Have I Mentioned How Much I Love My Wife?
by Steve West on December 22, 2008
I got a surprise visit from Amy Austin today. She was passing through Maryland on her way to Florida and took the time to call me from the road. I was thrilled that she thought of me being in the area and invited her to visit for what could only be a brief visit. She had a long trip still to go today and sadly, I was scheduled to work. Add to that that she was arriving shortly before the Redskins were scheduled to play a home game and the traffic was sure to be horrendous in the direction she was going. Despite all that she arrived, true to her word, and it was just the best hour and a half that I could have imagined. We met at the door to my house and immediately embraced in the warmest hug made that much warmer for me because she hugged me back. You know how you hug some people and they tolerate it, but that's all? There's no return of affection. Not with Amy. It felt really good.
Now, don't mistake the title of this post for something it's not. I don't feel any need to reassure my wife of my feelings for her because I enjoyed Amy's visit and her hugs. It's really about bits and pieces of conversation we had that made me realize how much time I spend with this site; how much I talk about the other site participants; how I invite them to our home and actually fly, at no small expense, to partake of a get-together of site members of whom I've become fond. Brenda doesn't resist this at all. She doesn't begrudge the time I spend either on the site or talking about the site - either the games themselves or the people participating. She allows me this indulgence with no ill will. I have to say, though, that when I called Brenda (she was returning from church) and told her Amy was coming over, she practically screamed at me, "Can you at least pick some crap up!" I told her, "Hey, it is what it is. Amy won't mind."
At GooCon, I was way off on my pre-impressions of people I met there. I think I mentioned that already. Not so with Amy. She was pretty darn close to what I had imagined (it's all good). And I even got to briefly meet the dogs, Angel and Devil. Little sweethearts. Thank you Amy for making this visit happen. And thanks to my wife who has nothing but patience and understanding for my feelings regarding this site. Meeting Amy only reinforced in her mind an understanding of the really cool people who come here.
Thirteen Replies to Have I Mentioned How Much I Love My Wife?
Steve West | December 22, 2008
I hope Amy posts about her trip so far. It's hilarious in retrospect. Good luck with the last leg!
Aaron Shurtleff | December 22, 2008
That's awesome! I've probably been oblivious (as usual), but I wasn't aware she had already left. Good luck with the trip, indeed!
Steve, you're awesome, too! If I got a random last second call from someone who was in the area, I don't know that I would have been so willing to make time to meet with and invite them into my house, much less for (and I mean no offense to Amy in particular, or anyone else in general with this statement) someone I had only spoken to on the interwebs, and had never met before! I hope, if the occasion presents itself in the future, I can act as friendly and classily. (Although my wife's reaction to the household state of affairs probably would have been similar!)
But then, I'm one of those much maligned emotionless hug tolerators, so... ;)
Lori Lancaster | December 22, 2008
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Aaron Shurtleff | December 22, 2008
heh. Reminds me of the time at MetroCon some little Naruto-girl mistook me for someone else from behind (I have no idea how), and tackle hugged me! :) I think they call it a glomping?
No good! :P
Jackie Mason | December 23, 2008
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Scott Hardie | December 23, 2008
Steve, can you set up a hugging booth at the next GooCon?
I'm not fond of hugging strangers or acquaintances, but you folks mean more to me. I was surprised when Steve hugged me right off the plane, since my previous goo.tc encounters had merely started with a handshake, but it was appreciated and it was the right way to start things off.
Amy Austin | December 31, 2008
Heheheh... I should have known my cover would be blown! ;-)
I am still using all of my energy just to recuperate right now and had not intended to share much in the way of details, but now that it's out there...
Aaron Shurtleff | December 31, 2008
Wow. Yeah, NJ roads are stupid crazy to get around on. I have no idea how any of those people find their way around. Glad to hear you are back in the homeland, and hope you're feeling 100% soon!!
Aaron Shurtleff | December 31, 2008
Aw! Now my reply to the long long message looks stupid! :(
Amy Austin | December 31, 2008
Heheh... no, it's okay ;-D -- but yeah... it's a wonder you don't hear about more highway violence in NJ!
Aaron Shurtleff | December 31, 2008
It's because no one can find a way to get to the police station to report the highway violence, I am sure! ;)
Amy Austin | December 31, 2008
Ha! No doubt.
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Scott Hardie | December 22, 2008
Wish I could have been there! (Next time I'm in Maryland, I will be.) I look forward to all of us being together at the next GooCon.