptu concert with his trombone and concertina. He then gave her his gift, three books: a Russian-English dictionary and two collections of poetry (EE Cummings and William Yeats). Brittany was overjoyed at the thought that went into her gift.
They did not stay very long at Blake’s home, and too soon were in the car driving towards Brittany’s. As with the rest of the evening, little was said in the car (little needed to be said). Upon reaching Brittany’s home, it was still too soon to say goodbye. Instead, they walked to the elementary school, where they stood on the grassy field and looked at the stars. At one point, Brittany was compelled to ensure that Blake knew what he was getting into, and that it was truly what he wanted; she eloquently informed him, “But I’m not perfect!” He tightened his arms around her. “I know,” he said simply. “But you’re perfect for me.”
After a lingering goodbye on the front porch, Blake was forced to leave. Brittany would be flying out of Seatac in a few hours, and Blake had to be at work. They would see each other in the morning at the airport when Brittany dropped off her uniforms and badge, but that would not be the place for an emotional farewell (especially considering the presence of their nosy coworkers). Brittany packed in a daze, still completely overwhelmed by the events of The Most Magical Evening. Never had she believed that someone as amazing as Blake Bowen could fall for her; it was impossible, but somehow had become incredible reality. Thus ended the first date, thus began the journey of a lifetime.
The next morning, Brittany evaded her parents’ questions, telling them only that she and Blake were going to pursue a relationship from afar. This rattled them a bit, since they were not acquainted with “the young man.” Brittany walked through the front door at Aeroground and locked eyes with Blake across the room. He walked towards her, and it was as if no one else in the world mattered at all. A couple employees gave them knowing looks, but Blake and Brittany could not care less. After she turned in her uniforms, Blake walked her out to the car where her dad was waiting. They looked into each other’s eyes for a long moment, then Blake hugged her one last time. When would they see each other again? They did not know, but both felt it would be an eternity. As they prepared to drive away, her father asked, “What’s the young man’s name again?”, and then called out, “Nice to meet you, Blake.” Blake stood outside and watched them leave. He did not know it at the time, but it would be five long months before he would behold Brittany’s face again. Neither of them knew what they were getting into, but both knew the alternative (losing each other) was unthinkable. So one magical, cliché-filled evening was the beginning of the greatest of love stories, and even thousands of miles could do nothing to quench the sentiments of That Summer, when the most fervent hopes of Blake and Brittany had been implausibly fulfilled.
Part V: Absence is to love as wind is to fire; it extinguishes the small and kindles the great. -- Roger de Bussy-Rabutin
Just like that, Blake and Brittany became blakeandbrittany. If their initiation into coupledom (The Most Magical Evening) was a glorious matter, the eleven months that they spent “dating” must seem rather humdrum. Instead of kisses by the waterfront, Blake and Brittany shared drowsy late night phone calls. The transition from being “just friends” to long distance lovers was surprisingly natural. Countless hours were spent those first months becoming truly acquainted over the phone, and the more they learned, the more they delighted in each other. They talked of their families and friends, their childhoods, their hopes. The wondrous first days of any relationship, filled with discovery and enchantment, were not lost to Blake and Brittany. These were the formative months of their relationship, and while they are not filled with romantic escapades, they created a foundation of communication that would sustain Blake and Brittany through many trials and frustrations. The first five months brought one significant change: Blake moved back to Flagstaff from Seattle to pursue a job, meaning that even when Brittany was home from college, she and Blake would be apart. Their paths would now only cross with great intention on both of their parts.
Reunited in Washington
After spending the first five months of their relationship without seeing each other, Blake made plans to visit Seattle while Brittany was home for Christmas break. Never had Brittany been as nervous as the day she went to pick him up at the airport (the place it all began). She’ll always remember the sight of him walking towards her at the baggage claim; it was instantly as if they had never been apart. They spent a glorious week snowbound together, assuring both of them that what they shared was truly something special. Blake was able to get to know her parents better as well, which was important since their blessing on the relationship was significant to both Blake and Brittany. They took walks, played games, watched movies, and revisited “their bench” overlooking Elliott Bay. Most gratifying was walking into Aeroground as a couple to see their friends, who shared the joy of their togetherness. All too soon, Blake was back on a plane to Arizona, and a whole new stage of their relationship (the most challenging yet) was about to begin, as Brittany would be leaving for a semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Not only would the time difference increase, but phone calls would become costly and internet access spotty. Neither Blake nor Brittany doubted their ability to make it through though, and Blake was already beginning to look for a ticket to Argentina to come visit.
