26 November 2011

The Story of Sean

Forgive me...because this post is about love. I know, gross, huh. It's all mushy and personal, and I promise this is the first and last time this sort of post will happen. I just want to share this, because I'm really happy about it. So, deal with it. :D


THE (very condensed) STORY OF SEAN

This is Sean.




I met Sean when I was 13. Yes. The first time Sean saw me, I was wearing skater shoes, flare jeans, and had my hair parted down the middle. I was probably listening to Linkin Park.






We met outside the band room at our middle school.  My best friend Sarah had a huge crush on Sean, and he liked her, too. I had a huge crush on Sean's brother, Calvin, so Sean and I really had no choice but to become really great friends.



When we went to high school, we had band together again. I mean, a lot of band. Marching band, Wind Symphony, Jazz band. The trombones sat behind the saxophones in Jazz band, and I'd always get in trouble for turning around and talking to him. My teacher can vouch for that.




We not only bonded over music, but also art. Whenever we'd hang out, we would just end up drawing in each other's sketchbooks.

When Sean got his first girlfriend, I remember feeling irrationally annoyed with every little thing she did. I was very protective of Sean, especially when it came to who he dated. In retrospect, I think it might have been fueled by subconscious jealousy.



Sean was protective of me, too.

I recall once when I was having some sort of problem that related to a boy, I called Sean at 2 AM. He let me cry on the phone, and said nice things to make me laugh.



until 6 am when we had to get ready for school, only to see each other an hour later in band. It was always so worth it though, to have those talks. To the dislike of our parents, this same thing happened countless times.

Sometimes I'd have romantic feelings for Sean. I always tried to talk myself out of having those feelings, and it usually worked, mostly because my best friend still had a massive crush on him. I think everybody in our little friend group traded off having a crush on Sean. Besides, I still liked his brother more, you know?




Apparently Sean was more fond of me than I realized.

Here's an excerpt from what he wrote in my senior yearbook, when we were 18:

"Hannah, it's been fantastic. I'll never forget our late-night conversations and awkward situations. You've helped me more than you know. Whenever you're feeling down, just come back here and read your yearbook. Right here to this page and read this part, where I say: 'Hannah, you're amazing, and beautiful, and I care about you and I always will." That pretty much covers it. 


Sean.


P.S. Call Calvin."

When we graduated from high school, Sean and I attended the same University. Our sophomore year, he we to Washington for 2 years. We both grew up a lot, and when I came home from study abroad, he had also come home from Washington.

We pretty much picked up from where we left off.



After trying, unsuccessfully, to set him up with all of my friends, we ended up just hanging out together all the time. I started realizing that the barrier that Sarah and Calvin had created from the time we were 13 on was no longer there. We weren't limited to being just friends.

One night we went back to my house so I could show him a TV show that I thought he'd like. Partway into the first season, he put his arm around me.

That was two years ago.

I show him my art, and he critiques it. He shows me his, and I do the same. We play a game where we point out fonts and try to guess what they are. Usually he wins, because he has every font memorized. We critique wedding announcements together.

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We play Pokemon Fire Red together. We teach each other songs on the guitar. Then we play a LOT of guitar together. We're immature together. We make each other laugh. Like, really laugh.

We also frustrate each other so much sometimes, and we argue over really stupid things. We're both stubborn and difficult and pains in the neck. But we both know that the other is worth the trouble.



In the 10 years I've known Sean, he's shown me every kind of love I've needed. I'm a better person because I know him. Just by being himself, he inspires me to be honest and good, and to try my best at everything I do. He's taught me patience and understanding. His sensitivity has softened my heart, and torn down walls and defenses that I've carefully built up. He loves me when I'm selfish, and when I'm forgetful. He loves me when I'm chaotic, and when I'm peaceful.

He's the best!






He proposed this month. Soooo...I'm totally marrying Sean this coming May. Which means we'll get about 7 months together before the world ends. Then again, he is part Mayan, so maybe we'll be spared? Either way, we're naming our first kid 2012.



88 comments:

TheBlocter said...

This is adorable! *wipes tears*

Heathre G said...

This was so sweet! I'm getting married in May too!
I really hope when the world ends next year that you'll be spared so you can keep making such great art and blogs and stuff!

Hooker said...

