Those Red Hair days

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . October 31, 2009 . 3:11AM

I’d forgotten what I look like with red hair and my old glasses. What I love about this picture is the look of peace on Leon’s face. We were at my mom’s house celebrating my little sister’s birthday a couple of years ago. I don’t know what he was thinking about, but there is something going on behind those baby blues.

A fairytale: Green eyes and brown eyes Part II

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . October 26, 2009 . 10:40AM

Green eyes was a computer programmer in his spare time. For someone so young, this was a pretty big accomplishment. The brown-eyed girl didn’t understand the fascination, but she was into green eyes and watched as he explained the coding sequence for a program he’d completed on his computer. She leaned forward and tried to understand what he was saying. As he pointed to the screen, he turned to her, smiled, leaned in towards her and….

Perverts. I’m not telling you about that. It was a special moment and you can go make your own.

The brown-eyed girl smiled and took his hand. From the other room, she heard his friend yell, “Did you kiss her yet? Have you asked her out? Is it official? C’mon man, I don’t have all night. Just do it!” She laughed and blushed, as did he.

Days turned to weeks and over the winter holiday they spent much time together. They had the same group of friends, so they were able to spend time apart without it overwhelming them or feeling threatened, as so many do at that age. However, they found it hard to find time alone and decided to get creative.

Just outside of town was a farm area that sat atop a hill and next to a wooded area. The snow was crisp and she would slowly pull her crimson colored car to the edge of the woods. He would sit on the hood of her car and she would lean against him as he held her. They would make up stories of wolves and ax-men and all of the things that might be in the woods. Really, it was an excuse to look at the stars and the trees and the beautiful, snow covered hilly area. Never in her life had the brown-eyed girl been happier.

However, all good things must come to an end. At the end of the holiday vacation, Green eyes called her. It was clear from the tone of his voice that he’d been crying. He told her that his father had been relocated and that they were moving in less than a month.

She was crushed. She was losing him just as she’d found him. She was also losing her best friend.

Their parents were very supportive; Perhaps moreso than they should be have been in a situation with teenagers so young. You don’t need to know the details, but they tried to make it work. They tried desperately, but with over 600 miles separating them, and before free nights and weekends, it was not possible to maintain the relationship. Reluctantly, the brown-eyed girl said good-bye.

Both moved on and found happiness elsewhere, but years later, with the accessibility of the internet, found one another again. The brown-eyed girl was newly married and the green-eyed boy was, again, miles and miles away. They agreed to keep in touch.

And they do.

Some connections remain, regardless of time and circumstance.

DMB, The Melting Pot and Us

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . August 27, 2009 . 3:42PM

Early in our marriage, things were tough. We don’t talk about that time often because, frankly, I don’t think we realized, then, that we were struggling. We had the optimism of newlyweds and a new infant and we were just doing what we could to make ends meet. We’d moved to Nashville for Leon’s job, in a company that announced they were struggling right after we’d moved. This was only the beginning of companies that relocated workers only to lay them off when they’d uprooted their lives during that time period.

For us, though, it was a time of building our life together. Nashville was such a welcome change from Dallas that there was hope and promise in everything. We had an adorable little house in SouthEast Nashville that we were renting from some amazing folks. It was an older home, about 1,000 feet and was sinking into the earth around it. We couldn’t be happier. Even though we own a much larger home in a much better neighborhood now, it’s still been our favorite home.

When Leon’s position was obliterated from the company, and 125 people lost their jobs, we were at a loss as to what we’d do from there. I was staying at home with A.J. and was struggling with my health. Shortly after giving birth to him, I’d had my gallbladder out and I wasn’t healing well from either. At that point, Leon said he’d do whatever he needed to do to make sure we’d be ok. And he did.

He began working at The Melting Pot (one of my favorite places) shortly thereafter. His experience there was good and the owner treated him kindly and fairly. One of the great perks was getting to eat there for cheap while he worked there. As a struggling couple, getting to dine there for what we’d spend at Chilis was a blessing. I’d bring A.J. in to see Leon in his pumpkin seat and we’d be treated by the staff like royalty. It made not seeing Leon a little bit easier.

He’d work 3-4 nights a week from around 3pm until 1 or 2am. It didn’t leave much time for being together. I’ve always been a night owl, however, and, when he’d get home, we’d try to spend at least an hour together. We’d shut off all the lights in the living room, light one or two Yankee Candles and put Dave Matthews Band in the stereo.

Last night, Leon bought the DVD of Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds at Radio City Music Hall. Listening to it brought back all of the memories of that time. Us, late at night, in our living room, just listening to music and winding down. Circa 2001. That gratitude for time together, time to relax, a sleeping A.J. and the ability to live and thrive despite the world around us.

It is good.

We went back to The Melting Pot for my birthday last year. We’ve lost some weight since then, but I treasure this picture. My how life has changed. And how it stays the same. It is good.