09.05.2010
(37 days to go)
Valarie and Thomas

This is our story, as told by Thomas... (valarie's thoughts in blue)

Thomas and Valarie met on a cold Wichita Falls night in February of 2002 (was it cold? I don't remember). They were cast in a play as husband and wife -  "Tough Choice for the Century: A Seminar for Responsible Living". The relationship started with one sarcastic quip after another, a nervous trait the two so endearingly share.

"Thanks for being on time," I said with a sarcastic smile, noting Valarie's tardiness on the first day of rehearsals.
"Um, yeah. Sorry about that," said Valarie, questioning her decision to audition for the play since she was new. (yah, I thought...how mean is this guy!?! I don't know ANYONE...I'm totally new and he's just rude. I was definitely having second thoughts about this whole theater thing)

The conversations between the two of us would grow into playful banter and sarcasm that eventually turned into flirtation. (Because Thomas flirts like a 6th grader) Neither of us had any idea that it had actually turned to flirting. (again, because Thomas flirts like a 6th grader). Trying to concentrate on lines and schoolwork, the two of us were oblivious to the flirting until about a week before the show opened on April 19, 2002.

Exactly a week before the opening on April 12, 2002, which just so happens to be Valarie's birthday, a dear friend of ours cleverly suggested we all go to the movies. Our friend, more perceptive than the two of us, also cleverly had us sit next to each other where we shared  the first of many buckets of popcorn. (Oh, the popcorn that I paid for...and I bought your ticket too...to my birthday movie...  ;)  it's okay, you made up for it with other movies)


"Tough Choices" was such a great show. Valarie's performance was brilliant (I wouldn't say brilliant, but the play was a comedy - and I wasn't supposed to be in on the joke, so not laughing at Thomas was actually VERY difficult) and my lines were flawless (thanks to my help). But it was the week after that would prove to be pivotal to our relationship. One afternoon  I built up the nerve to confess my likeness to Valarie - very awkwardly. (yah "likeness") The confession was followed by an equally awkward and tremendously nerve-racking response by Val. While instead of validating her feelings, she decided to leave, which for me felt like hours!. She did come back, confirmed that she "liked" me as well, and we decided to go on an official date.

The next month and a half of flirty rehearsals and sometimes dates would ultimately lead to their courtship in late April.

Wow, that was a long story.

Long story short, we met on stage at Midwestern State University...I knew from the moment I met Thomas that we were meant to be. 7 years later he proposed.

We've been living in NYC, Queens to be exact, for about 4 years with our sweet dog Zoey (she's a mutt). I'm working in advertising and Thomas is...an artist, taking comedy classes, and paying the bills by bartending.