Congrats!

Nurse Heidi said...

Love it! Congratulations from a perfect stranger who gets a huge kick out of your blog. My husband dated my BFF first too, and things have worked out nicely all the way around :).

esther said...

Aww...amazing story!

Congratulations to you and Sean. =) <3

Jenna said...

I loved this. Congratulations! Can't wait to see what you come up with for your blog once you're a married gal and all.

erika danielle eddington said...

Ahhhh! I love you both so much! YAY! Weddintimez!

MurrBeth said...

AAAAAAH!!!!!! I can't even handle how cute this is. Like omygosh. This is beautiful. I want this. THE CUTENESS!!!! IT IS DESTROYING ME FROM THE INSIDE OUT!!!

calvin said...

Yeah, this is accurate. :~) I love this. Brilliant. Only I should have a red beard. Jk.

Scattered Strawberry Summer said...

this is so cute <3 congrats!

Unknown said...

This may be one of my favorite posts you've written. Adorable. Congratulations you two!

calvin said...

Oh, P.S., the relationship matrix reminds me of Travis and Sean's projects they had through Sophomore year, using Sarasas to color-code the relationships. Ah, memories.

Hannah said...

Calvin! the octagon of love, as I called it? Yeah, that thing was amazing. I think Sean still has it, or maybe Travis does. We need to find it though.

Anonymous said...

Ahh Congratulations! This is such a cute story, I read all of your posts and you are the best!

Unknown said...

I love love.. And the fact that it looks like you included a Quicksilver brand shirt on your 13 year old self... looks like. :) This was really cute. Definitely worth sharing.

corey said...

it was called "the web" and it was pretty epic. and i love the only distinguishing characteristic of darrell is his goatee. but awesome all around!

Lauren Kay said...

Oh my gosh I don't know you and since this is too cute I HAVE to post my congratulations. So, congratulations. I wish I knew you and that we were friends so I could see your wedding announcement since I'm sure it will be awesome after all that font and design critiquing.

Chelsey D. said...

Hahaha I remember Travis and Sean's love diagram. That was what I kept thinking of too. :) I'm so happy for you guys! I would love to see that again sometime... It might have me and Matt on it.

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy for you! Congratz :)

The Artist Formerly Known as Sairah Gold said...

I COMPLETELY love your likeness of Mr. Brown! That's exactly how I remember him! Haha. Remember when he had to shave cuz BYU made him? That was lame. But your story about you and Sean? Not lame! Loved that too. Congratulations again. You guys are totally rad and I'm so stoked for you!

Choirchick22 said...

AWW Congrats!! :D I hope you draw pictures of your wedding!

Anonymous said...

I would love to see an upcoming post about your wedding! :)

Nicole said...

Wooooots! I love happy endings. This post is so awesome.

Anonymous said...

Congrats Hannah! So excited for you. This is the ultimate revenge of the band geeks---true love!

See you in May!

Amy B. said...

Wow! That is so amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story with your fabulous illustrations! Even though I'm a complete stranger, I wish you all the best, Hannah. You're blog always makes me smile and brightens my day.

Sierra Shaneá said...

supa cute!!! congratulations!!

Sierra Shaneá said...

ps- your future child, 2012, will have the most epic name. ever.

Alana said...

Awwwww. I love mush. Congratulations!

Florentina Anacleto said...

Aww that's so lovely, i start to read you're blog a few months ago and i totally see much of myself in this blog.
i hope you will be very happy, congratulations.

kwistin said...

calvin and hannah! i was on the sideline of that octagon of love thing...i was on the travis/jessica side while analyzing all you guys plus franco. travis would make them and passed a partial one to during class one time. i think i might still have it... :D

hannah...this is good. like, so good. and yeah...really condensed. well done, lady. :)

remember how i love you + sean together?

i didn't think it was possible, but i do even more now.

oh. and i super love the mr. brown depiction.

Rae - Say It Aint So said...

congratulations! and feel free to post personal things, i loved this post!

MacKenzie said...

Congratulations!!!

Jarrod said...

Sean is the best! you be cool man

julia larsen said...

congratulations!! :) you two have an awesome story.

Lauren Smith said...

Dude, this is awesome. Gotta love those relationships that go way back. Congrats & love your blog!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations!