BlakeandBrittany International
Sure enough, international long distance turned out to be much more complicated than cross country. It was harder to establish a communication routine, as it took Brittany a little while to familiarize herself with the options for phone cards and wireless internet. Throughout the semester, but especially in the beginning, Blake and Brittany were frustrated by the difficulty of simply trying to call and say good night (bedtime for Brittany came before dinnertime for Blake). Eventually though, they found a phone card that worked well, and Brittany could sometimes find a wireless signal on the balcony of her apartment. They were able to talk at least five times a week, with Brittany sacrificing a bit of the Argentina experience and Blake swallowing the occasional multi-hundred dollar cell phone bill.
A couple months into the semester, Blake finally arrived in South America. The week they spent together in Buenos Aires was incredible…romantic dinners in some of the city’s fine restaurants, visiting museums and famous landmarks, strolling hand in hand down grandiose boulevards. When the week was over, they discovered that it was becoming increasingly difficult to say goodbye. It was also increasingly difficult to imagine a future without each other. Three months would pass before they could be together again…an eternity! While part of Brittany was reluctant to will away her time in South America, she longed for the summer when she would be reunited with her love.
Side note On long distance relationships: Though agonizing at the time, Blake and Brittany now profess gratitude for the years they spent forcibly apart; they credit the thousands of miles for not only the ease which they communicate together, but also for the deep appreciation they hold for one another. Since they know all too well what life without the other looks like, they know to never take one smile or hug for granted.
Some of the struggles that go along with a long distance relationship are quite similar to those faced by couples in close proximity. Take privacy, for example. All couples feel the need to escape from the world and enjoy each other’s company in solitude, which can be difficult to accomplish. Brittany lived in a dormitory with hundreds of girls, and had three others in her room alone. When winter came and walking outside while talking on the phone became impossible, it was always a challenge to find a hidden corner where she could converse with her beloved without fear of being overheard. She had a repertoire of locations (two stairways, a luggage closet, custodial closet, and storage nook) that she would cycle between, depending on where the other long distance girls had camped out. Schedules, too, could be a challenge. Depending on Blake’s current shift at work, he sometimes would not be able to talk until well into the night in Pennsylvania, thanks to an inconvenient time difference.
Other struggles are unique to long distance, such as having to say with words what is much better expressed with a hug. Blake faced the frustration of hearing Brittany cry when he could simply not be there for her. Brittany stumbled for words when they would have a serious conversation, and hated relying on speech when looking each other in the face would provide a clearer answer. Still, they persevered, and neither begrudged the situation all that much, since to have each other and be apart was infinitely better than not having each other at all.
Other than phone calls, Blake and Brittany employed various tools to keep their relationship thriving while they were separated. Brittany designed PowerPoints for Blake and emailed them to him, and Blake sent Brittany love poems and funny pictures and news stories. Email and the postal service aided them immensely as well. Sending each other emails and letters allowed for a more thoughtful exchange of sentiments than the telephone, and both Blake and Brittany used them frequently.
The following are excerpts from these writings:
August 27, 2006
Blake to Brittany: …Hope your day was wonderful because you screwed up mine; I kept drifting off into thoughts of you instead of working…Brittany, Brittany, what are you doing to me?
August 29, 2006
Blake to Brittany: It is absolutely beautiful here in Flagstaff; perfect weather, great clean air, my family, my spot….but no you. I really want you to see this place one day, I always forget how much I love it…I miss you.
