I would walk 500 miles and then some.

In honour of Valentine's Day and our 4th Wedding Anniversary on the 17th. I thought I would tell the story of us through pictures. Many people ask how we met and it really is a cool story when you think about it. Sometimes we look at eachother and think "Wow, pretty crazy how we got here!". The best day of my life so far was the day we got married. Not only was I marrying the sweetest, most generous man I have ever known, not to mention very handsome. It was the best party, and to this day people still talk about it!

I had planned to travel the UK with a friend of mine who at the last minute couldn't make it, so I decided I was going to go it alone. September 11th happened just weeks before. The fear was palpable through out the world. I remember very clearly my friend G. sitting in my little apartment in Banff Springs Staff Accom, giving me a pep talk reassuring me that I was doing the right thing. I am so glad she did. Brigid the next day made me a grill cheese sandwhich and sent me on my way to catch my flight from Calgary to London. I knew my life was going to change, I had no idea how.

We met in October 2001 at a hostel in Edinburgh, Scotland. Paul was working the front desk, I had just taken the bus all night from London and was tired and carrying about a 50lb backpack.  Not to mention I had spent the last hour walking around Edinburgh looking for this hostel carrying my backpack. We became fast friends along with so many other wonderful souls I met in those few months. I ended up living at the hostel after doing some traveling and running out of money. It was time to settle in and make some money or go home earlier than planned.

Me sitting in the Highlands of Scotland. Sorry about the poor quality. 

Me, Leslie and Paul 2001. Just days before Paul was leaving to go back home to Indiana.

The time came for Paul to head back home to his family. My travels were also winding down. I had only been in the UK for 3 months, but I hadn't seen my family in over a year since I had been living on the other side of Canada. It was December and Christmas was approaching, I had to go home. We exchanged emails, and goodbyes. I knew when he hugged me good-bye, tears in both of our eyes, that we would see eachother again. I just knew we would.

For the next year and half we kept in touch with random emails checking in now and again. Life got busy for both of us. I had been home to Halifax for a while and then decided to move back to Banff. Took a job in banking and decided to move to Calgary to go back to school for massage therapy. The financial world just wasn't a good match for me after all. As soon as I finished my year of schooling. I got the call my Mum was sick. No one was sure what is was, but she was in the hospital. I was broke, scared and not sure what was going on back home. Then we got another call to come home, it was stomach cancer and the prognosis was not good.  Before she died she said to me " I want you to take another trip. I want you to got back to Scotland or wherever, and take a break for a while. You need it, I want you to be happy. Don't worry." 

I had no plans to travel, except back to Calgary to pick up where I left off ; what was left of my life. I was lost, my Mum the most stable thing I had in my life at the time was gone. What was left? In the meantime I had also aquired a cat while in Nova Scotia and had to find away to get Lola who was 6 weeks old at the time back to Calgary with me. She was the only thing that gave me a reason to get up in the mornings. 

Then one day about two months after Mum's passing I was at my brother's place in Lake Louise, Alberta, checking my email, and there it was. After a year and half of loosing touch was a group email from Paul saying how he had just moved to Chicago, and if anyone wanted to come visit should let him know. I emailed back thinking a trip to visit an old friend would be good. Check out a new city, and I had always heard Chicago was a great city. So I emailed him back a very general "hey how's it going" type thing. I think I left my number in there too, I am not sure anymore, it was all a blur. A few days later  my phone rang, the caller ID said Indiana. I was like "What the hell? What teller marketer would be calling now?!" I answered and the voice on the other end asked if it was me. I knew the voice immeditaly. It was Paul. I think we talked at least two hours that night. Suddenly it felt like time hadn't passed at all. Things picked up right where they left off. We reminised about our Scotland days, and then talked about what had been going on since then. A few days later  I found myself booking a flight for Chicago. No expectations just going to see an old friend and a very cool city. We had always had feelings for eachother in the past but the time was not right. When we met at O'Hare after I landed the connection was even stronger, I am sure the fact that we talked and texted almost every day for the past two months may have had something to do with that too. 

Riding the EL. February 2005

Yup, he stole my heart that trip. (Museum of Sciene and Industry)

Downtown Chi-Town 2005

For the next 9 months we dated long distance going back and forth to Chicago and lots of phone calls and email.  Finally Paul came to Calgary to meet my brother and my close friends on the west coast that were still around in September of 2005.

Us on an earlier morning hike around Lake Louise. 

Paul, Me and Robbs, Calgary.

Banff, AB

Nicole and Micheal 2005

Paul was being weird rambling about a package that was to arrive while he was there and it was taking longer than it should have. I wasn't worried about whatever it was. I was just happy to have him there. Then Robbs came over to meet us for dinner and afterwards I drove him home while Paul was at my place. He kept going on about how great Paul was for me and was getting all emotional on me. It was really freaking me out! The next day the mystery package arrived and I had explicit directions not to open until I got home. Paul got down on one knee and proposed. I was in shock! Of course I said yes! Come to find out, while I was getting ready for dinner the night before, he told Robbs that he wanted to propose and showed him the ring and told him about his plan. This made total sense as to why Robbs was acting like he was! At least I knew he approved!

Taken at the Calgary Zoo the day after he proposed. The worst photo ever! But the only one we have. (Sorry babe!)

From there it was time to meet the family in Nova Scotia. All this time we were going through immigration which was taking longer than anyone thought it would. I wasn't allowed to visit him in the U.S. while the proceedings were going on so he would try and see me as often as he could. We couldn't set a wedding date because we applied for a fiance visa which meant when approved I had to enter the States and be married within 3 months to make it valid and me be eligable to work and get my greencard. We wanted to do everything by the book. Little did we know it was going to take a year and half. So my family threw us an engagement party since most of them wouldn't be able to make our wedding whenever it did happen.

Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia April 2006

He got the family seal of approval! It was kind of scary how well he fit in actually, like he had been there forever.

Finally my paperwork came through in December of 2006. With the help of wonderful friends I managed to pack up my whole life and my cat and arrived in Chicago on December 17th. Not only was it Christmas we had a wedding to plan! We set a date, for after the SuperBowl since the Bears where in it that season (2007). Paul did a lot of the work before I even got there, finding a place, and organizing things. I just gave the okay and did the details when I got there. It was going to be a very small, intimate wedding, with family and close friends who could make the trip. We ended up with about 30 guests, and we got married at the Chicago Firehouse Restaurant on the southside of Chicago. It was the best party I have ever been too or thrown for that matter!

The night before we had a little party for the families to meet and get to know one another. We met everyone at a hotel lobby. My Aunt and Uncle arrived from Halifax, my brother, my cousins Jen and her husband John drove in from Toronto. Brigid arrived from Ottawa to stand with me. Marianne flew in just days before from Calgary to keep me grounded. I was feeling good. Then out of the wings my Aunt Barb surprised me. She doesn't fly. She had just decided that week she was going to bite the bullet and hopped a plane to be there for us. I did the ugly cry. Paul and I both were in shock. I was ready before but after seeing her I was REALLY ready to marry Paul now.

February 17, 2007. 

Finishing touches.

The deed it done! Let's PAAARRRRTY!!!!

The Canadians took over the dance floor.

A little Joel Plaskett to set the mood.

Marianne and Brigid

So here we are still having fun. We have been through a lot, but have also had a lot of laughs along the way. I look forward to many more years with my Paulie. It has been a non-stop adventure from the moment we met. Thanks for walking down memory lane with us. Happy Valentine's Day.