Day #62 - Part Two

Okay... so I guess I have to continue this... People are actually reading! Where were we? Awe yes... the holidays...

Let me start by saying, there is a lot of garbage I'm not including... Things about my relationship with Kevin, that although might add to the story, make me kinda wanna gag... And this is supposed to be about Me and Michael. So I'm sticking with that!

So, it's Christmas. Kevin and I are totally falling apart - as in he's not even around. He did stop by (with his daughter) to exchange presents with me, but didn't stay for long... He was off to celebrate the day with his family, which apparently did NOT include me.

I was feeling real sorry for myself... alone on Christmas (although it wasn't the first time)... So I put in a call to one of my besties! Michael! He was with his family in St Ignace. His grandmother lived there and they had visited on Christmas for pretty much as long as he could remember. I sat and chatted with him for quite some time, listening to the chatter in the background, imagining being there surrounded by people that were joyful, kind, full of fun... and it made me feel so much better... I suddenly wasn't lonely... I almost felt like I was there.

And then he said, "Wow Stephanie, if I had known you were going to be alone... I would've invited you to come up here with me..." I blew him off, told him that I wouldn't have gone to his family Christmas celebration, reminded him that Kevin would've lost his mind, said I was fine. In my heart, I knew exactly where I wanted to be... with Michael... Even if we were just really great friends, and nothing more ever... I knew at that moment just how special he really was. I had, at the very least, found someone that I could depend on, someone that truly cared about me.

The next few days came and went... I was working. Kevin and I were totally over. I will tell you - working with him was not fun! And New Years Eve was on the horizon.

Michael was going to Detroit for New Years. After high school, he attended Wayne State University for a couple of years... and he was going back down to see his friends and find some fun to start the year. And, he invited me!!! I was ecstatic! So excited to spend some time with him, in his element, and meet all these people he had talked to me about, to see the places he had described.

So like a little school girl... I ran to the mall with a friend... and tried to find something cute to wear. I went into so many stores, just looking for a sweater, or a shirt, something that would be appropriate.. and I started to realize this was a WAY bigger deal to me than what I initially thought. This silly shirt had to be "just right!" because this night had to be "JUST RIGHT!" Eventually, I settled on a little black sweater...

I include all that about the shopping, only because, when I showed him what I had bought -- He said to me, "Um yea, we don't really dress up or wear things like that down there... We'll probably end up at a hole in the wall bar or something..." Only Michael!!! I did take the sweater, but didn't even end up wearing it!

And now it's time for our scheduled commercial break! Stay tuned for Part Three...