Tuesday, September 9, 2014

So I Went to Mexico with a Boy and Other Confessions

Sorry to leave you hanging yesterday, but I couldn't come back from 2 weeks of absence and hit you with substance. I had to get back into the writing flow with something shallow like the length and color of my hair. It was also an attempt to cleverly attract you while simultaneously buying time to write the vacation recap + other confessions.

To be honest, I've been away from blogging for so long that I wasn't sure if Kathy still hosted confessions on Wednesdays, if people still used twitter or if hashtags were even still a thing. #TheyAre #Blessed. Actually I was also surprised to see there was a new iPhone out, like I've been living in a cave or something.

That's how removed I've been from the internet world the last few months and I want to come clean with my list of reasons for being so remorselessly MIA:

1. Work
2. Summer
3. A Boy

While I'd love to tell you exactly what "work" and "summer' mean, I know you really just came here to read about the boy-carrot I've been dangling in front of you for about a month now. (btw, google image search "boy carrot" for a giggle).



The slightly ironic thing about today's confession is that this isn't the first time I've talked about this boy here on this blog.  If you need to catch up, here's the post you might remember. #SpoilerAlert

Through the events that played out as a result of work and summer, we were reunited 75 days after we had mutually decided to spend the rest of our forevers apart. And I mean forever. Quickly through our re-connection, the sparks, the magic and the happy fuzzy feels of being back in contact caught us both by surprise.

From my point of view, an anxious and uneasy surprise. From his, "a pleasant one".

You see, the sparks and the feels were there before and arguably had never died, but we stuffed those beautiful beams of light into a tiny box - locked it, threw away the key, buried the box a mile under ground and erected the next world's tallest building with a "shit-load of concrete" on top of it. Hoping and willing that those sparks and feels would never again see the light of day.

But duh, you know as well as I do that magic and sparks can't be forced into darkness.

The time that we spent apart concealing that magic was liberating, eye opening and extremely helpful for resetting my personal value, my self-worth and experiencing the blossom effect that happens after a break-up. Repairing myself and rebuilding into something better was time well spent, but when those sparks rose from the dead and waved themselves frantically in front of my face, they suggested that I give this man and this terrifying thing called love another chance. A chance that I've since tried to sabotage, a chance that I've since tried to nourish and a chance that I owe to the decisions and sacrifices that have led us here.

So this boy (who I can't really call a "boy" as he's 4 years my senior) and I live 2,000 miles from each other. Aside from hours on FaceTime and quick weekend trips, we don't get to touch each others faces more than the pets we give on the front-facing iPhone camera (you can turn away now from the mush, but I'm just getting to the vacation recap). Because of all this apart-ness, we planned a week-long tropical Mexico vacation to serve as our last escape before a crazy few months ahead in our careers.

Ole! Onto the good parts! By the way... his name is Brian.

Brian and I met up in Dallas for our connecting flight to Cancun and we were so excited to get Popeye's Chicken see each other at the airport that we almost missed our flight. We didn't have seats booked together but somehow he negotiated the aisles across from each other. Meanwhile I was busy doing my part by gracefully spilling 20oz of water into the aisle, accompanied by a chorus of gasps from the witnessing passengers.

When we made it to Cancun we grabbed some cervezas and jumped on the shuttle that took us an hour south to my first all-inclusive resort experience. Our room overlooked the "adults only" side along with the dolphin / manatee tank where they did daily swim experiences.

Between the food, the booze, the pools and the entertainment - the place where we spent the most quality time was at the life-sized chess board.



Let me preface that one of the qualities that I find most attractive about this guy is his brain, followed closely by his competitive spirit. He's brilliant. Put those two things together with a person who's never played chess before (against me who was in the Chess club through 4th grade) and you don't need alcohol for entertainment. Things got heated as I continued to chirp "check" and asked "now why would you move that there?".

Since Mexico he's drastically improved his chess game but I'll just take the credit as my solid teaching. Right?

The week was spent within the grounds of the resort - overlooking the ocean, kayaking, renting a cabana, playing pool bingo, beating him in pool H-O-R-S-E and pool P-I-G (he is athletic, I promise. He beat me in a footrace on the beach), trying out the restaurants, dusting off my Spanish minor with some translation assistance and watching classic films I'd never seen like Blazing Saddles and Something About Mary.


I even convinced his sleepy-head to wake up with me for the sunrise on our last day (that he continued to actually call the "sunset" because I don't think he's ever woken up for a sunrise).



We avoided the flood of work emails that were coming in as much as possible and  kept our phones tucked away in the hotel safe - which is the main reason for so few photos. We ordered corn dogs from room service like it was our last meal. And lastly maybe because of the corn dogs we spent a ton of time battling each other for the toilet - absolutely THE most romantic time we've ever spent together.

Positive side - I didn't get a sunburn and I haven't been peeling my skin like I did after the week I spent in Belize earlier this summer. #winning

[Brian Wants To Interject: "Hey! I like how you didn't mention that I beat you in ping-pong and spoke Spanish better than you. Or that I won a bracelet for the dog you in pool bingo.]

Oh yeah, he won this bracelet for me and I haven't taken it off since!



In short, Brian's pretty special to me and we had a wonderful escape from reality together.

