Nakita Grinie

Story of Us part 2

First came LOVE. Here is our version peppered with non-wedding pictures through the years. My days as the 'girl with a camera' certainly paid off!



So Nate and I started to officially 'date' in July 2002, as the first post in this series mentioned. I was reluctant to start a relationship with Nate because I knew he was studying abroad in Spain that fall semester. I had the privilege of studying at SLU's Madrid campus in the Spring of 2000 and I was well aware of the debauchery to ensue. Serious relationships spanning two continents aren't exactly easy.

But despite my tough exterior I was falling for this frat boy. We talked on the phone the entire semester. My parents have the ridiculous phone bills to prove our budding relationship talks:) I vaguely remember staying up until the wee hours of the morning to talk to 'my boyfriend in Spain' and I couldn't help but smile every time my phone rang.

I decided it was necessary to make a trip to Spain. Not just to relive my glory days abroad but to see Nate. I told my girlfriends that it was time: if Nate didn't tell me he loved me during this visit, then I was going to say it first. Big deal, folks. Very big deal. My friends and I decided that we needed a code word so when L-bomb was dropped, they could be informed without ruining the moment. I didn't want to be 'that girl' calling up her girlfriends in the middle of a special moment to say, "OMG he TOTALLY loves me!" So we made the most logical choice and announced that "Bombs over Baghdad" would be our code phrase. What? Outkast rules.

My return trip to Madrid was absolutely heavenly. I think I could return to that city a million times and it will never lose it's magic. Our first night out Nate and I got into a deep conversation. He leaned into my ear and said, "I love you." I pulled away and said, "I love you too, and I was going to say it if you didn't." I hesitated for a split second then spilled the beans: "I have to call my friends and say 'Bombs over Baghdad' because you officially dropped the L-bomb. It was supposed to be a code phrase but I'm way too excited right now and I can't stop talking, and OMG you totally love me." Sigh. What a special moment complete with Outkast lyrics and Europeans.