Thank You Russ Solomon...

People often ask how Jeff and I met, so I thought I would take a moment and write about how it all started...

We both owe it all to a jolly old man that looks like Santa Claus - Russ Solomon

You see, we both worked for Tower Records once upon a time - Jeff started shortly after I had left to move to Austin, Texas.  It was by chance that I would return to the D.C. area 5 years later and be asked to return to my old job in the Regional Office for the Mid-Atlantic offices of Tower Records.  They say timing is everything, and I think our story proves that.  Jeff was a manager at one of the stores in Philly and we would talk on the phone quite a bit for work.  He was always so sweet and easy to talk to and as I have said before - funny!  I love how much he makes me laugh...  But, back to how we finally met...

So, Tower Records had once again failed to keep up with the times, and this time, it was for good.  They had to file for Bankruptcy, and finally after many years making millions of music fans happy, they shut their doors.  It turned out to be the best thing for Jeff and me...  I had left about a year before they closed to once again get myself focused on finishing school, and one day I just happened to get a sweet email from a former coworker....Mr. Jeffrey Faile.

I remember sitting in my living room typing emails back and forth with him and just getting to know one another more.  He was devastated at first that the career he had been in for so long was suddenly gone - but soon he would discover how many doors it would actually open.  One cold Philly night 4 years ago this past November 3rd I would go up to attend a goodbye Tower party - and Jeff and I would meet face to face for the very first time.  We would end up together from that day forward!

I walked into the bar where the party was, and Jeff was working the room and mingling.  I remember feeling the most intense butterflies in my stomach and just lighting up when I heard his laugh.  I can still find myself standing in that room when I close my eyes and hear him chuckle.  

We found ourselves talking and I just couldn't believe that he was real.  So genuine and kind, and very handsome.  I kept trying to see what could possibly be wrong with him....  Guys like this just didn't exist in my mind.  And then the ex-girlfriend (I didn't know that at the time) wrapped her arms around his shoulder and smirked my way.  Ah!  There it was - something bad.  I finished our conversation and found myself back in with my friends that I had arrived at the party with - I wasn't going to let my evening be ruined.  But man, was I bummed.  I even went to the bathroom and texted my best friend in California for advice.  She said the right thing - "just shine it on and have fun, that's what you are there for right?"  And so fun I did have, perhaps a bit too much fun and to protect the innocent, we will just leave it at that.

At the end of the party, my phone buzzed in my pocket, and imagine my surprise, it was Jeff!  His ex had been invited by another friend and he wanted to see me after the party.  I was thrilled!  We all met up at another bar and sadly the last thing I remember was a shot of Maker's Mark and this picture....

Six months later, I asked him to move to D.C. and to take a giant leap of faith and see how much better his life would be.  And now here we are 4 years later, happily married and building our dream life together.  I still can hardly believe my luck sometimes, and I still whisper a little thank you to Russ every year for bringing me such an amazing man.

Thanks Russ!

The Wedding...

The big day finally arrived! Sunday November 7th will be a day that plays in my memory for many years to come.

I spent the night before at home with my two best girlfriends, my Maid of Honor, Guenevere and Matron of Honor, Allison. We sadly could not get ourselves to bed early (which I was worried would happen) and I spent the night tossing and turning. I woke up about every 45 minutes until I finally got up around 6:45. I went ahead and got coffee made and breakfast set up for everyone and just smiled about what a day we had in front of us. We packed up the car and headed off to my Uncle's house to take over and get ready. A short text to Jeff to say good morning and to tell him I loved him and we were off!
Jeff had stayed at our hotel - the amazing Hotel Palomar in Dupont Circle so that we would be
traditional and sleep apart the night before our wedding - it would be only the 2nd time in 3 1/2 years that we would sleep apart!

We spent a couple of hours at my Uncle's house getting ready, I layed down for a bit just to catch my breath and to just absorb the intensity of the day while the girls got ready first. Then I had my makeup done and finally my hair. Before we knew it, it was 12:50 and we needed to head out. Running 20 minutes late was actually pretty good, especially since Guen, Allison and I are all already really bad about being prompt! Our car awaited us outside as we headed out into the crisp Fall afternoon. We placed "the body" aka my wedding dress in the trunk and off we went. Jeff texted me that he had arrived at Woodend already and I alerted him to the fact that we were almost there and to be away from the house. It was really nice to build the anticipation of seeing each other even more throughout the day. I saw my sweetheart pacing near the woods and asked our Best Woman - Penny to come meet me so I could give her a love note for Jeff. Sadly, he was so nervous he didn't want to read it until later. I headed upstairs once inside the mansion and it was intense. My whole family was standing there as I raced past everyone to go get ready. The girls brought everything inside and we got my dress all ready to put on. We waited a minute while I calmed myself and the photographer got some pictures of just the dress. Moments later I was in my dress and all of the emotions were just so overwhelming. I was laughing and crying and for a moment hyper-venilating. I could not believe that the wedding day had finally come, but mostly that I was so lucky to be marrying the man of my dreams. Jeff truly is amazing and so loving and kind and funny - man is he funny. I am so lucky that I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend.

At 2:20, it was finally time! We all wiped our tears, the photographer included and had a big hug and headed downstairs... I could hear the music starting, Jeff walked into Johnny Cash's Walk The Line




and I walked into Louis Armstrong's version of La Vie En Rose

it was really amazing walking down to meet Jeff in the grove. I could see him watching for me and as I got to the start of the path we gave each other a little smile and a wave. I walked with my papa down to the grove and felt so amazing and beautiful and so happy to see our friends and family there to witness such a special moment in our lives. Of course as I was halfway down the aisle, the song ended! I just made a joke of it and said of course I am always a few minutes behind... everyone laughed and certainly got a kick out of it! The ceremony was short and sweet, my Uncle John officiated and Allison and my brother Steven read a few readings throughout. Jeff and I just held hands the entire time and smiled, and laughed and cried. It was just the perfect start to our days as husband and wife.