For those of you wondering about the Boy who has been making me smile lately, here's the scoop:

We first connected in 2008 via eHarmony (yeah, yeah, I know). I was just one of those casual free members, when I got notification that he wanted to get to know me. So I ponied up the dough for a month to talk to him.

We had a lot in common and appreciated the characteristics that each other had, but nothing really ever came of it and it just sort of dissipated. Later that year, I sent him an email because I had gone to a concert that I knew he'd be jealous of. New Kids on the Block. And yes, I'm positive that he's straight.

I didn't get a response for about a month. In the mean time, another guy came into the picture (the AZ guy I've mentioned before). So I get the response in December. Turns out the Boy got shipped out on his second deployment (he's an ARMY Sergeant), so he was in Kuwait.

Now we've got a friendship. We were writing email novels to each other every day. I was sending care packages full of necessities and things to make him smile. You know: Magic 8 Ball, Etch-a-Sketch, Big League Chew, bubbles, random DVDs, burned CDs, the whole nine. We planned road trips to amusement parks and to visit my family in Nebraska, a list of things he'd teach me (snowboard, dirtbike, etc.). He was the one I confided in when I was being sexually harrassed at work. He was the one who got to hear about my day. He looked forward to hearing from me and vice versa. He even sent me a musical camel (yes, a musical stuffed camel) from Kuwait. I let him name her. It's completely inappropriate, but it's perfect for her. She stays in my car and keeps me company on my solo trips :)

Granted, at this point, we still hadn't met in person, LoL. When his tour was over 9 months later, it still took us 3 months to finally meet. He dragged me to see the second Twilight movie. Haha. He paid (woot woot) and we were the annoying people in the theatre making fun of the whole thing. 'Ooh, he sparkles!'

We would randomly meet up at Chipotle when we were both back home (his office was 2 hours from home, so he was only back on sporadic weekends). He got so mad when I paid for us the first time, and ever since, he lets me order first and then he jumps ahead of me in line to pay, haha. I was crazy about him, but he was just wanting a friendship. Which sucked, but at the same time was fine because I was dealing with AZ guy at the time (a situation it took me years to let go of). I think that the Boy was kind of waiting in the background.

When I would comment about moving to AZ, he would say, "boooooo". He didn't want me to leave. But he never specifically told me that he wanted me to stay. I think that if he had just said, "Stay," I would have.

So it had become a long distance friendship once again. We never did anything on the list we made. I still have a buttload of 'mad cool extra credit bonus points' for all the packages I shipped overseas that I get to cash in. I just haven't figured out how I want to spend them. It has to be something good! LoL.

Last March, he was deployed for the third time. To the front lines in Iraq as a medic. Not as cush a job as he had in Kuwait. This time I was worried. Thank God for online updates! More packages sent. He came home at the end of November, just after Thanksgiving. I can't tell you how relieved I was!

When I flew home for Christmas, I was trying to figure out flight times and rental cars and all that fun stuff. He offered to pick me up and drop me off. Excited girl :) We had time to talk and laugh and just hang out for both of those 30 minute drives.

Since my weight loss journey began this year, I have become more confident in so many ways. From my appearance to my thought process. Now, I have always had a raunchy personality, but it seems to be more prevalent right now for some reason.

I was supposed to meet up with the Boy in San Francisco during my last trip home, but he had to cancel because of work. Grrr, but I couldn't be mad. So I was bothering him via text, haha. During the car ride back to AZ, we were texting for hours. We came to an arrangement for when I'm home (read into this what you will).

I do think he's interested in me now. What's nice is that I know it isn't just because I come in a smaller size. He liked me in the very beginning. There was something about me back then that he was attracted to. So yeah, I may be 'hot' now or whatever, but I think the biggest part is that I'm more confident and not afraid to kind of go after what I want. I think he's attracted to that.

We had a conversation in his truck about the AZ guy. He told me, "You NEVER move for a boy!" Yeah, lesson learned. But now he keeps asking when I'm coming home. It's cute. Granted, he's not the reason I want to move home, but he's one hell of an incentive :)

I used to always be the one initiating conversations, but for the past week, he's been the one to start my mornings off right. It's a nice change to be the desired one. It's about time, LoL. The other day, when I was feeling blue, I texted him, saying that I could really use a hug. He made a sweet comment about hitting the road and he'd see me in 18 hours. Then he asked what was wrong. And he actually wanted a legitimate answer. That's new. And he's always reassuring me that I'll be home soon, even when I don't believe it will happen.

This may turn into something when I finally move back to California. Then again, it may not. I'm just going to roll with it. Not predicting anything. Not hoping for anything. Just letting what happens happen. And enjoying the smiles, giggles and blushing along the way...

And that's the Story of a Boy.