My favorite memory from the trip was tackling each other in the cold sand and staring up at the stars while we threw handfuls of sand in each other's hair. Also, when I come back in another life I want to be a manatee. They were the cutest cows of the sea that did nothing but love and snuggle on one another. What a sweet existence.

I'm excited that my "coming out party" got to be with my Wednesday confessions. Mainly it just feels good to share what's been making me so happy and blog-absent.

Really where I could use your help today is to send your good vibes. He's coming to visit this weekend and will be meeting my parents for the first time! Over Chicken & Waffles, naturally.

Give him your worst, Angie!

Go Link Up with Kathy!
Vodka and Soda

31 comments

P!nky said...

BEST CONFESSION EVER!!! YAY!!! SO happy for you lady, lady!!! Your trip looks fabulous and you just SOUND SO STINKING HAPPY!!! I love the mushy and the gushy and the fact he's competitive…I 100% agree that's a huge deal!!! And, I love the bracelet, le sigh!

Now, if only he lived in DC he would be perfect, because then I could crash your schmoopy airport reunions ;)!

xoxo

ps.com did I mention SO HAPPY FOR YOU!?!?

Brianne said...

I am so happy for you! It sounds like a great time! Sometimes when there's that something there you just can't let it go despite multiple obstacles or reasons you should. Love the post.

Kathy@MoreCoffeeLessTalky said...

this made my heart so happy!! there are things that you just can't let go and i'm so glad that things all worked out!!

thanks for sharing this awesome confession!!

Jenn said...

This is awesome! I can tell just from your writing just how happy you are!
My favorite line of this whole thing: magic and sparks can't be forced into darkness.
Amen sister! So glad that you found someone you connect with so well, and that you guys got to spend a good solid week together. Love everything about this post!! :)

Nats ~Coral Tinted Perceptions said...

What a great confession post!! Definitely sending you good vibes, this totally made me SMILE :) I love the romance vibes x

Lora Ashley said...

Hooray for you! Y'all are so cute together! Sending good vibes your way dear!

Amy's Fashion Blog said...

So happy you find someone that makes you so happy. Good luck with weekend.

Kate @ Another Clean Slate said...

The whole time I was reading this I was also mentally "awww"ing. Happy for you!

Him & Me (But Mostly Me) said...

It's going to go wonderfully and I'm so glad to see you so happy! I send you all well wishes for years and years to come!

BLovedBoston said...

This is wonderful!! So happy to see you so happy and over the moon about someone who is equally as enthralled with you!! xo

Meagan said...

Really happy for you! Your trip looks amazing and sounds so fun.

Kenzie Smith said...

I am so happy for you Jessi :) He sounds like quite the catch! I am glad you two were able to take a vacation to Mexico! That is fun!

MakeMeUpMia said...

I can't tell you how much I loved this. I went back and read the one you linked to as well. Both posts had me completely captivated! You two are meant to be together, so glad you had that wonderful week in paradise with him :) Enjoy this weekend, I'm sure it'll be perfect! So happy for you girl.

Nadine said...

Well isn't this full of mushy gushy happies?! I love it! I am so happy for you :)

Sounds like you had a great trip!

Melissa Nicole said...

And Brian makes an appearance finally <3. I'm excited to hear how Angie grills him ;)

The Girl who Loved to Write said...

Ahh so exciting!!

Tracey said...

This made me smile so much! So happy to see you happy. The vacation sounds like it was much needed and an amazing time! Looking forward to seeing more Brian on the blog!

Helene in Between said...

I'm so happy for you!! this is so awesome!! and good vibes are coming right at cha!

Caitlin @ CaitlinLiz.com said...

Yay I'm so happy for you!! Long distance relationships are ROUGH (speaking from experience), but also (again, speaking from experience) they can be entirely worth it and it seems like you're at the beautiful sweet spot where the pros far outweigh the cons and you can enjoy your time together but also continue to grow and be happy when you're apart :)

Kristen said...

how lovely for you both! my little bro's name is Brian, it's a good name :) and i feel you on the long distance + lets not do this anymore + lets do this again! maybe yours will go the same way ;)

Kasey Lynne said...

i'm soooo happy for you girl!!! :)

justmeng said...

Hmmm ... Interesting, a challenge!

Amanda - Voyage of the MeeMee said...

I'm so glad things worked out between you two! Sometimes, time apart is necessary in order to be successful as a couple. I'm jealous of your Mexican vacation though. Hoe.

Amanda Elizabeth - Meet @ the Barre said...

Wait is this the one we discussed prior??? I'm excited you had a fabulous time and I'm happy you're back!

Kay R. said...

All the feels!!! Im so incredibly happy for you and you may have made my cold heart melt a little and my eyes well! I wish you and Brian the absolute best :)

Ps.... im also jealous of Mexico ....

Katie Elizabeth said...

This sounds like a DREAM vacation!! Love the pictures.. how cute is the bracelet?! So excited for you!

lil desiqua said...

Other than the corndogs, this is so fantastic! How did you guys reconnect from 2k miles apart? Sorry, I'm curious :x So happy you guys rekindled the flame and wishing him lots of luck this weekend!

Amy @ Living n Learning said...

Awww all the happy feels for you girl! Glad you finally spilled the beans.

kailyn said...

poop. the poop though. hahaha.

Brittany said...

Baaaawwwww love this!!! Happy and in love looks really good on you!

Amanda said...

Awww! Yay! So happy for you girl!