Tagged

(Another from the weekend.)
As I said in my last entry, I know that the audience for this blog (or, really, the few sporadic readers) is varied. So I'm finally going to respond to the tag by A Practical Wedding as an introduction, for those who need it. One change though: since this blog was originally supposed to be authored by both Patrick and me, and in hopes that he will soon be moved to share some of his perspective with you, I'm going to share four things you
(probably) didn't know about us (instead of just me):

    1. A few years ago (pre-cell phones), we went cross country skiing in a wildlife area in our hometown. We got all kinds of turned around on the twisty turny trails, and ended up getting quite lost just as dusk was falling. Even though we collectively have many years of scouting behind us, we decided to hike out rather than attempt to camp out in the snow (although the idea of trying to build a fire in the snow and ration the granola bars we had in our bag was kind of exciting. I read a lot of Boxcar Children books as a kid...).  We managed to hike to a nearby neighborhood (where we looked ridiculous carrying our skis and walking around in cross country ski boots). Knowing our parents would have a heart attack if they knew what was going on, we knocked on a stranger's door and asked to use their phone. Our plan was to call a cab for a ride back to the car (which was really not that far away). The strangers were nice (luckily we chose a home where a friendly family lived, and not an ax murderer)-- they loaded us in their minivan and drove us back to our car themselves.  It was years before we told anyone this story (it was a little embarrassing, and there was really no need to worry our parents about these situations we manage to find ourselves in).

    2. We employed many coping strategies during all the years I was away at school. Many of the strategies involved books. From time to time we would read the same book together and discuss (although I was always way behind Patrick, trying to fit the novel in between readings for class). When I was abroad in London, missing Patrick like crazy, and feeling a little disoriented following 9/11, he sent me a package of David Sedaris books to make me laugh (it worked, except that it made me miss him even more).

    3. On our first Valentine's day together, Patrick was away at school and I was a senior in high school. He sent me a dozen roses, which arrived with a card from someone else. "To Barbara, I love you" (or something like that, obviously not for me). I called the flower company and a sweet lady read me the card intended to arrive with the flowers ("We do our best to contain this thing inside us. I love you and wish I could be there. Love, Pat." -- we were into Dave Matthews at the time). I knew he'd feel bad, and didn't tell him about the mix up until a couple years ago. The roses were beautiful.

    4. When we go for bike rides, we race on straightaways when there's no one else on the trail. He always wins.



I would tag others, but it's highly unlikely that they'd ever see it... so you know, if you just read this and feel like keeping up the thread, consider yourself tagged!