September 3, 2006
Blake to Brittany: …It felt as if our time on the phone had ended way before it should have, even if we were already at three hours. Time loses all of its undeserving power and meaning when I’m talking with you. I love it, you have truly enriched my life so much. As funny as it is that we can reduce ourselves to living clichés, I couldn’t be happier being a cliché with you. I must say I am truly falling for you Brittany Joy. Here is to an amazing and torturous week, I miss you.
A card from Brittany to Blake: I am eagerly looking forward to the day when we will no longer be in the “I miss you” stage of our relationship. I have disliked it from the 26th of August. I can think of some much more preferable situations, such as the “I am so glad we are finally together” one.
February 4, 2007
Brittany to Blake:…Hola my darling! You would not believe how much I wish you were here…I am sure I have annoyed everyone by talking endlessly about my amazing boyfriend. My host mother thinks you are quite attractive, of which I assured her.
February 10, 2007
Brittany to Blake: …Then we can run away together, maybe to a small village in Paraguay, to start with, and then to Cairo, and later St. Petersburg. And we will do nothing and it will be lovely. Some come soon and pack for like two years. Or fifty. I miss you more than is humanly possible, somehow.
February 21, 2007
Brittany to Blake: … I miss you so much Darling. I’m happier on the phone with you than in the presence of anybody. And in the presence of you- wow- that thought is too amazing to deal with…I love you!!!
February 24, 2007
Blake to Brittany: Six months, it feels as though I’ve loved you forever…I can’t believe how much time we haven’t been able to spend together, and I’m so madly in love with you. Before we run off together I want you to meet mis padres, so you will have to fly with me to AZ before we go hide forever…you are the greatest thing to ever happen to me…we will be together soon.
A card from Brittany to Blake: If I were an artist, I would love you with layers of paint on canvas. I’d create colors and they would be my feelings, beautiful colors that no one has seen before, and with shadow and light, shape and texture, my love for you would be a masterpiece. If I were a musician, I would love you through a song. Not just a pretty melody, though, rather a composition with so many layers and subtle details that it could be heard a thousand times without fully being understood. If I were an astronaut and a carpenter, I would love you among all the wishes ever made on a star- I would build us a home on an asteroid and we would eschew traveling the world for traveling the universe. If I were a writer, I would love you always with the right words. Adjectives, metaphors, and the perfect punctuation marks would infuse each sentence with so much meaning that a simple –I love you- becomes so much more and is almost tangible. But really I am none of these things- I paint flamingoes that look like noses, and can hardly plunk out a tune on the piano. I am so bad at math NASA would probably ban me from space camp, much less let me colonize and asteroid. And my words never seem just right. But Blake Bowen, even if I cannot love you through art and music and adventure and words, I love you with all of my heart and more. Always (and forever), Brittany
A collection of random lines from random emails, from Blake to Brittany: I’ll be thinking of you all day (as always)…Every trucker, every mullet, every moment of limited intelligence just makes me glad to have you…this might be one of the hardest things I have ever wanted and needed to endure. Brittany Joy, you make me crazy. Cliché, cliché, but such insane truth…You never cease to amaze me. I don’t know if this is the wrong time to say it but I don’t care, Brittany I love you…I wish mere words could express just a little bit of the love I have for you…I love you I love you I love you I love you I can never say it enough- I LOVE YOU!...I need to be with you so badly, I love you so so much Brittany…I’m curious as to what diamond shape you prefer, I know no princess or round. Just curious, I miss you so much…I miss you, I miss holding you, I miss your heartbeat and your warmth…I love you more than all the pudding cups in the world…
Part VI: The Engagement
Is there any girl who has never succumbed to a moment of fancy and imagined her handsome prince down on one knee before her, confessing his ardent love and begging her to agree to be his for eternity? Next to getting married, being proposed to occupies a special place in the dreams of many females. At this point in our narrative, Blake and Brittany have nurtured a growing love across thousands of miles, forced by circumstances into long distance from the very beginning. Their relationship was not just sustained during the months apart, it blossomed. By the time Brittany was returning from South America, there was not a shred of doubt in either of their minds that they were meant to be together forever.
