Ahhh, where do I start with my exploitations of my dear, sweet James? Probably my favorite hunky hubby story was early in our courtship. We met ONLINE (a rather crazy story for another time) and were married within six months after we met. My family was subsequently wary of him and my brother Patrick even referred to Jamie as “The Axe Murderer.” For this reason, it was very important for him to make a good impression when I bought him home to meet The Family for Christmas. It didn’t happen.
After his first full day in Calgary, he retired to his assigned room in the basement. My brother Jeek and his busting-at-the-seams pregnant wife, Shannon, were in the room next to him. Something you should know about Jamie is that when he does dream, it is very vivid. As in he thinks it’s actually happening.
So Jamie was in dreamland when he was awoken by a mouse (or so he thought) crawling up his leg. He shot outta bed, flew out of his room, only to find Jeek and Shannon having a late-night discussion on the couch. Panting heavily, Jamie announced to them, “Don’t worry: I’m Jamie!” (for fear they had forgotten who he was?) And he then proceeded to babble about how he had allegedly been attacked by this mouse. During his commentary, he went over to pet Lucky (the dog we couldn’t stand) and even gave Shannon a back-rub (not exactly whom you’d call the “cuddly type,” especially at nine-months pregnant).
Jamie then started to slowly wake up and made his way upstairs to get a glass of water. The full ramifications of what he had done started to set in. Embarrassed, he curled his 6’1 frame up onto a little couch upstairs and tried to go back to sleep, vowing to not go downstairs and face those people again.
Sympathetic and amused Jeek eventually followed him up, “Hey Dude, are you all right?” He really wasn’t.
When I went down the next morning to wake Jamie up, I could tell something was wrong. It was all confirmed in just one statement: “I think I gave Shannon a back-rub last night.” How’s THAT for a lasting first impression?…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HONEY!!!
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 