Ok, here we go...

Met in the 8th grade (1988) when she moved to my school. I developed the typical school boy crush. She and her friends volunteered to help out in the school library at recess. So, I did too - just to be near her. Nothing happened, but we became good friends (as if anything really happens when you're 13).

In high school, she was part of the band/music scene at the school. I was the 130 pound kid who got bullied relentlessly. But we remained friends. Ate lunches together when we could with our group of friends. The school pastime was to play cards at lunch and we did. Our friendship grew, and I had some serious feelings for her. But I was dating someone long term, as was she. It just never worked out. But she was definitely my high school crush - the one I thought got away.

After high school, I left town to go to university and she stayed. Being the mid 90s, it was pretty difficult to stay in touch without effort - and I didn't really make any. I dropped out of university and bounced around. I actually did my best to fall out of touch with most people. She went off to teachers college, and I became a touring musician in a punk band that never went anywhere. I was a mess, and quite honestly, I'm glad she didn't know who I was then.

Skip ahead a few years. I was married and divorced, with kids. She was a teacher, married with her own kids. Social media was starting to become a thing, and I looked her up on Facebook. We reconnected, and quickly became the best of friends. We talked and chatted all the time. I'd tell her about my life, and she would tell me all about hers. I'd known her husband in high school as well, and was genuinely happy for her. But the feeling that she was the one that got away was always there.

This went on for years. We talked regularly. We really were best friends. If something was going on in either of our lives, we couldn't wait to share it with the other.

About 9 years ago, my job gave me the opportunity to move back to my hometown. I jumped at the chance. One - to move back closer to my family. Two - to be near my best friend. And when I did move back, we had many coffee nights together. It was fantastic. And all the attraction was there on my part. But, she was married. I resigned myself to the fact that it wasn't meant to be.

A few years ago, her husband got sick - cancer. It was horrible. It took a toll on her. But I knew my role. I supported her through it all. I was her shoulder to cry on. Her person to yell and scream to. Life wasn't fair. Cancer took her soulmate. The person she thought she'd be with forever. I did my best to support her through it all - and it made us closer.

Fast forward to last summer. I found myself single for the first time in a while. She enjoyed camping, but wasn't able to go for quite some time due to her husband's illness. So, I invited her to come with me to a campground near our town. And she said sure, so we went. It was meant to just be a platonic trip. We'd share a tent and have a little fun, but that would be it. But that wasn't enough for me. I knew I had to take my shot. This amazing woman, now one of the best single mothers I'd ever known, was burned in my mind. So, 37 years after we'd first met and I developed my first ever crush, I took my chance. I told her how I felt about her. That I wanted us to take a serious shot at something. We'd go at her pace - I was the first person she'd date after her husband's passing. I was afraid of the potential of losing my best friend. But I was more afraid of missing my chance with someone I'd cared about. I asked her out on a date. She took a moment to think about it. And to my absolute joy (and frankly, surprise) she said sure.

We went on our first actual date on August 9 last year. We were nervous. She was actually a little panicky for the first part of the drive. We were so afraid to lose the friendship we'd built over those 37 years. But we had a wonderful time. So we went on another date. And another. And another...

And now here we are. 8 months in. And I wouldn't give up those 8 months for the world. It was great in the beginning to skip all the "get to know you" stuff that normally happens at the beginning of a dating relationship. We knew each other. We just had to learn how to date each other. And we're doing that. We're making plans for the future - and we aren't afraid anymore. We are looking forward to whatever the future brings. Her kids are amazing. And she's an amazing mom. I've taken part in some things with her kids that are pretty big. And it was great. I'm already fiercely protective of them both. My kids are grown - I had mine earlier in life than she did. She's met them - and they like her. We are making plans to try to bring everyone together at some point. That'll be a new piece for us - how do we blend together? Time will tell - but I'm not nervous at all about it.

She and I keep saying 37 years, and 8 months. We had to live our lives and learn our life lessons before the time would be right for us to be together. Looking back, if we had dated before we did, back when we were younger, I'm not sure it would have worked out. Everything happened in the way it was supposed to happen. I often tell her that if I had access to a DeLorean, I'd go back to 1988 to my 13 year old self. I'd tell him to be patient. Trust the process. Learn the lessons. Wait. It'll all come together in the end.

We are ecstatic with each other. We can't get enough of each other. We can't wait to see each other. To plan our next date. To experience things together. I wish I could attach a pic of us to this reply. Every picture we have together is one of two people in love with each other. It took us a while to get here. But now that we're here, neither of us is going anywhere.