Rex Meredith.

I've known him for a long time. 

I think it's safe to say that I like him.  A lot.

I would even go so far as to say I love him. 

I love him for a lot of reasons, big and small.  I love him because he doesn't flinch when I ask him weird questions, like, "If I was a color, which one do you think I'd be?" or "What do you think is the second thing people notice about me?"  Or how I will plop a home decorating magazine in his lap and ask, "Which of these things do you think I like the most?"  Not only does he not flinch, he takes a moment, considers, and answers the question.  Correctly.

I love him because, sometimes when I stay up too late and get tired and let my small troubles crash upon my head, he tucks the covers around my chin and plays with my hair and gives me a much needed reality check.  And doesn't mention it in the morning.

I love him because he can't for the life of him remember lyrics to songs, but he can sing alternate lyrics --that actually make sense--without missing a beat. 

The first time I realized I love loved him was a seemingly small moment like these.  I was a senior in high school, facing a busy, stressful week.  My mom was in the hospital, recovering from surgery, so I was doing more chores at home.  My church volleyball team was in the midst of city finals (we totally rocked).  And biggest of all, I was co-chair of a school dance sponsored by the choir, scheduled for that Saturday night.  We had to hold tryouts for intermission acts, hire a deejay, plan and buy decorations, find a photographer, work out refreshments, etc. etc. etc. 

On the Wednesday of that week, I came into the choir room at the beginning of class, millions of thoughts buzzing through my head at once.  All the students coming over from the seminary building took the time to stop and tell me the tire on my van was flat.  There were a lot of students coming from seminary, so it sounded something like this: " Jeigh, your tire is flat, your tire is flat, tire is flat, is flat, flat, flat, FLAT, FLAT!!!!!!!!!" (echo, echo, echo)   My stress load was at a breaking point before that, and I looked across the room at Rex, like I always did, this time with eyes brimming with tears, and although I am not an accomplished lip reader, I caught every word: I'll take care of it.  I'll fix it. 

The second choir ended and the lunch hour started, Rex walked out the door and across the street to check out my van.  I thought he was going to get a bite to eat first, but he didn't think twice about it.  The only reason I had the van to drive was because my mom wasn't using it, so I didn't have a clue where the spare tire was, or if we had a jack.  Rex knows what he's doing with cars, though, so he got to work, in his white shirt, and soon had the tire changed.  There was a bit of trouble with my jack, so he had to find another one from someone else, and it took all of the lunch hour. 

While I watched him work, I started to feel a sort of electric, bubbly feeling wriggling through my insides. I knew I liked him, and I knew I was really grateful for his help, but I'd never felt so very, very grateful.  I suddenly wanted to plant a big fat kiss on him right there.  I settled for a hug, but even as I went to my keyboarding class, my skin continued to bubble and crackle with some new, intense emotion.
I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on.  I couldn't figure out why the simple act of changing my tire was causing me to feel so extremely charitable toward Rex, until the words fell into my mind:  I love him.  I LOVE him. 

I was doing a typing test when I realized it.  Totally flunked that day's test. Totally didn't care.

 Love is better than good typing skills.  I would know, because I am still in love.  With Rex Meredith.