The Story of Us
The Story of Us does not start with a “Once upon a time,” but rather a first, second stare…… Brianne and I had known each other for quite some time before our story began. Bri’s best friend, and Maid of Honor, Amanda Diombala has been like a little sister to me for as long as I can remember. Dan, Amanda’s Brother, has been one of my best friends for over twenty years now. So I guess we owe it all to the Diombala’s… Don’t tell Dan that I told you though… If you ask Bri when she fell in love with me, every once in a while you’ll get the response, “In the sixth grade.” I wish I had known that then, but with Bri being 4 years younger than me, our paths never completely crossed. The timing was not right. Fast forward about 12 years, I was bartending at Cheers, and in walked Bri. She was blonde at the time, with short messy hair, and she had on a white button up shirt with a grey vest. I couldn’t stop looking at her. She was there with friends but decided to sit up at the bar. I’m not sure it’s possible for someone, as tiny as she is, to consume as many margaritas as she ordered that night. I like to tease her that she was pouring them under the bar so I’d have to come over and make her another. We talked, but when she left, she was gone. I was getting ready to move to Indianapolis to start dental school, and again the timing wasn’t right. Fast forward to late spring of 2009, I was finishing my first year of dental school and was coming home for a few weeks on summer vacation. I conjured up enough courage to email Bri, letting her know I was going to be in town, asking her if she wanted to get together. After waiting over a month for a response, (she thinks she’s so cool) a reply finally came. Our first date was June 7, 2009. Our paths had finally crossed. The timing was now right. We went to see “The Hangover.” Very romantic, I know. She walked down her Mom’s side steps to my car. She had long brown hair at this point, and I didn’t know it at the time, but she wore her favorite jeans, the ones she thought her butt looked best in. I promise I didn’t notice. My eyes never left her face. I was nervous. She laughs at me now because of it. The best story of the night happened when during the movie Phil says, “Stu, you're a dentist, okay? Don't try and get fancy. And if someone has a heart attack, you should still call 911.” Everyone in the movie theater laughed, I was laughing hysterically, but out of the corner of my eye I saw Bri look at me, she wasn’t laughing, it was as if she was looking at me to make sure it was ok for her to laugh. It was ok, and I appreciated it. The movie was over; Bri had to go home to watch her youngest sister, Cassidy. I walked her in, and got to meet her other sister, Paige. We talked about biology, and the monumental importance of it. Paige didn’t say anything, but I could tell she thought I was a dork right away. And she was right. I hugged Bri, kissed her on the forehead, and went home. Smooth, right? Our second date was the very next night. I guess it was smooth. We went out to Portage to meet her Mom at, her boyfriend, John’s softball game. We brought a cooler of beer. Towards the end of the game, it started to rain. And when I say rain, I mean Monsoon. Everyone ran back to their cars, except me. I carried the cooler. Using the key chain I unlocked the doors. Bri opened the door, looked back and saw how far away I was, closed the door and ran back to me. This was our first kiss. I couldn’t have written it better. This is also when I fell in love with Brianne Cusick. I finally found the one who would stand in the rain with me. We went back to her Mom’s house but not before making a pit stop at my parents to fix my hair. Yeah, I said it. She likes to make fun of me for it and that’s ok. I went upstairs and could hear her and my mother talking away. She fit right in. This was a Monday. Date three was on Tuesday. We went to the Sox game with my brother Eric and his wife, Lisa. Bri is a Sox fan. I felt sorry for her, so it was the least that I could do. I was supposed to go back to Indianapolis on Wednesday, but decided to extend my trip. Date four, Wednesday, Date five and six, Thursday and Friday. Date Seven was the Kenny Chesney Concert on Saturday. And this was our first week. August 1 of that year, in the parking lot of Showplace 16, waiting to go see “Funny People,” we agreed to finally become boyfriend and girlfriend. I thought we already were, but she needed to know for sure, since I was starting my second year shortly thereafter. October 31, 2009, after the Dental School’s Halloween party, Bri said she loved me for the very first time. I think it was because I had a Mustang football uniform on, she disagrees. Anyways, I knew long before this, but waited until the next day to tell Bri that I loved her, too. Smooth, right? We spent our first Christmas together that year. In May of 2010, I spoke with my Mother and Father and told them I wanted to propose to Bri on our one-year anniversary. I went to Albert’s (Insert hand clap), with my mother as my wingman, and picked out Bri’s ring. It had to be ordered and would take a few weeks. That day I took a picture of the ring to Bri’s mother and father’s houses to ask their permission. Bri’s Mom cried. Bri is a crier just like her. Permission granted. I started plotting the scene of the crime. I was leaning towards the treasure hunt. I was going to have my friend, Ryan Hungate, help me get Bri from location to location that meant something to us in Indianapolis. All of these stops were going to lead her back home. When she walked in, the apartment was going to be filled with candles and calla lilies (Bri’s favorite flower). I would say what I wanted to say and drop to a knee to ask her to marry me. Hours went into picking the locations, and organizing my thoughts. Then, on May 30th, I got the message that the ring was in. I can’t ever wait until Christmas to give or open all my presents. How was