Our People Are The Best People

If you’ve kept up with the jLog lately, you know that on September 19th, 2015 my love got down on one knee in the beautiful sunny sands of Truro, MA and asked me, using my full name, to marry her. But you might also know that on November 21st, 2012 I promised that when we were free and able, we would marry. So since we have a way of doing things a bit backwards, I said yes in 2012 knowing that the time would come when *the* question would finally be asked. And now, here we are.

 
Now, this post is a bit different – because in this post my beautiful love has asked to share her words in addition to mine, something that, for those that know her, is kind of a big fucking deal 🙂 So enjoy this rare treat and soak in every word…

 

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From Jess

So, I’m not big on social media outlets. I rarely post. I actually rarely read. But after my love has created and shared her blog, I have more exposure and interest in social media. That said, an experience this past weekend made me WANT to use social media. So much so, I’ve asked my love if I could have a “guest appearance” on her blog. So, thank you for indulging me….

Here goes.

I’m Jess. It’s a name. But it’s mine.

My parents gave it to me. They thought it was special. And I grew into it like all kids do. I made it exclusive. I made it MY name.

I love. I LOVE to love. But it’s an exclusive love. A love that can’t even possibly be for anyone else than her. She’s a thief; she steals my breath and my thoughts. She makes me into someone I never knew existed. She makes me inspired. And she unintentionally makes me write things like this. She enhances MY name.

She got me. She got me good. She….got me like I never knew was possible. And I was….a little bit more than my name.   I WAS…the Little…and the Tinies….AND us. And it feels good. Like, really good.

And all of that is unexplainably amazing. But you know what else. My friends. Or as I call them, my family. The people in your life that just fucking love you. And they have learned your name. And have loved it. And KNOW it. That person. Those people. Those people that grew into THEIR name. Those people that you NEVER expect anything from. But get EVERYTHING from. And…sometimes you are reminded by what they can do. What incredible people they are.

This past Saturday, my fiancée and I walked into what we thought was a housewarming party. But THOSE people threw us an ENGAGEMENT party. What? Do people do that? OUR people do. Our people actually do. Our people are kind and loving and talented and special and fun and intelligent and thought-provoking and caring and meaningful. And….so much more.

I am humbled. I am grateful.  And a thank you isn’t acceptable because it isn’t enough. YOU have no idea. NO clue how much you have touched MY name. But you do….because you’re our people. I love all of you.

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And now it’s my turn –

I don’t know where to start. And I don’t know where to stop.

I haven’t done it all right. I haven’t been the best, the kindest, the most patient, and rarely the most deserving. I’m not the calmest, not the most reasonable, and certainly not always rational. I’m too loud, too talkative, too excited, and full of too much energy. And I’ve never been able to sit quietly with the knowing.

But somehow I must have done just enough right.

Because today I find myself with the most amazing people in my corner. My family, my friends, and my truest love. All there right beside this crazy, mixed-up, loud-mouthed, constant talker with too much to share and not enough time to share it.

I need people. I thrive on connection. I thrive on the knowing – of my tiny corner in the world, of myself, and of each other. We all want to be known. And this past weekend I truly felt just so incredibly known.

In 2012 when we made the choice to turn our lives upside-down and build a life around our love, we turned everyone else’s lives upside-down too. And rightfully so, not everyone knew what to make of it. We lost some people along the way. And I don’t fault them, not everyone has to agree with our choices. But I can’t even begin to express what it feels like to be surrounded by the people who just keep showing up for us.

And this past Saturday night, November 14th, 2015, our people showed up in the most unexpected and amazing way I’ve yet to experience in this life.

Our people – who are in the middle of buying and selling houses, having and raising babies, changing careers, juggling finances, adopting furry children, and just so much more – stopped their amazingly full lives to throw us a surprise engagement party.

And this ain’t our first rodeo.

So you can imagine the shock, the legit disbelief, and the complete state of overwhelm (we were way past whelmed), when we learned that our people spent nearly two months planning and preparing to celebrate this milestone in our love story.

As our Little would say… WHAT THE WHAT!?

Who knew people DID that for each other? Who knew our people were the kind of selfless, loving, caring, understanding, accepting, people that stop their lives for us?

We did. And we do, even more now. Our people KNOW us. They knew us apart – as  individuals – and they showed up. Now they know us differently – and  together – and they just keep showing up in the biggest, boldest, most beautiful way.

I knew that my heart was full when she chose to love me. I knew she was my missing puzzle piece from the way she fit into me just perfectly. And now I know 100% that our people, who keep showing up, are every other puzzle piece that surrounds and supports us; creating the perfectly inspiring jigsaw of our lives.

Thank you for giving us another date to cherish ~11.14.15~

you. me. us. we & ours ❤️

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2 thoughts on “Our People Are The Best People

  1. Beautiful post Jess, it’s a truly amazing thing-loving friendship. I only wish everyone will experience an ounce of the love you have with your love and with your people. Just very very cool for lack of better words! Very inspiring too. Xoxoxo little love

  2. Love you both my girls and I can’t wait to meet all these wonderful friends I have yet to meet!!!

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