Jeremy in the beginning

Here I will print the journals I have about meeting and the first years of our relationship.

I started this years ago. 

Ok. I very likely don't have, won't find, those journals.

I do want to say something about those first years here. 

Our beginning wasn't a Love Story. At least I didn't know it was.

I remember one Big Moment that I realized that we were a Love Story. That's what I want to be sure I tell if nothing else.

We had been together off and on about a year, maybe longer?

Barefoot was already in jail and I'm pretty sure I had already lost Mom. 

I was arrested, I was arrested twice in Texas. 

I think this first time it was an unpaid ticket. Wow, my memory sucks!! That's why I need to write this now

But I doubt I will EVER forget this.

I was taken to Harris County jail. There are so many being processed into County Jail in Houston that it can take days. Days of being confined in a large cement room with 10 to 50 other waiting women. 

I knew I wouldn't be there long. That likely I would be arraigned and let go for time served before I was fully booked in. 

I remember being stunned how many women, school teachers and such, who were there because of Crack addiction. I had no idea that was a big problem anywhere!!

Along with the women there for drugs were the ones there for prostitution,  often to support their drug habits. 

I was still the Old Me back then,  as far as liking people, getting to know and making quick friends with the people around me. So all of them knew why I was there.

Watching and listening I found out that women were usually released at midnight on the last day of their time served.

I knew Jeremy well enough to know that he was a really bad driver with NO sense of direction. I mean, he would turn the wrong way pulling out of the driveway to get to where my mom's trailer was Every Day and still be surprised he'd gone the wrong way!!

I shared this with all of my new friends. They gave me tips on which directions to definitely Not walk away from the jail and several of them promised that, if they were released at the same time that I was, that they would let me go with them to their homes until morning. 

At least 10 of us were cut loose at the same midnight release. I was standing with them, trying to decide what to do when one of them said, "Did you just hear someone yell 'Rhoda'?!" 

We all quieted a minute and I heard him, Jeremy,  yelling my name over and over and I'm looking everywhere and the people around me parted like the Red Sea and there he was. Running to me yelling my name. I ran to meet him jumping up into his arms while everyone clapped and  cheered.  All we needed was fireworks and falling confetti for the movie moment! Jeremy swung me around and around and carried me to the car.

We were laughing and talking so much we got lost going home. 

That. 

That was the most amazing moment of my life.