I going to handle this? Also, "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." All my planning went out the door. Bri was at Whihala Beach with her family. I HATE the beach, but Bri loves it, so this kind of made sense. I text her mom to keep her there and I was on my way. I got caught by a train about 100 feet from my destination, which helped me collect my thoughts, I guess. I parked my car, took my shoes off and burned my feet the entire walk to where she was laying on a towel in her white bathing suit and sunglasses. She was surprised, but did not expect what was going to happen next. I made Bri get a towel because the sand was so hot and I didn’t want to burn my knee, she didn’t know that of course. I read Bri something short that I had written and then got down on one knee, and asked her to marry me. I can close my eyes and see her. Her mouth dropped open and her hands went to her face, my heart stopped, however, because no words had come out of her mouth. Finally, after, what seemed to me to be hours, she said, “Yes.” She likes to argue that she did say yes sooner, I just didn’t hear her. She also didn’t really hear all that I read to her because I talk like that all the time and she was just trying to figure out what was going on. That was 2 years ago. Since then we have learned each other. She likes to sleep late on Sunday; I like to stay up late Monday – Sunday. She likes “Friends,” I like “The West Wing.” She likes baseball; I love football. She likes to sit outside; I like to sit in my lazy boy. She loves to read, I love to write. She likes to cook, and I like to eat. I know how she likes her Starbucks and when she is overdue for a nap. She knows when I’ve had a long day in the clinic and how to make spaghetti so I’ll eat it until I can’t breathe. We love staying in on Friday nights, Kenny Chesney and Sugarland, NCIS and Friday Night Lights, walking the canal, and settling arguments by moving the living room table; letting a wrestling match decide. Guess who wins? I cannot speak for Bri, but I can tell you that since June 7, of 2009, I have lived the life that I always dreamed. Bri is my best friend. My Mother and Father love her like a daughter. I am proud of the person she is, and who I am when I’m with her. I always tell her, “Thank God for you, Bri.” And I mean it. The highs are higher because of her, and the lows, well; they just don’t really seem that low any more. I thought I knew what was important until I met her. If I could wish one thing for any of you reading this, it would be to feel about someone or something the way I feel about, Bri. I am lucky and thankful for many people in my life. In thirty years, I have become the sum of generosity others would be lucky to receive in a lifetime. I hope to repay that generosity ten times over, and I hope that it can start by sharing with you the happiest day of our lives, September 29, 2012, at the Wynn Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, when we say, “I do.”
The Story of Us does not start with a “Once upon a time,” but rather a first, second stare…… Brianne and I had known each other for quite some time before our story began. Bri’s best friend, and Maid of Honor, Amanda Diombala has been like a little sister to me for as long as I can remember. Dan, Amanda’s Brother, has been one of my best friends for over twenty years now. So I guess we owe it all to the Diombala’s… Don’t tell Dan that I told you though… If you ask Bri when she fell in love with me, every once in a while you’ll get the response, “In the sixth grade.” I wish I had known that then, but with Bri being 4 years younger than me, our paths never completely crossed. The timing was not right. Fast forward about 12 years, I was bartending at Cheers, and in walked Bri. She was blonde at the time, with short messy hair, and she had on a white button up shirt with a grey vest. I couldn’t stop looking at her. She was there with friends but decided to sit up at the bar. I’m not sure it’s possible for someone, as tiny as she is, to consume as many margaritas as she ordered that night. I like to tease her that she was pouring them under the bar so I’d have to come over and make her another. We talked, but when she left, she was gone. I was getting ready to move to Indianapolis to start dental school, and again the timing wasn’t right. Fast forward to late spring of 2009, I was finishing my first year of dental school and was coming home for a few weeks on summer vacation. I conjured up enough courage to email Bri, letting her know I was going to be in town, asking her if she wanted to get together. After waiting over a month for a response, (she thinks she’s so cool) a reply finally came. Our first date was June 7, 2009. Our paths had finally crossed. The timing was now right. We went to see “The Hangover.” Very romantic, I know. She walked down her Mom’s side steps to my car. She had long brown hair at this point, and I didn’t know it at the time, but she wore her favorite jeans, the ones she thought her butt looked best in. I promise I didn’t notice. My eyes never left her face. I was nervous. She laughs at me now because of it. The best story of the night happened when during the movie Phil says, “Stu, you're a dentist, okay? Don't try and get fancy. And if someone has a heart attack, you should still call 911.” Everyone in the movie theater laughed, I was laughing hysterically, but out of the corner of my eye I saw Bri look at me, she wasn’t laughing, it was as if she was looking at me to make sure it was ok for her to laugh. It was ok, and I appreciated it. The movie was over; Bri had to go home to watch her youngest sister, Cassidy. I walked her in, and got to meet her other sister, Paige. We talked about biology, and the monumental importance of it. Paige didn’t say anything, but I could tell she thought I was a dork right away. And she was right. I hugged Bri, kissed her on the forehead, and went home. Smooth, right? Our second