Brittany flew home to Seattle from Buenos Aires on July 2nd, 2007. She hugged her parents, did a load of laundry, and the next morning flew to Phoenix to be reunited with the love of her life. She had never been to Arizona before, and was elated to have a week to spend exploring it with Blake. Blake had taken great measures to assure that this would be a trip that Brittany would never forget…he had even put together a welcome basket (with help from his mom) that included a scrapbook of the adventures they would share. After a tearful greeting at the airport (Brittany was always astounded by how handsome he was), they met Blake’s wonderful grandparents for lunch before heading up to Flagstaff. Brittany was impressed by all the cacti and canyon vistas…she was also extremely nervous at the thought of meeting Blake’s family that afternoon, which amused Blake greatly.
There was a Fourth of July concert at the amphitheatre that evening which the Bowens and good friends Kristy and Wally were going to. Brittany was enormously jetlagged but nevertheless enjoyed herself. She was secretly hoping to return from Arizona engaged (and had even splurged on a manicure in Argentina just in case), but was not expecting it for several days at least. So when Blake asked her if she’d like to drive out to his favorite spot in the world, a lookout over a lake valley where the stars stretch as far as the eye can see (yes, another cliché), Brittany happily if sleepily agreed.
She should have been suspicious when Kristy and Wally mentioned that they should take their car, a convertible, but she remained oblivious. Blake later explained that he had to propose the first night because so many people knew of his plans that someone was sure to slip if he waited any longer. Brittany did not believe that he had asked her father permission yet, which she knew he intended to do. Somehow her parents kept it a secret. Blake planned on leaving directly from the concert, but Brittany was adamant about returning to the house and getting her chapstick (Blake still does not understand what a terrible thing it is to be without chapstick). After that brief delay, they were off. The drive was a little surreal: listening to Death Cab for Cutie, the balmy night air swirling around them, the deep contentment stemming from finally being together. When they reached the spot, Blake was dismayed to find another car already there. Soon enough though, it pulled away, and Blake led Brittany out of the car to the overlook. She was amazed at the beauty of the night, and they watched the moon rise over the lake valley while elk bugled in the distance. After a while, Blake went to retrieve something from the car. The next moments passed in a blur, and truthfully, Brittany cannot remember the details (a fact that she accredits to shock and exhaustion). In short, Blake knelt before her, took her hand, said something that surely was sweet and meaningful, and placed the most beautiful ring in the world on her finger. Blake jokes that he asked if he could tie her shoe…Brittany doesn’t care- her answer was decidedly yes.
The rest of her stay in Arizona was a whirlwind…visiting the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and other memorable sights, dreaming with Blake about a future that now certainly included each other, and simply relishing every moment with her fiancé. Too soon, they were saying goodbye again, and it was back to long distance, which was made the tiniest bit more bearable by the assurance that they would spend the rest of their lives together.
Over their yearlong engagement, Blake and Brittany were able to see each other every couple of months: at a Thomas family reunion in Santa Barbara, in Pittsburgh in the fall, Thanksgiving and Easter in Flagstaff, January in Seattle, graduation in Grove City…all this plus the business of college life for Brittany and work for Blake, and the year did truly pass by quickly. Planning a wedding was a nice distraction from loathsome student teaching for Brittany. She and Blake also diligently read books on marriage and had several crash course premarital counseling sessions with Pastor Dan whenever they were both in Seattle. They longed to be together more than ever, and continued to make the best they could out of their separation, as seen in the following excerpts:
A card from Brittany to Blake: I love you so much, my amazing amor. Psalm 144 reminds me of you, a warrior who is strong and prepared for anything, but with the soul of a musician and poet. I have complete confidence that God has incredible things in store for you, for us together…I used to sit there at Aeroground…and think wistfully that you could truly be great if you let God work in you. Now I know that you indeed are great, and I am blessed because there is so much in store for us. I am so excited- there is no man better than you. Your love for me, the kind and capable leadership you demonstrate, the wild, passionate heart that thrills me…I wish every woman knew what it was like to marry a man that they could respect and trust so perfectly, and a darn handsome one at that! You are incredible, darling.
