Friday, December 10, 2010

The Blue Eyes

It was the blue eyes, I think.

I have a weakness for blue eyes.

Plus, he always laughed at my jokes. Not a forced chuckle, but an actual laugh.

So when I found out he liked me, I was pleased. We had been hanging out for a couple weeks, nothing romantic, just easy flowing conversations.

It was the blue eyes, I think.

They drew me in, especially when he wore blue shirts.

We started dating, and it was sweet, a typical high school romance. I didn’t think it would last forever, honestly. I mean, I was seventeen. Even when Tom would mention our future wedding, I’d chuckle, thinking it would be lovely, but that eventually he’d turn his teenaged eyes on another girl.

But he never did.

Even when we were apart for that year. He had to stay behind and finish his last year of high school (he’s actually older than me by a month, but he was held back in first grade) while I had to go with my family to the next military base that my mother was assigned to.

It was hard, I’m not going to lie. And when I flew back to see him graduate from high school, I wasn’t sure what it was going to be like. Would it still be the same? Would the feelings still be there?

It was.

It’s probably why I ended up getting pregnant on that trip. Only nineteen, an only child, a chick who had no idea what to do with babies. I wouldn’t have blamed Tom if he had left. After all, he was starting his Air Force career and here I am, announcing that hi, we’re going to have a baby.

He married me.

And today, we’ve been married for nine years.

“Can you believe it? Nine years,” Tom mused on Skype.

“Nine years? Has it been that long? Jesus, we’re getting old,” I answered. “If we were celebrities, nine years would be considered a long time. The media would have dubbed us TomBer, you know, the whole combining of the names thing that drives me insane?”

“Yeah,” Tom agreed.

“Hey Tom?” I said.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you. For...everything. For marrying a knocked up nineteen-year-old.”

“Thank you for marrying a nineteen-year-old poor soldier.”

“We were rich in love, at least,” I said, and then I cracked up, because it’s hard for me to stay serious for long. I love romance films when the couples say these eloquent things to each other and I’m always like, “That looks fun.” But usually if Tom and I start acting like that, I tend to get the giggles and then picture Tom farting on the couch.

After I logged off, I started flipping through our wedding album and Natalie wandered over.

“Daddy,” she said, pointing to a baby-faced Tom. We were so young. And Tom was right, pretty poor. We got married in a court house in Flagstaff, Arizona and I was seven months pregnant. I had on a black maternity dress, not because I was in mourning, but because it was the only fancy thing I had.

“That’s right. That is Daddy,” I said, lifting Natalie onto my lap. “Do you know we met in high school? When I met him, I was instantly attracted. It was the blue eyes, I think…”


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I made this video a couple years ago. This basically sums up everything:

61 comments:

  1. Love Love Love that video.
    I might have gotten a little misty.

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  2. Blame it on my pregnancy hormones but I cried throughout that entire slideshow. Such a sweet post! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Anna, it's not pregnancy hormones, it's this video, this love, this longing, this everything.

    Happy Anniversary, Amber and Tom.

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  4. beautiful story. You made me teary eyed too

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  5. Happy Anniversary, Amber and Tom! Such a sweet story and a tear-jerker, too!

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  6. Your video making is professional. Very good post, girl.

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  7. That is so sweet, I actually teared up reading that! :) So happy for you, Happy anniversary!

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  8. Happy anniversary! What a fabulous and well-told story.

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  9. Happy Anniversary!

    Cool Video.

    I too married my high school sweetheart.

    14 years, 4 kids (3 still living), and a couple of rocky patches later and we're still going strong.

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  10. Awwww - what a sweet video. Happy Anniversary!

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  11. Hey, at least you got married in Flagstaff, it's a cute little town.

    I can't believe you're only 28, that is wierd to me, don't know why. Guess I thought you were older than that.

    Anywho....congrats on your 9 years. GREAT little video, I learned so much about you all.

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  12. Happy anniversary. You guys are an awesome couple.

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  13. Happy Anniversary! Love the video, your right, it says it all and more. (Hugs)Indigo

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  14. Happy Anniversary! Wow, 9 years...hey next year Tom has to buy you a REALLY good present. Push for diamonds ;)Or a MASSIVE sapphire

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  15. Happy Anniversary!