date was the very next night. I guess it was smooth. We went out to Portage to meet her Mom at, her boyfriend, John’s softball game. We brought a cooler of beer. Towards the end of the game, it started to rain. And when I say rain, I mean Monsoon. Everyone ran back to their cars, except me. I carried the cooler. Using the key chain I unlocked the doors. Bri opened the door, looked back and saw how far away I was, closed the door and ran back to me. This was our first kiss. I couldn’t have written it better. This is also when I fell in love with Brianne Cusick. I finally found the one who would stand in the rain with me. We went back to her Mom’s house but not before making a pit stop at my parents to fix my hair. Yeah, I said it. She likes to make fun of me for it and that’s ok. I went upstairs and could hear her and my mother talking away. She fit right in. This was a Monday. Date three was on Tuesday. We went to the Sox game with my brother Eric and his wife, Lisa. Bri is a Sox fan. I felt sorry for her, so it was the least that I could do. I was supposed to go back to Indianapolis on Wednesday, but decided to extend my trip. Date four, Wednesday, Date five and six, Thursday and Friday. Date Seven was the Kenny Chesney Concert on Saturday. And this was our first week. August 1 of that year, in the parking lot of Showplace 16, waiting to go see “Funny People,” we agreed to finally become boyfriend and girlfriend. I thought we already were, but she needed to know for sure, since I was starting my second year shortly thereafter. October 31, 2009, after the Dental School’s Halloween party, Bri said she loved me for the very first time. I think it was because I had a Mustang football uniform on, she disagrees. Anyways, I knew long before this, but waited until the next day to tell Bri that I loved her, too. Smooth, right? We spent our first Christmas together that year. In May of 2010, I spoke with my Mother and Father and told them I wanted to propose to Bri on our one-year anniversary. I went to Albert’s (Insert hand clap), with my mother as my wingman, and picked out Bri’s ring. It had to be ordered and would take a few weeks. That day I took a picture of the ring to Bri’s mother and father’s houses to ask their permission. Bri’s Mom cried. Bri is a crier just like her. Permission granted. I started plotting the scene of the crime. I was leaning towards the treasure hunt. I was going to have my friend, Ryan Hungate, help me get Bri from location to location that meant something to us in Indianapolis. All of these stops were going to lead her back home. When she walked in, the apartment was going to be filled with candles and calla lilies (Bri’s favorite flower). I would say what I wanted to say and drop to a knee to ask her to marry me. Hours went into picking the locations, and organizing my thoughts. Then, on May 30th, I got the message that the ring was in. I can’t ever wait until Christmas to give or open all my presents. How was I going to handle this? Also, "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." All my planning went out the door. Bri was at Whihala Beach with her family. I HATE the beach, but Bri loves it, so this kind of made sense. I text her mom to keep her there and I was on my way. I got caught by a train about 100 feet from my destination, which helped me collect my thoughts, I guess. I parked my car, took my shoes off and burned my feet the entire walk to where she was laying on a towel in her white bathing suit and sunglasses. She was surprised, but did not expect what was going to happen next. I made Bri get a towel because the sand was so hot and I didn’t want to burn my knee, she didn’t know that of course. I read Bri something short that I had written and then got down on one knee, and asked her to marry me. I can close my eyes and see her. Her mouth dropped open and her hands went to her face, my heart stopped, however, because no words had come out of her mouth. Finally, after, what seemed to me to be hours, she said, “Yes.” She likes to argue that she did say yes sooner, I just didn’t hear her. She also didn’t really hear all that I read to her because I talk like that all the time and she was just trying to figure out what was going on. That was 2 years ago. Since then we have learned each other. She likes to sleep late on Sunday; I like to stay up late Monday – Sunday. She likes “Friends,” I like “The West Wing.” She likes baseball; I love football. She likes to sit outside; I like to sit in my lazy boy. She loves to read, I love to write. She likes to cook, and I like to eat. I know how she likes her Starbucks and when she is overdue for a nap. She knows when I’ve had a long day in the clinic and how to make spaghetti so I’ll eat it until I can’t breathe. We love staying in on Friday nights, Kenny Chesney and Sugarland, NCIS and Friday Night Lights, walking the canal, and settling arguments by moving the living room table; letting a wrestling match decide. Guess who wins? I cannot speak for Bri, but I can tell you that since June 7, of 2009, I have lived the life that I always dreamed. Bri is my best friend. My Mother and Father love her like a daughter. I am proud of the person she is, and who I am when I’m with her. I always tell her, “Thank God for you, Bri.” And I mean it. The highs are higher because of her, and the lows, well; they just don’t really seem that low any more. I thought I knew what was important until I met her. If I could wish one thing for any of you reading this, it would be to feel about someone or something the way I feel about, Bri. I am lucky and thankful for many people in my life. In thirty years, I have become the sum of generosity others would be lucky to receive in a lifetime. I hope to repay that generosity ten times over, and I hope that it can start by sharing with you the happiest day of our lives, September 29, 2012, at the Wynn Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, when we say, “I do.”