Five years ago he was just a fellow intern at the Dolphin Research Center.
I wasn’t looking for a relationship, in fact I had just gotten out of a relationship and was ready for some freedom, fun, and relaxation in the Florida Keys.
One day at work he came out of the closet (no pun intended) wearing a purple tube top and camo shorts. I remember thinking to myself “I don’t even know this guy but I think he is going to be my best friend.”
I was right.
For three months straight we were together every single day. We worked during the week and spent our weekends in the pool or exploring Key West. We missed our dogs at home, so the pet shop was always on our list of “to do’s.” In a matter of a few weeks he became a friend that I knew I would always stay in touch with, no matter where we ended up after our internship was over.
But then something happened. He would walk into the intern office and I would get butterflies in my stomach. Suddenly sitting on a bench listening to a dolphin facts presentation for the thousandth time that summer was the highlight of my day, because I was sitting next to him.
I told myself that in a few weeks we would be leaving the Keys and I would probably never see him again. I would soon forget the little crush I had developed on my coworker who could make me laugh to the point of tears.
If I wanted to get over him, spending all day on a kayak together was not a good plan. It was that day that I admitted something to myself: I was in love with him. We kayaked to a restaurant on the water and got out for a quick bite to eat. I remember snapping the picture of him sitting on the bench because I never wanted to forget this day. My heart broke because I knew that at the end of the summer he would be going back home and probably to medical school and I would go back home to finish my undergrad degree.
Little did I know, Mr. Perry was having similar feelings about me. He didn’t know what was going to come of us either, but he knew he didn’t want the end of the summer to also be the end of “us.”
5 years later, I am honored to be celebrating Isaac’s 28th birthday with him as his fiance! We have been through a lot together but the word that comes to mind when I try to describe our relationship is “easy.” It’s not hard for me to try and make “us” work, it just does. In my opinion, our relationship today, where both of us have 2 jobs and he is working on his MBA, is no more complicated than it was 5 years ago, living on an island surrounded by beach bums and dolphins.
We’ve learned it’s all about compromise. He lets me torture him with stupid hats at Disney World
And I ride Splash Mountain with him 6 times in a row
He doesn’t threaten to leave me when I do things like this
And I don’t judge him when he wants to sit in the igloo he built with a thermos full of vodka for several hours
Five years later, I get butterflies when he walks into the room and sitting next to him on a bench is still the highlight of my day.
Happy 28th Birthday, Isaac! I am so grateful for your life.
Such a sweet post…..I am so grateful that you two are celebrating together! Happy Birthday Isaac!
So why haven’t I seen any of these picutres before now!!!
The one with Isaac sporting the purple top is classic — guess I’m not too surprised given the UNC-Chapel Hill connection and all. I’m mostly impressed that he let you post it !!! 🙂
Courtney, you and Isaac do share a special bond and it is obvious that you were meant to find each other — even when you both least expected it. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for you both as you commit your lives/love to each other in just a few months! All my love, Dad
Oh yes — and Happy BD to Isaac! 🙂
Thanks Dad, we love you and couldn’t ask for a better father!
Courtney, what a wonderful blog about this beautiful bond you and Isaac share. I’m so happy to celebrate your lives together and to see you so happy. Also, this is so beautifully written and engaging. We ALL fall in love with Isaac.
love,
Behba
And to think I was there for the beginning. Great blog Courtney.
Haha Yep, from day one! Pretty crazy, huh? Can’t wait to have you guys there (hopefully if you can make it) for the wedding!
Thank you so much Aunt Brenda! As always your words mean so much to me. We both miss you and talk about you often, can’t wait to see you soon!
I loved this so much that I almost cried about seven times and actually did twice while reading it. I love that you are so head over heels with one of the most amazing humans on this planet and that you have a wonderful love story. The pictures are amazing and I would like to have a copy of the Mickey mouse one for my house please. Happy Birthday Isaac!! Great post Courtney!! xoxo
Awwwh thanks, Bridget! I’m so happy you not only approve of but love Isaac too! Gotta have the best friend approval 🙂 I have a few more hat pictures that I will have made into a collage for you, no problem!