Dear Logan,
By the time you’re old enough to even consider reading this, the TV show How I Met Your Mother will have gone the way of dinos and VHS tapes. Do we even watch TV anymore or do we just have these holograms programmed into our minds like in the book Feed by M.T. Anderson? (Don’t you dare ask what a book is!)
Honestly I only ever watched the first few episodes of HIMYM, but the series ended the other night which was apparently a pretty big deal so it made me think now would be an opportune time to write about how I met your father.
As I tell my pen pals when I talk about your dad, I first met Gabe when I was around 12-years-old thanks to youth group. The same family who was responsible for me getting (my) Snickers 16 years ago was the same family who let me tag along with them on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings to the church where I not only met your dad (and grandparents and Tio Kyle) but my friend Anna who was the maid-of-honor in our wedding.
Your dad took a liking to me right away. To be honest, I liked another boy from youth group but considering he was encouraging me to date your dad I could tell he wasn’t interested. It’s a good thing he wasn’t though, because your dad wound up being the best boyfriend I ever had. The only reason I broke up with him all those years ago was that I felt too young to be too serious. Like I said before, I was barely a teenager so whenever he gave me a rose or some other object of his affection I felt so embarrassed. I had a lot of growing up to do and in the next 10 or so years I did just that, learning from every failed relationship as well as the wonderful book He’s Just Not That Into You.
It was in 2009 when your dad came back into my life. It was right after an especially bad break up with a boy named Brett so between getting over that guy and already knowing Gabe from before, it took me a little bit to see Gabe as a potential suitor. A great friend, sure, but I didn’t know if us dating again was what I really wanted. He hung in there, though! He hung out with me at every opportunity, texted me when he couldn’t, and not only watched things like Glee with me, but took me all the way to Detroit to see The Phantom of the Opera (I bought the tickets for that Brett guy I mentioned earlier, but your dad made sure they didn’t go to waste). Just like when I was a kid, this guy made me a priority and it wasn’t until I was in Florida visiting your Uncle Doug and Uncle Erik that it dawned on me that your dad was my biggest priority, too. The whole time I was celebrating Christmas with my half brothers I wished he was there. The highlight of my trip was talking to Gabe, either by text or by phone call, about the events of each day at the end of ’em. I might have called Gabe my boyfriend before leaving for Florida, but it was upon my return that I felt he was that and so much more.
It was just a few days before my 23rd birthday when your dad proposed. I saw it coming a mile away, mainly because he was trying to gauge the type of jewelry I was into. Technically the engagement ring was my birthday present, but after a day of just lounging around, being us, he couldn’t resist giving it to me early after saying “Today has been perfect; I want every day to be like this.”
Originally we were planning to get married in August of 2011, but because of you, my dear boy, our plans changed. When we found out I was pregnant we decided to move our wedding up to July 30th, 2010 because A) I wouldn’t be showing yet, B) the two brothers from Florida were already going to be in Michigan, and C) it just seemed easiest to go through the wedding before having you than afterwards, not to mention I’d have the same last name as you once you were born.
Our wedding was great. It was a nice little event, nothing extravagant but special enough that your dad and I remember it fondly. Sure there were some hitches like Anna leaving her dress in her vehicle when she was carpooling with us and my dress not wanting to fit quite right because someone *cough* you *cough* decided my boobs weren’t quite big enough yet, but those moments just make us laugh now. Thank God. Oh, let me tell you this about your dad, one of our wedding guests was having trouble getting her van started after the reception so, after he changed out of his tux, of course, he crawled under it to get it going again. You couldn’t have picked a better father, Mr. Logan. This guy will do anything and everything he can for you.
I wish I could say we all lived happily ever after, but considering you’re living this life with us I know you know that’s not true. Sure, we are happy, but there’s more to life than just feeling that one emotion. I want you to feel sad sometimes because it will make the times that you’re happy so much more meaningful. I want you to experience heartbreak because you’ll learn from it, just like both your dad and I have. Don’t get me wrong, Logan, there is nothing in this world I want more than your happiness, but sadly sometimes you’re going to get upset or irritated or just plain pissed off, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Your dad and I have seen each other through every kind of emotion there is (though thankfully some of the uglier ones don’t happen too often). I hope you see that just because we’re far from perfect, doesn’t mean I don’t think your dad’s perfect for me and vice versa. Did I make you gag yet?
You’re a very loved boy, Mr. Logan. You and your dad mean everything to me so I’m glad that I not only met him once, but that I got to meet him again.
Sincerely, Kate Love, Mom ~!~
Sincerely Kate 