Best of my 20's part 3 & 4

Ok so I am doing this all in one set of posts...here is number 3&4 of the good things my 20's gave to me.

3) The SCA and all the friends it brought, especially Christin, Patricio, Pierre, Tristan, Wurm, Yasmine, and yes even Roger along with so many others.

The SCA is a medieval re-enactment group. Kinda like those Civil War re-enactors but trust me waaaayyyy more fun
I needed a place to live, I had at that time joint custody of Amanda. Her sperm donor was loaded and the abuse with her had not started. I was a kid and got bullied into agreeing to joint. I figured he loved her and it was best for her...man i was dumb.
Anyway, I needed a place to live and one that took babies. However, I could not afford a apartment. I found a room to let through Tony, as he knew one of the guys in this huge falling down Victorian home. But there was a catch. I wasn't supposed to have a kid. So I lied. I met everyone in the house and they liked me! I moved in and would "sneak" Amanda in. Keep her as quiet as possible until everyone left then we would have the run of the house.
Except Christin found me out. And once I fessed up to everyone, they still let me stay, Amanda and all. They were the best, a second family and I felt relatively safe from said monster.
Christin introduced me to the SCA I loved it. It was history and fun and friends and the men were not only handsome but seemed to generally dig chicks. They were chivalrous, even to the fat ones. Everyone appeared to value intelligence and wit and jokes, all of which I was good at. Unknowingly, Tony introduced me to the group that would provide me with my future husband :(
So these people were amazing! I further gained long lasting friendships, bonds I can not give proper description to but am forever thankful for. It also built up my self confidence...thank you all!

4) Nicholas. What can I say? I met you at one of my first SCA events. As the story goes, Christin asked you to recite a Poe poem. I was there with Tony. You read from memory the Annabel Lee. I whispered to Christin, this guy would be so hot if he didnt have Any Gibb hair. or maybe I said Jesus hair, the tale as our youth has become muddled...I never forgot his voice. Fast forward a few years later. I am at THE big SCA event. This amazing looking pirate and his Spanish sidekick...come bouncing over to Christin and I, the pirate gives her a huge hug and engages in the harmless. yet constant flirting we all engaged in then. I remembered his sidekick from high school. I was unhappy with my relationship with Tony, who for better or worse had stayed home while I went on vacation with my friends at 24...

When the two left where we were sitting, I turned to Christin once again and said who was that? To which she replied, he is a tall class of tall dark and handsome, isn't her? And I said something to the effect of I chose him...I chased this piece hard the whole week. HE was not only oblivious to women being interested in him, but was leery of this kid with a kid who was following him around all day asking if he needed water and chased he from party to party. I was pretty pathetic. We kissed once and I was smitten.

Low and behold! He lived near us! I infiltrated his attention by befriended his friend the "Spaniard" who was a lousy friend and spent no small amount of time hitting on my and telling me to forget Nick.   Katie, sweet Katie (thank you) would watch Amanda so I could hit the Griffin every thursday night to further chase my prey. I just knew...
Many silly events, Tony and I broke up and finally September of 1999 he was mine!
Once I hooked him it moved quick, now we both knew. He moved in. I adored him...we married in 2001.

Nick may have not ever "wanted" a family but he has been the best Dad to Amanda, we both make mistakes but he has made me so proud with how honestly and openly he took on the role.

We have had some ups and downs and oh my the downs were something else. Just like before I did not believe I deserved a "good guy" and was always pushing him away those first few years but he stuck it out. We both matured with and inspired by one another . We decided that marriage was something important to us (after we were married and almost at divorce go figure) and worked on this thing like crazy.

My friends always said you could tell how he looked at me that he adored me. I finally recognized that maybe seven years in? And am amazed that I still see it. We are best buds, lovers, parents and I can not imagine my life without him. Because of him I have become a grown up, whatever that means. If not for him, I would never have gone to college which was my dream. We are in this together until the wheels fall off.
I think I have had a positive influence on him too.