Husband, best friend, partner, team player. I could call him so many things- but mostly I call him Lulu (which I stole from his sister).
The story of how our marriage happened is a winding journey that some could argue started in junior high, others would say it started in a church right after high school. In so many ways I could never describe exactly how the universe seemed the unfold in the only way that would bring us together, but let’s try.
In short, it seemed that two broken engagements and one miracle child were absolutely necessary for us to even begin dating. So much of the story beforehand isn’t totally mine to tell, it includes a person who we still consider our family and someone who has gone on to have their own life. It will never be my prerogative to tell those stories; stories that are chapters of lives that are not only mine. I can only allude to the fact that without the people we left behind us, we would have never had the chance to fall in love.
The scene is set: both of us dragged to church when we really didn’t want to go that night. Our individual lives are in a place where we both have no idea where it is about to go. Lucas had just discussed with friends that he was ready to really date after his break up with Leon’s other mom. I was on the cusp of leaving everything I thought was “forever” behind. Then, he says hi.
There is so much more I could say, but I’ll take this moment to go ahead and reference our wedding vows. The Friday that followed this unlikely meeting, we had a “date”. Which it was never supposed to be, but as both of us said in our vows, we left our coffee and iHop “date” knowing that we were going to be together, forever. There were more dates- even a conversation where he wanted to become official and I said it was too soon. Which is laughable to me now, because it wasn’t like I had any intentions of dating around.
There was a year of constant change. Lucas became a full time parent while Leon’s mom took care of herself, which of course changed the trajectory of my life and blurred the lines of “step” parenting and what that meant when I was being the full time mother-figure. There was a pregnancy, a cancelled wedding, a stillborn son, another cancelled wedding, and so many new places for our hearts to sink in together. This isn’t supposed to be my life story, though.
In short- Lulu is the guy everyone likes. He always has your back, even if it’s a pain for him. Everyone who has met him thinks he’s their best friend. His hobbies are an ocean of bizarre niches He’s known true pain, and true hope. He’s held more than myself in times of complete brokenness. The only thing he’s ever wanted to really be is a Dad, and if there was one way to describe him it would be “the dad I always needed”. If you ever get a chance, 10/10 recommend knowing him.