    You've been married for as long as Kate M. has been waiting....

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  16. Dear Amber.I loved the video, made me cry but that is okay. I am a very sentimental person, especially over happy love stories. Several years ago, my daughter, Teresa (of Pickin' Up the Pieces), and I made a video of our family history and used the same music as the background. Your video is beautifully made. Thanks, Ruby

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  17. Love this post! Congrats on 9 years!

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  18. That's so sweet! Happy Anniversary to both of you!

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  19. Happy Anniversary!! That is such a sweet story and sweet movie.

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  20. Blue eyes will do it to you every time.

    That's what did me in.

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  21. Geez thanks for making me cry happy tears first thing in the morning. That was beautiful!

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  22. Happy anniversary! And if you ever make me that emotional and teary eyed at work ever again I'm gonna come get you, you here me? :)

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  23. Omg I'm crying! I remember that video cried than too! You love is strong hold on to that kitty Amber he will be home soon!

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  24. Congrats! What a wonderful story! I'm glad a less than ideal situation ended up having a happy ending.

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  25. this is so incredibly sweet and romantic! sure, it didn't play out like you maybe planned in your mind, but you two were meant to be no matter.

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  26. I get that we don't know each other, but I totally cried thru the video. So sweet! Congrats on nine years! I think you guys are amazing for making it all work! :)

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  27. It's blue eyes that get me too.... Most often blue eyes with dark hair. I can't resist. Your slide show was awesome! Congrats on 9 years!!

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  28. Happy anniversary!! :)

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  29. Y'all are absolutely precious!! The wedding pics are my favorite! I've been married for going on 2 years to my high school sweetheart (who just got out of the Marines), and your video gives me hope that we will make it too. Love your blog!

    Rachel in TN

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  30. Happy Anniversary to one sweet couple!

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  31. Love your story.

    And I've got my own blue-eyed man that I thought wouldn't marry me. And instead, he gave me a mini blue-eyes.

    We are both blessed!

    Happy Anniversary!

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  32. Aww...you summed it up so beautifully. Happy Anniversary!

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  33. Thank you all for the anniversary wishes!

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  34. Well, DAMN that was sweet!

    Happy Anniversary to you both. Keep safe, Tom and hurry home.

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  35. OH AMBER!!!!! I'm not going to lie - you made me cry (big fat tears & gulping sobs)!

    What a beautiful love story and video (I love that song too).

    It's amazing; Tommy is Tom made over and Natalie is you!

    Happy Anniversary, sweetie. Tom will be home before you know it. xx

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  36. Thank you so much for sharing your story! It's very sweet!

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  37. That video was absolutely wonderful! So romantic and beautifully done. I love TomBer! Happy Anniversary!!!

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  38. Congratulations and happy anniversary!!
    Thank you so much for sharing your story -- it's so sweet =)
    The husband has blue eyes -- that's what hooked me =)

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  39. That's too wonderful...happy life...happy journey...

    with Luv
    Shalet

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  40. Crikey, Amber, I've been reading your blog for so long, I've seen that video before. And it made me cry the last time too. Congratulations. Hope you can celebrate when he gets back. You made a wonderful family.

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  41. Happy anniversary!

    Since he's all abroad and whatnot, he should be able to get you something super shiny.

    I mean, that's logical thinking, right?

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  42. I'd been all cranky today because my husband's car wouldn't start and I had to wake up earlier than I wanted and drive him to work... And then I saw this. And I'm just thankful to have him nearby.

    Congratulations to you and Tom! You have a beautiful family and a beautiful story!

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  43. That's so sweet. I know what you mean about blue eyes. There's a bus driver on my route home who has really bright, bright blue eyes, and I think I probably look rude because I just have to look at them.

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  44. Happy Anniversary!!! Bella loves looking at our wedding album. Thomas wore his uniform with all the medals on it. She says I found a Prince! I think she's right.

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  45. Ahhh happy belated anniversary! What a sweet video!

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  46. You are blessed. Man, that got to me. What a beautiful story, beautifully told.

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  47. I almost always leave your blog laughing at your wonderful stories, but the story of you and Tom... that was just beautiful! Made me tear up a bit. Thanks for sharing the story of the two of you!

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