August 29, 2007
Brittany to Blake: Can I just tell you that you are an incredible, incredible man, and that I am ridiculously proud of you; you’re responsible, mature, self-motivated, strong, passionate, handsome, smart, intuitive, and loving. If anyone had told me that I would marry a man who encompasses all, and even more, of these qualities, I would have laughed at them, and sighed inside my heart. But I have you, a paradoxical mix of strength and vulnerability, humor and tenderness, a dork who everyone looks at with admiration and respect. No one’s perfect, my heart, and I think we can both learn a lot from each other. I know that I need you to teach me many things, and I trust you to do so lovingly and graciously, recognizing that though I want to improve, it’s certain that I’ll fail at times. Besides relying on you to teach me about the obvious things (music, being cool, Porsches, and chicken and waffles), I need you to teach me about love, every single day. Show me how to love you, because loving you is more real to me than anything I have done before. I love the little boy in the yellow footie pajamas, and I love the man in the jacket and tie. I love the pianist and the Guitar Hero. I love the intelligent, confidant speaker and the sleepy defender of raisins. I cannot wait to experience the countless facets of Blake Bowen that I am sure to discover throughout our life together. My prayer is that when God tests our hearts, He finds us pliable and willing for Him to change us into what He wants us to be, and that we are as equally devoted to Him as to each other, and that our commitment to each other (and consequently to God) is an inspiration to others. I was just planning on sending you an email to tell you that I love you, and the next thing I know, it’s past my bedtime! So goodnight, my darling, I cannot wait until I am yours.
September 24, 2007
Blake to Brittany: Happy 13th month or one year one month anniversary my darling. I love you so much, you are incredible and I am so so so blessed to have you. My longing to be with you has grown into an all consuming obsession which is driving me loco (Spanish for crazy). I need you, I need to be with you, I need to hear you and see you and touch you. I need your warmth, your kiss, and your smile. As cliché as it may sound, I’m incomplete without you. I love you so much.
Blake to Brittany: I love you so so so much. Mi vida, mi amor, you mean the world to me. I miss you so much it drives me crazy. I want to give you the stars and the universe they occupy. I need you so so much, I hope you’re doing well. Please graduate soon, then marry me. We’ll have little niños or whatever. XxOXoxoO
Part VII: So Ends the Beginning
Though agonizingly slow at times, the year did pass (as years tend to do). Finally, on July 11th, 2008, after spending a joyful few days togethe finalizing preparations, Blake and Brittany stood facing each other at the front of a church filled with family and friends. There, they committed before God and all present, to a lifetime together in the covenant of marriage. Tears were shed, and there was a great deal of music and laughter. Pastor Dan spoke about the biblical Aquila and Priscilla, who were partners in ministry as well as marriage, and Pastor Moisés discussed the significance of woman being made from man’s side. A lot could be said about the details of the wedding, about the dresses and flowers and food, but ultimately these things matter little. Suffice it to say, it was perfect.
Neither Blake nor Brittany could have imagined what would come from one seemingly innocent job interview over two years earlier…what a long way they had come. If the guests at the wedding thought that Blake clutched Brittany’s hand a bit fiercely, they were probably right, and if they noticed Brittany that clung to her groom rather ardently even after they became man and wife, well, who could blame her after so many months apart. And as the bride and groom were whisked away in a Model A Ford into the setting sun, loved ones cheering and waving sparklers, no one could suppose that God would not bless their union.
What is an appropriate ending for such a love story? And they lived happily ever after? Blake and Brittany would agree that that is one cliché they do not wish upon themselves. Happiness is nice, yes, but a lifetime of just happiness sounds terribly dull, and likely does not lend itself to much growth of character.
And so…
They lived passionately, contentedly, sometimes painfully, always gratefully ever after. They laughed so much they got wrinkles, they adventured enough to cause grey hair, and they prayed constantly to remember their frailty.
And that is the love story of Blake and Brittany, two imperfect people who came to appreciate the suitable cliché, and who learned what it means to cherish.
