Where it all started.

During my first tour of Iraq, Brandon, Naomi’s brother showed Naomi my webpage and we became pen pals. We spent months writing each other and found that we had much in common. I looked forward to reading her weekly emails. Soon we were talking quite frequently. A few months later in Oct of 2006 I came back to the states. Even though there was an over indulgence of partying going on we maintained contact. Naomi put up with my highly intoxicated phone calls for some time. Finally in Nov during a four day holiday things started to come together. Naomi was in Boston, Ma for a Middle Eastern studies conference and I like Boston. We decided to finally meet in person. First things first, I had to ask her brother Brandon to sign my paper work to be allowed to travel. For those of you who haven’t met him, he is a big man. I mean who in the right mind asks a 6’3 250 pound man if he can go away to Boston with his little sister. Well I never said I was the picture of mental stability so I asked and I was granted permission. Landing in Boston I was so nervous I had to stop at the rest room to wipe the sweat from my face. The taxi ride over to the hotel where Naomi’s conference wasn’t any better I was sweating like a fat boy in a long buffet line. So I had to stop again to freshen up.
When Naomi met me I was in awe she was beautiful, and the words she said to me had me instantly. She said, “What took you so long?” I was head over heals. We went to a Boston bruin’s hockey game against the buffalo sabers. After wards Naomi asked what we should do next I said how about we go to the bar where everyone knows you name. She said no we cant I am not 21. I was confused because she was a senior in college, and I am not to quick sometimes. Once I got that all figured out we walked the city. After leaving Boston I couldn’t wait to see her again with me living in Tennessee and her living in the communist state of California it would be a while.
Soon after Boston, My Future Mother-in-law came to Tennessee to visit her son. I think it was more to met the man her daughter talked so highly of. I got to see baby pictures of Naomi. I was also asked the tricky question; does my daughter have any tattoos? Mmmm no comment at that moment and this moment.
As luck would have it Naomi was going to visit her other brother during Christmas break. And I would be in New Jersey with my family. After Christmas, Naomi took the train up to Jersey to spend time with me and my family. What a good Christmas present.
During this time frame there were quite a few timeless moments such as Naomi falling down my bedroom stairs. My dad making fun of her while cutting my cars exhaust pipes and slipping and almost cutting his thumb off. Like I said classic moments.
It would be a few months before I would get to see her again. And that moment was Naomi’s graduation from college in May of 2007. I got to spend a couple days in California with her got to see her graduate and met the rest of Naomi’s family. The day after graduation Naomi and I headed east in her Grand Cherokee to start our lives together.
The next months would be a slight foreshadowing of what was to come. The week after we arrived and started to settle in I had to go to a field problem for 2 weeks. I came home for 3 days and I left again for another 2 weeks. Then I came home and had to leave for the army’s version of playing army in Louisiana for 3 more weeks. It all went pretty smoothly except Naomi kicked our roommates out. In hind site it was for the best.
On Jan 8th 2008 we took the next step and married in a small ceremony attended by my parents my grand father and her mother. No more partying for me. Just kidding, as time will tell me liking to party is what in part made Aeva. On Feb 8th as a one month anniversary present I left for Iraq again. I came for mid tour which happens to be for some reason the time frame for army couples to conceive. Naomi and I were no different a few weeks after redeploying I was given the news Anthony you are going to be a father. I was elated I always wanted kids. The reality set in, oh shit I am going to be responsible for a whole other life. Feed it, change it, teach it from right or wrong. Boy oh boy was I scared. As time went on I came to the realization the hey if millions of stupid people can raise kids I am sure Some one as smart as Naomi and I can too.