Amy

Self-portrait after getting her did one day...

If I am going to somewhat jump start this blog into a different and more family-oriented direction, I feel it is important to create a few entries discussing the individual members of The Thompson Brood. What better person to begin with than my lovely wife, Amy.

I met Amy at a time in my life when I wasn't really looking to meet anyone. At least I thought that to be the case up to that point. Just goes to show that the universe has it's own game plan and you really don't have much of a say in what direction things go. How we met is an old story that most probably already know, but then again maybe not, so I will detail it again for the purposes of this current entry. Back in May of 2000, I was working for a well-known semiconductor company in Silicon Valley. Times were pretty good, overall. I had really felt I was hitting my stride at rebuilding my life after a very nasty split from my second wife (yes, I said second wife...get over it...). Knowing I was a fan, my boss at the time invited me to go with him and his wife to see the San Francisco Giants battle the New York Mets (he is the Mets fan, being originally from NY) at the newly opened Pac Bell park in S.F. We were going to wrap up work and leave directly to drive to San Mateo and pick up his wife before heading to the park. Once in his car, and already en route, he happens to say, "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that a girl from Denise's (his wife) work is going to join us. Her name is Amy and I - we - really think you two will like each other..."

Excuse me?

I had fallen into the trap of the surprise blind date. This is perhaps one of the most dangerous traps a single male can encounter. It is fraught with pitfalls and potentially death-dealing missteps. By all accounts, I think most men would agree with me that this is one event that is best avoided. Simply too many things that can go wrong. I braced myself for a rather uncomfortable evening and resolved to drink a lot of beer and focus on the game. To make matters worse, my boss called his wife (or vice versa, some details escape me now in my old age...) and they put us on the phone with each other. Some stress was relieved when I heard her voice, a direct tone softened with a cute sexiness that gave my lizard brain pause. Maybe this won't end up too badly after all? We joked and compared stories of how we had been set up this particular early summer evening and then said good-bye for the moment as my boss and I were almost at their work location.

Denise walked toward the car followed by this very attractive redhead in jeans and a casual top. Lizard brain started tapping me on the shoulder: Dude...she's REALLY cute! After exchanging greetings, we were shoved into the backseat and and resumed our journey, this time with Denise acting as matchmaker by grilling us both on our respective pasts, currents, and futures. Driving to S.F. from San Mateo really doesn't take all that long, but the dual interrogation made it last for what seemed like hours.

Finally arriving at the ballpark, Amy and I shared a quick joke that given our very thorough interviews handled by Denise, we were technically on our third date.

I think she tried to take food off my plate...or something...

The seats were in two different sections, if I recall correctly, and we all had to take turns because one of the sections was much better (right behind the plate, more or less) than the other. As a way of testing her, I asked Amy if was interested in grabbing something to eat or drink. While I do not remember her exact words, I do believe the word "beer" was included, which was all I needed to hear...

We ended up walking around the park for a bit, getting hot dogs and beer, culminating at one point in me bravely giving her a piggyback ride up the stairs from the lower levels. We talked and joked and, I think, enjoyed each other's company very much. She may not remember me telling her this, but I was completely drawn in by her smile and laugh.

After the game, we sort of made a concentrated effort to walk a bit behind my boss and his wife (who also, by the way, happened to be Amy's boss...) in order to chat more privately. Or maybe we moved ahead of them. Details getting lost again, sorry. At any rate, there came a moment when I threw all my cards on the table and gently pulled her into a space between two cars in the parking lot and kissed her. Imagine my relief when she didn't haul off and punch me in the head, but instead kissed me back. We stood there for a moment as people walked by until we felt a presence. We looked around and saw a cute older Asian couple waiting very patiently for us to finish...because we were blocking the way to their car. We smiled and laughed a bit, apologizing, and moved on to find our ride home.

The evening had started out very questionable but ended on perhaps the most perfect note it could. We made plans to get together for dinner later in the week and things just sort of went from there. I tried to deny it for a time, not wanting to set myself up for failure, but I had to finally admit that I knew right then, that first date, that I wanted to marry her...

Our wedding, on the beach, Maui 2005.
She had shoes, but went barefoot...

And here we are, ten years, three children, two dogs, and a house later. Amy is an incredible person, if only because she has to deal with me and my - I am sure - "challenging" eccentricities. She is not only an amazing mother to our younger ones, but has handled being thrust into the role of step-mother to my daughter, Sloan, with grace, patience (as much as she can muster with a teenager...), and understanding. She is beautiful, not just on the outside, but glowingly so from the inside out. She is my best friend and first and most staunch supporter who is perhaps the only person capable of calming the Beast (me) with a simple look. She is the best part of me.

She has her own blog, too, titled One to Three... (although I think hers is "restricted and you need to be given approval...but its worth a shot to check out...), but I am giving her access to post to this one as well. But check hers out, too...

Love ya, babe!