Jack

  Distance only makes the Heart Grow Fonder... A few years ago, Brooke and Jack met in a chatroom online, called Stickam.com. Not because they wanted to date anyone or that it was a dating site. We just happened to stumble upon each other through mutual friends. Anyway, I decided to join this room that Jack hung out in all time. The chatroom features webcams and microphones so that you can chat with everyone and get to see who they are. In these particular chatrooms the people in them are what we nerdy internet goers like to call "regulars" (people who come into the same chatroom on a regular basis), so we make friends and can communicate. So, Jack and I eventually became regulars in the room. At first once Jack and Brooke started communicating there was some bickering and not much emotional attachment, in other words, we couldn't stand each other. But as they continued to talk you could see a spark between the two. So for Brooke's 21st birthday, Jack had some surprises arranged at the bar that Brooke was going to. He had sent me a flower cake along with a balloon and a card with a gift certificate to spend on some drinks. So after this thoughtful gesture, Brooke just knew she had to arrange for the two of them to meet face to face and did just that. Within the next few months a plane ride was scheduled and Jack was on his way to Chicago to meet Brooke at the O'hare Airport which is located only 15 minutes from where Brooke lives. Of course, the parents were skeptical. Who is this boy you are having fly all the way here to meet you that you met online? As, I am sure Jack's parents felt the same way. The questions started rolling in... what if he isn't who he says he is? what if he does something to you? what's his first name, his last name, his cell phone...might as well asked for his Social Security Number to! But I understood where they were coming from. Was I nervous? Oh heck yea! So, I had my friend at the time accompany me to the airport to pick Jack up. By the way it was February and the weather in Chicago, not so warm. Jack arrived early, so at the time Brooke was still getting ready. Jack had to wait out in the cold for a little bit. Finally, upon arrival, Jack looked just like he did on his webcam from stickam and I knew exactly who he was. Nervous and excited, thank goodness I remembered to park the car, I jumped out of the vehicle and ran over to him and gave him a huge hug and a kiss. Yep, that's right a kiss, we decided that it would break the ice if we did it at the airport. So once in the car I couldn't stop looking at Jack's beautiful orangish brown eyes through my rearview mirror, is it any wonder how I didn't get into an accident that day. We finally got to the hotel that we were staying at. My friend made sure that we would be okay and told me that if I needed anything to let her know, even if she needed to come bail me out. On that note she left and Jack and I decided it was time to explore my city. I took him all over the place to where my house was, to where I went to middle school to where I went to high school. We even went to a matinee. And of course, he met my parents, which I think I was more nervous then he was. We went to Elly's Pancake house which was 5 minutes from my house. Jack got to meet the parents and having a filling breakfast/brunch. It definitely became one of his favorite places to eat brunch. =) Anyway, the parents approved and I couldn't be more happy. When it was time for him to leave, I didn't want him to go. We also needed to decide what we wanted to do. I was in tears, and yes Jack even shed a few himself. We decided that we wanted to try the long distance thing and its been working ever since. A couple years later, a vacation to Mexico turned into every girls fairytale... Almost not being able to come on this Mexico trip that we planned so far in advanced due to some snowy weather in the east coast. I thought I wasn't going to be able to spend time with my amazing boyfriend. However, it worked out for the better, I was only a day late due to having to take two planes just to get there. That was a little scary, but definitely worth it. As I said Jack and his mother got there a day ahead of me. So he had sometime to scope out the perfect location as to where he was going to propose, but me having no idea. Once I arrived in Mexico, which by the way Riveria Maya is a beautiful place if you ever get the chance to go...definitely go! Back to the story, I got there finally after all this travel and tears and frustration...the first day was just about relaxing and taking in the resort and scenary and getting to spend time with Jack. The next day, which also happened to be New Years Eve, we decided to have breakfast down by the ocean right near the water and the rocks. Just absolutely gorgeous. After eating breakfast I saw this spot across the way (which at the time I didn't know, but that was the exact location where Jack wanted to propose). Jack grabbed me by the hand to walk over to the ocean by the rocks where I wanted to check out. Jack stepped up onto the rocks looking out at the ocean. I was a bit hesitant to get onto the rocks with sandals, but Jack grabbed my hand and helped me up onto the rocks so I could see the water. We then embraced each other. Jack looked at me and asked "Are you having a good time?" I looked at him and replied, "Are you kidding? I'm in Mexico, of course I am having a good time!" He then looked at me and asked, "Do you want to have an even better time?" and he proceeded to get down on one knee. I couldn't believe it. It was like a fairytale and such a beautiful scenary. I was speechless. He then asked those words, that every girl dreams of hearing, "Will you marry me?" Of course I said, YES YES YES!! He pulled out the ring and I couldn't stop saying, "Oh my gosh!" He slid it on my finger and we embraced each other once more!  NOW TO SAVE SAVE SAVE, and PLAN PLAN PLAN! =D