Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Beginning (Stacey's version)

So, I guess this is probably the best place to start. If you don't like mushy "dreams come true" type stories, you might want to skip through this.
Briz and I met one evening in December 1997. I was newly hired at Disneyland, and it was my first assignment to guest control (the people that direct you with flashlights) at the Fantasmic show. Here I am this energetic 18 year old with what was to be believed at the time, her dream job. I was more than anxious to be able to assist guests into viewing such a spectacular show. My lead (supervisor) that evening directs to Briz for an evening of training and shadowing. As we are introduced under the Pirates of the Caribbean bridge I immediately feel that there is something about him. We work the entire night together and I go home knowing the next day I would have to return to my attraction (Storybook Land) and try to get the scoop on Briz from one of my managers. "Why a manager?" Briz was a skipper on the Jungle Cruise and at the time our attractions were considered brother and sister functioning under the same management team.
The next day I encounter a manger by the name of Kate and ask for the complete scoop on Mr. Briz. Kate tells me with despair that he is involved with another and has been for quite sometime. It made sense to me after all, first impressions told me he was a great guy. Knowing per our conversation the night before he lived in Moreno Valley, I figured this to be a great carpool opportunity. Phone numbers eventually were exchanged and the carpooling began. As we carpooled are friendship grew very strong. Through the years, Briz attempted to maintain his High School relationship, while I continued to date and had a long term boyfriend until October of 2000. By this point, my friendship with Briz was extremely strong, and the initial feeling I had felt when I met him in December of '97 never really went away (I just never realized it until then). As the year drew to a close our relationship became official with Briz professing his love through a poem and our New Year of 2001 starting with our first kiss. We knew now that we were committed in a relationship and there was no turning back.
Through the course of our five years we have laughed, cried, disagreed, and loved. More than anything we have loved. We have loved so much, we have two beautiful children and soon one day maybe more! Our relationship is truly unique. Not only are we friends, we are lovers, each others support, and a team. It amazes me sometimes our attitudes and willingness to have life bring on challenges and work through them with strength and optimism. The Journey that we began (whether we knew it or not) back in 1997 has been one that not many can say they have been on. As we continue on I can only hope that our love grows deeper, and whatever challenges that may come our way we continue to face together as a team supporting one another until the end.