Our First "Dates"

Lunch Date - Carino's. I spent an hour trying to figure out what to wear and he did all the talking. He had lots of nice things to say - he was a Eagle Scout, private pilot, lifeguard, and on his way to becoming an Air Force officer, the perfect boy next door.

Evening - We went out to an outdoor shooting range wear I shot great skeet with a 12 guage. I think we were both equally proud of my shoulder bruise. I had to show this boy I knew how to handle my guns and I have great aim.

Military - My first introduction to the world of AF socializing. I was really nervous because it was a formal dining event and I wore my fabulous prom dress that almost cost as much as my wedding dress and spent hours getting ready. I come down the elevator in my dorm (oh so romantic) where he was waiting for me in his blues. I think he looks pretty darn good and hoping he feels the same way about me. He takes one look at me and says...........

"Ok let's go"

"?!?!?!!?!?!"

That's it? Does my hair look retarded? Is this color bad on me? Oh no! I must look fat!

While my head is spinning with these thoughts we make it to the historic Baker Building downtown Lubbcok and I experience "social hour." Everyone goes around talking about things no one wants to talk about with people they don't want to talk to and everyone checks their watch every five minutes to see when the food gets served. Ok it's really not that bad but after a while you just want to eat. So in the middle of this Brian tells me he's going to introduce me to the commander and he's a really big deal. Rank meant absolutely nothing to me - I was clueless. So we walk up to this jolly looking man and Brian introduces me as his girlfriend (yes! first time!) and Col LeForge replies "Well you look nice this evening." And before I realize the words that are coming out of my mouth..."Well I'm glad someone noticed!" I've never seen Brian turn so red and a commander laugh so hard. Finally we make it to dinner where Brian's group of AF buddies are in charge of the Grog, a lovely mixture of any and every kind of alcohol you must take a swig of if you break AF dining etiquite. They thought it would be a great idea to set it on fire. So they light the match and it barely flames. Then you see all of them bend over around this tub with their heads together and blow at the same time. WOOSH! Flames go flying, eyebrows get scorched, fire jumps from the grog to the table cloth to the floor and they all start stomping around to get the flames out. Absolutely hilarious evening because no damage was done except to a few eyebrows and someone's pride.

The First Night I Met Brian

About a week after Barn Dance I attended the Wesley Foundation, the Methodist college group where we would spend our Thursday nights and then head out with everyone to Wild West to dance. I frequently skipped class on Fridays.

After that first night was over, we were hanging around and meeting all the new faces. And then Tommy introduced me to him. I still remember exactly what he was wearing and how peircing his blue eyes were. Striped polo shirt with bad jeans and boring boots. But blue eyes. It was one of those moments when everything stopped and my vision tunneled in on his face. So when everyone started heading out to the bar who did I want ride with? Bingo. So we head out to the parking lot where just a few cars remained. Being the materialistic girl I was, I quickly evaluated the options. Not too bad really, except for that gold granny car...so in my head I start chanting "not that car, not that car, not that car..." and then he unlocked the granny car. He knew I never liked him for his car.

Once we get to Wild West I tell him I'm not 21 and he ever so kindly waited in the forever long 18 and up line with me. Much to my horror, a guy I barely knew from Calculus finds us in line and is rip-roaring drunk. Trapper spent the next hour coming up to Brian saying "HEY I'M TRAPPER, NICE TO MEET YOU!" and I spent the next hour completely embarrased.

Finally we made it inside and then the heavens opened up - we started dancing. When I say we danced the night away I mean it with every bone in my body. This boy could twirl me around, spin me this way and that, and Lordy mercy he could flip me. To this day that remains one of the best nights of my life.

So when he finally took me home and I was getting out of the car I knew I had to ask.

"Whats your last name?"

I remember thinking Brittany Pillers could be worse, could be better, but it will do. Unfortunately I did not ask him how to spell his last name and spent many fruitless hours looking up Brian Pillars on facebook.

Series

I've decided I should record some of Brian and I's greatest moments together BC time (before children). This is a favorite term of my dad's who tells of great fun when they had a boat, porche, and margherita machine. Yes my parents were cooler than us. So get ready for some pretty hilarious moments, some Brian doesn't want me to tell, some I don't want to tell. Starting from the beginning...


Before the Beginning...


There were the red pants. A fabulous pair of Lucky red denim jeans that had destiny written all over them when I came across them at the Nordstrom's Rack. Who can resist a pair of 98 dollar jeans with a 25 dollar price tag? Not this 16 year old. Yes I bought them in high school and they patiently waited until my first year of college to work their magic. Barndance 2005. Every year one of the Christian frat's holds a country dance at 4 Bar K, a great dance hall with lots of beer signs and dead animals on the wall. Not only would Brian see me there that night and wonder who this mysterious red pants girl was, it was where we held our wedding reception 2 years later.


I had no idea Brian was there that night till months later when he asked if I ever wore those red pants...

Random Preggo Thoughts

Dear Brighton,

Please design, produce, and market a diaper bag in the next 5 months. Price is no concern to a pregnant woman who is craving not food but a fabulous diaper bag. Thank you.

I have decided that until this kid pops out I am going to leave my purse at home as much as possible. Relishing my last days of freedom and being able to grab my car keys and wallet and go.

How much longer can I keep unbuttoning my pants in public without anyone knowing it?

As mean as it is I have little sympathy for Brian when I have a hormone-induced outburst. Did my hormones make him throw up his lunch? No they didn't, you're getting off easy bud...tune me out for the five seconds I yell and pretend it never happened.

Why do I have the sudden urge to make my own baby bedding? I just spent an hour looking up sewing machines, fabric, and patterns. Somebody stop me!

Hey did I ever tell you about that time....oh sorry I forgot what I was talking about.

Names are picked out - Charlotte Grace for a girl and Chase Taylor for a boy. I've decided I want all C names, but don't worry its not hard to do if your planning on maybe 3 kids and not 18.

It's our mission to spread the good news...

Story about our friends the Horrocks, really just Matt. We had always talked openly about church, faith, religion, what not, but we had always respected our differences. At some point in Florida Matt stayed a few days with Brian and I. One night Matt was standing in the kitchen and Brian and I walk in and corner him. "Matt, we're gonna convert you." You could see his wheels start to turn and I'm sure he was thinking people just let me eat my cereal. "Yes Matt - we're gonna convert you to a TEXAN!!!" I'm sure he thought we were crazy and after a good dose of King of the Hill he left our house completely unchanged.

I wish they would hand out the Texas bumper stickers that say "I wasn't born here but I got here as fast as I could" to natives so that we could pass them out and spread the word. No matter what you're into, there somewhere in Texas you would fit in and feel at home. Being away for so long, I realize more everyday what I miss about Texas and all the things I took for granted.

Some of our friends recently went to a country bar out here and they have some great acts come in but it's smokey enough I would feel guitly about pumping my baby full of nicotine. When I asked them who was playing they had to work together to get out "some Aaron guy." Yes my friends they were in the presence of Texas Country legends and didn't even know it. To make it worse I was telling my dad about it and after I said "some Aaron guy" he half shouted Aaron Watson!?! Even my dad knows who Aaron Watson is. Which led to me conclude we have failed to show our friends how great our music is and my dad is awesome. And granted OK has its fair share of red dirt music and fantastic artists but they are lacking in dance halls and real bars. So we're having a party. A push all the furniture out of the way, eat BBQ, drink beer, and dance kind of party. I can't wait - you're invited!