Did I marry a stranger?

Some days I wonder if the man I married is really the Nick I've known since the fifth grade and dated for nearly seven years. I wonder if when I wasn't looking the Nick I knew was exchanged for this man I now call my husband.

I've discovered the man I lovingly call my husband, the one I said forever to, the one I hope to start a family is not who I thought he was.

How did he hide this so well? It was masked between homemade cards, flowers, thoughtful gifts and all the romanticism in between. He's hilarious, fun loving, determined and outgoing. Sure, he put on a good front running track and playing hockey, but deep down a different side of him was trying to break the surface.

And as soon as I said those two fateful words, "I do" that other side won this impending battle.

For the past six months I've ignored little warning signs until I couldn't ignore it any longer.

The jig was up tonight.

Nick told me he wanted to purchase a gun. Coming from a family of water fowl hunters it didn't bother me. He has the proper licenses, training, etc. No worries on my part.

But then he turned the computer screen toward me and showed me not just any gun, but an assault rifle. The only response I could muster was, "WHOA! What would you need that for?"

For those that don't know this is a gun ready for battle. This is a serious weapon that means business.

This was a prime opportunity to say something to the affect, "To protect my family." Want to know what his response was?

"Well in the event we need to form an urban rebel force and had to fight off zombies, we'd be prepared!"

I was absolutely floored. With one response I discovered I married a closet nerd. An uber-imaginative, kooky, fantasy creating, zombie fearing, gunslinging nerd.

I say this all in good fun and humor. While I'm still learning a little about Nick and the couple we've become I still get a little surprised from time to time. Just when I think we have a routine and things are falling into a rhythm Nick brings me back to our reality.

He's a nerd, but he's my nerd.

© Nichole DeMario, 2010 – 2012. All rights reserved 

Not at a loss for words.

A typical pre-wedding conversation with anyone and everyone that knew I was engaged went something like this, "How are you? How's wedding planning?". I'd respond with some combination of good, fine, great, okay...Although thoughtful it got old and served as a stressful reminder when planning wasn't going smooth.

There were days when I wanted to belt out, "Since you asked, we can't find a pastor who is right for us and our future, our photobooth company just bailed on us, the hairstylist has a graduation now, my jewelry store just fired their engraver and have I mentioned I absolutely hate making decisions."

When you do that you get labeled either 1. crazy 2. a bridezilla or 3. a crazy bridezilla.

Fast forward and now its "How are you? How's married life?". This time around I wanted to put a little more thought into my response. I know for a fact no one wants to hear me gush about how much I love married life, how much I adore my husband...blah blah blah. Now I'm sure some individuals are ecstatic to see us happy, but others I know are asking the question because it seems like the normal, nice thing to ask.

Just being realistic here! You can't fool me.

So I got to thinking. After the first few times of blushing and gushing and saying "Great." I decided to mix things up. When asked now I respond with a quick, "Well he's still alive." Since I'm not a funny person and I don't tell jokes this is all I got people and it works!

Everyone always laughs (except for one woman who I will keep anonymous who responded "Umm...okay" but that's all right because I never liked her anyway).

People know marriage is work. People know their husbands can be a pain in the...well you know the rest. I'm sure some individuals wonder how they ever survived that first year. Although my response wasn't that premeditated (I was really only attempting to be funny, which takes a lot of work on my part) I think it's relatable. Funny how I can read the look on married peoples' faces, "I hear ya!" and "I'm sure my wife says the same thing."

Please don't misinterpret this. I could sit and gloat for hours on end. When it comes to how much I love my husband I'm not at a loss for words. I like my light-hearted response and while it's getting people to laugh with me (and not at me lol) I'm going to run with it!

© Nichole DeMario, 2010 – 2012. All rights reserved