captain_slinky | Thanksgiving

Ten years ago, we knew :)

The week of Thanksgiving in the year 2000, a fast-talkin' city slicker had somehow convinced a blue-collar small town girl to leave Ohio and come visit him in Seattle.

The conversations leading up to this meeting had been somewhat amorous for MONTHS, but now... well, neither one wanted to admit it to the other, but they were both pretty sure that the fire had died before they even had a chance to look each other in the eyes. It was an Internet Fling, that's all... but the tickets had been purchased, a hotel had been arranged for, time was taken off of work, wheels were in motion. May as well make the most of it.

As she packed, she told her best friend "Don't worry - It's nothing! We're just friends, and I'd like to see Seattle... I'll go and I'll have a good time, but nothing's going to happen".

He sat at his computer, being grilled by his best friend. "I don't know, I'm just not really that excited about this. For the last few weeks whenever we talk, it's just... it's just not the same. It's over. But I'm not going to just abandon her! She's my guest for the week, and I'll be sure to show her the sights. I'll be a gentleman and make sure she has a good time, but nothing's going to happen".

He got dressed in his best plaid shirt and rainbow suspenders (the fashion at the time) and drove to the airport to pick up his guest. He thought about all the fun things he could show her about Seattle; the Space Needle, the Pike Place Market, the Seattle Center, the University District... all these great things they had talked about on the phone that had convinced her to come to Seattle in the first place! It wasn't for *him*, it was for the tourism!

She put on her Superman T-Shirt (the one she bought because she knew that he loved comic books) and assured her mother that everything would be okay before she got on the plane. She tried to assure herself that she was going to have a great time, but she really needed to make sure that this guy in Seattle didn't get the wrong idea. She was there to have a good time, PERIOD. See the sites, experience a trip to a big city... could it really be that different from her little town? Not important. The main thing she needed to remember was to tell this Seattle Guy to not get attached!

They met at the terminal because no one had tried to steal any planes and ram them in to buildings yet. He gave her a warm smile and an enthusiastic wave; she gave him a foil-wrapped rose and a kiss on the lips. Neither had been expecting that. They walked hand-in-hand to the baggage claim, smiling and chatting comfortably the entire way. As they were exiting the parking garage, they both commented (almost at the exact same time, interrupting each other) that it was so odd to feel so at ease and so... so *right*. No nervousness, no tension, no first-date jitters, no Just-Flew-From-Ohio-To-Seattle-For-The-First-Time-Ever jitters... just two people who enjoyed being with each other! It was a weird sensation for both of them.

Back at the Hotel Room, he intended to let her just get some sleep and he'd come get her in the morning. But they just talked and talked and before either of them knew it they were asleep in the same bed, fully clothed and completely comfortable.

She woke him up in the morning with a smile. He was startled. He said "I... I can't... wow. I have never - NEVER slept in the same bed with somebody for a whole night, ever. I didn't think I could do it! It's one of the big reasons I always thought I'd be alone for my entire life was because I could never imagine being able to sleep with somebody next to me all night, breathing and being hot and kicking the covers off and just BEING THERE making me generally miserable, you know? But you... I can't believe it! I slept the entire night, with you right there on my arm..." He looked at her now, in the eyes, just to make sure that she was real before going on "You were there the whole time and I've never slept better in my entire life!"

She pulled herself up on his chest a bit to bring them eye to eye. She smiled a big, dopey smile and said "Don't get attached" before kissing him long and hard, and he kissed her the same way.

And we haven't stopped kissing yet :)

So that's what *I* have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!