Is one year too early to start a countdown? Probably, but I live on the edge so let the countdown begin!
Aside from the fact that we’ll be getting married one year from today, today is also our 5 YEAR anniversary. In honour of this milestone, I thought I would share with you the story of how Seb and I met.
As cliché as it is to say, it does seem like just yesterday. In case you didn't know (don't let my ghetto N.E ways fool you) I’ve always been a hopeless romantic. I read my first Harlequin novel at the tender age of 9, and I've pretty much seen and read every rom-com movie and book ever made, but even so, before I met Sebastien I never believed in love at first.
The first time I saw him, he walked out of the Calgary room (the YPGers know what I’m talking about) and I thought to myself, whoa — who’s that?! That day is so clear; I even remember my outfit that day: black capri pants, a yellow polo and a black sweater vest (I mainly remember because my second thought was: dammit, why am I wearing this, I look like a bee!). I remember Kent telling me to come meet Sebastien, who was going to redefine the way we looked at metrics and blah blah blah. I stopped listening because the whole time I was actually thinking how incredibly handsome and age ambiguous he was (and still is).
After having Carolyn, (who was my "summer student" at the time), covertly eavesdrop on a conversation between Kent and someone else on the phone (Chuck, maybe?), I was in a state of extreme happiness to discover that he would soon be moving to Calgary. And just like that, a plan devised in my head.
After having Carolyn, (who was my "summer student" at the time), covertly eavesdrop on a conversation between Kent and someone else on the phone (Chuck, maybe?), I was in a state of extreme happiness to discover that he would soon be moving to Calgary. And just like that, a plan devised in my head.
I have no shame in telling you just like I’ll tell my children one day, from that moment on, I actively but secretly pursued him.
The same day of my premiere Sebastien experience, I came home, changed out of my bee outfit and made dinner for Rachelle and Carolyn. I sat on my couch (a sweet leather loveseat that I got at the Brick beside YPG. My first big expensive purchase that Seb made me bitterly sell immediately after moving in together) with a big glass of wine in my hand and I remember telling them with great conviction, “I met a guy from work. He’s moving to Calgary. I’m pretty sure I’m going to marry him. Mark my words, before Halloween (it was August), he will be mine!” **Side note: this is the PG-13 version. I think I actually said something a little bit more… raunchy.** BTW, notice that our anniversary is Oct 4, which of course is before Halloween... yes I used to have mad skills.
The girls and I went off to Honolulu shortly after that drunken vow and when I came back sufficiently tanned and rested, I was ready to launch my silent campaign on Sebastien’s heart and not going to lie—I was shameless.
I added him on Linkedin first, then after a small period of deliberate nonchalance, on Facebook. On Facebook, I intently perused his interests and hobbies and made mental notes to discuss them with him later on. I invited him to parties, 5@7s, dinners and even managed to convince him to join the Bocce Ball team (of which I was captain) for the Calgary Corporate Challenge. By this time, to my enormous glee, our texts and encounters had gotten slightly beyond co-worker appropriate.
The final coup d’etat was probably when we started our own private book club after Seb mentioned to me in passing that he had NEVER read a book. As much as I love him, I really was/am appalled and we (I) decided that in order to rectify this, we would read a book together. I’ll always have a soft spot for Philip Pullman’s “The Golden Compass” because it was really the book that brought Seb and I together. We only ever had that one book club meeting. That night, even though I totally ruined dinner (one of my worst showings to date) and even though he had only read two pages, was absolutely perfect.
As quickly as the five years have flown by, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. We’ve cried and fought more times than I’d like to admit and I'm sure we have hurt each other’s feelings on several different and unnecessary occasions. We've put up with a lot from each other and throughout it all, I genuinely believe that we’ve loved, listened and supported each other each more days than not.
Looking back at the last five years, I'm proudest of what we've accomplished together. With each other, we've purchased three properties, the best puppy ever, moved five times — one of those across the country — learned two languages, explored numerous cities and shared more meals cooked with love with our friends and family than we could possibly count.
I am not sure at all what the next five years will bring, but what I am absolutely certain of is that it’s going to be awesome because it will be as Mrs. Filion.
Happy 5 year anniversary, Sweets! Here's to another BEAUTIFUL 5 YEARS!
Yours,
Levan aka Ponyo.
These two pics are from one of our first official dates, which was at Bern and Denesh's wedding in Canmore. It was the first of many times that I got black-out drunk with Seb. The day following the wedding I called him and asked: "are we exclusive?" The rest is history.
