After the introductions...

The next few weeks were a mix of uncommunications

After trying to find a anyway to contact her, First was easiest the telephone # off of which then I had an address which I googled and then found out that she was on the other side of Santee as to my Family. (Apple Betty and Apple George) Scary what you can get on the internet with just a name aint it. No I wasn’t stalking her! There was the weekly meeting at church a few embarrasing times.
Our first picture of us.

Then I found out she was a Myspace addict. So on the 2nd of January I decided to set up a Myspace account with the influence of his brother and a few others prompting me. Wow look at that I immediately found (her) with little effort well then we became "friends" Typing for hours and hours a day to this girl I was so intrigued about. Well because I wasnt the most adapt Myspace fiend yet i didnt check my account on a hourly basis. She had invited me to a party (which she was telling her friends all about me) It would have been fun but she didnt know I didnt drink I guess it was a good thing I didnt go right? Well it would have been fun but it wasn't ment to be. First opportunity arrived on the 13th of January to get some time with her.

Big Bear weekend retreat
This retreat started out skeptical as to I wasn’t sure if I was even able to go to it. I had to get permission from the Command in order to go because every body was leaving on the Friday and I wasn’t sure if I could get there in time for the vans to leave with me. I was going to drive up there if I had to. Janelle was the cook and well I wanted to know if she could. “She is an Awesome Cook” Well I'm speeding to get out to the Church on time to leave and well I wasn’t the last one there. So it made me feel a little bit happier I got out of the car with both my glasses on, my ski goggs and my sunglass which I lost that trip.
But everyone greeted me I did a few introductions with people I didn’t know and away we went.
While we were up there was a lot of horseplay, what do you expect when you get a group of college kids together. Anyway the first couple days went by and I think everybody thought Janelle and I were already dating at least that’s how it seemed, but I didn’t mind I really wanted to be. After the day of skiing I managed to get dodge number one out of the way. We were standing at the bottom of the slope waiting for the van to come pick us up. She was cold and I opened my Jacket and wrapped my arms around her. Her question “What are we doing” My reply “Standing here waiting for the van”  Later that night we were able to get alone and the question came up again. I wanted her to know everything that was going on in my head from me leaving the Corps in about 6 months going back to Wisconsin to the leave I was taking in a couple weeks to go back home for a month. (The Longest Month Of My Life) I had fun but I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Well I reached down deep and said “I'm willing to make it work if you are.” She said she would to. So Began The Courtship. I still didn’t kiss her though wasn’t sure she was actually in the game. It took till later that night because prior occurred at 4 in the morning. We went over to her house which everyone there and then everyone started asking questions. Or Dad just said so I take it you to be dating now? The only person I ran into conflict with was Ashley, Janelle’s younger sister. She is very protective for which I'm very thankful for. Because it’s a way she shows she actually cares about her sister. So with all the family agreeing to let me date her I was on cloud 9.
The first time apart was Feb when I went home on leave. Before hand I had asked Janelle If she wanted to come but I caught her off guard and she quickly changed subjects. But later on she came back and said I’ll go if you want me to well at that point I was set on going home by myself so it caught me off guard and I didn’t ever give her a reply. We said our goodbyes and away I went. I had some really good times in Wisconsin from Polka dancing to Snowmobiling it was such a blast. I had wished I would have brought her with me because some of the Trails were so beautiful.
I got back from Wisconsin and a week later I found out I was selected for the Marine Corps Rifle Team