I totally wrote "commentulations" before I realized I was thinking two things at the same time and deleted that. On the other hand, commentulations actually kind of works.

Commentulations!

Sophie said...

Congratulations! Best friends always make the best husbands :)

Folkhaus Studios said...

Congratulations! I hope you can sketch out your wedding planning frustrations into funny posts rather than undergoing the head-exploding that I am dealing with... the clean-up of all these brains is killer. :)

Katie said...

this is basically the cutest thing ever.

Scissors and Spice said...

So super sweet! Congratulations!

--jeff * said...

what sort of a deal can we work out to have you illustrate moments of my life?

(i think i already congratulated you on facebook, but once again, dang congratulations. : ) i like it more now that i know the story)

Nicole said...

So I hope this isn't weird because I don't know you but that may have been the cutest engagement announcement I've ever seen. All the best to you and Sean!!

(Also, the word verification word for this comment is "quest". I can't help but think that is significant somehow...)

Jocee said...

i think i just cried harder than i ever have in my whole life. and that's saying something considering the times i've cried over romantic movies. like 'titanic' and 'the notebook'... i am such a sap.

i am pretty sure the world isn't going to end, but it'd be so cool to have a kid named 2012. that's just a little bit awesome.

i loved this :))
-jocee <3

Cherie said...

HOORAY for this post! Hooray for Hannah! Hooray for S&H! Hooray for baby TT!

...Let's get Sean on the case of editing all those iPhone hour-long video clips of you telling us your side of the 11/11/11 proposal tricks, and all the sibs making you start over... then we'll just watch it go viral overnight on YouTube!

marcela said...

OMG hes guatemalan, like me :)

Yelena said...

When I read the first sentence of the last paragraph, I started to make a noise that gradually became more and more high pitched and is far from human, I'm still not sure it came from me.
THIS IS THE BEST. CONGRATULATIONS. MORE CUTE THINGS. ALL OF THE CUTE THINGS. WRITE AND ILLUSTRATE THEM.

Saskia said...

Congratulations! Can't wait to see you drawing your wedding ;-)

Anonymous said...

this is brilliant. made my day. good job.

ktpland said...

what a lovely post *trying to look like i'm not blubbing in front of my computer at work* & huge congrats! :D deadhappy for you both. woop! x

Mrs Rose said...

That was a pretty great story. Congratulations!

( suspect katherine ) said...

Garsh Darn Adorable.

HazelWea said...

Adorable! Congrats! =)

Kristy said...

Congratulations! This was delightful. :)

Anonymous said...

*Disgustingly high pitched squeal of delight*

I am so happy for you two! <3 Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Ew. Love. Gross. Just kidding. Congrats kids!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to the both of you!

Anonymous said...

Hannah congrats! I don't know you but I started reading your blogs awhile ago! They always make me laugh even when I'm feeling down. I just started dating my best friend and our friendship is so similar to your's with Sean! I with you guys a happy marriage:)!

TheHeatherGirl said...

Congratulations!!!!

Kate Kwok said...

Aww...... Marrying to a best friend of school, how beautiful is that?

jontobinsays said...

so excited for you! congratulations! i have been married for about a year and a half now and i can tell you it's so incredible. we both also hate bad design and bad font choices and talk about it.

Quien diria? said...

Congratulations! This is the sweetest story!!

Phil Manning said...

Best part was Sarah and Sean doing calculus for fun. I can totally see that from "high school" Sarah, haha.

Steph said...

What an amazing story! Remember to look back at this post if you are ever in hard times - there is a lot of love there! Congrats!

Anonymous said...

Such a nice story! Congratulations!!

The Painted Lady said...

So, now you know that you must share your wedding invitations with us so that we can see what good design truly is. Just sayin.

ne said...

Congrats! This is such a lovely heart felt post without being nauseating and vomitty. 'm getting married in may as well...6 months yikes!

Mike said...

Fuck you for having a healthy, cute romantic relationship

Riri said...

SO JEALOUS! this is the cutest story I've ever read online and I swear, before I read this, I thought stories as cute and sweet as this only existed in movies and novels....... congratulations! <3

Tori said...

Congratulations Hannah! I hope you guys have a long happy marriage (:

Sentimental J said...

Congratulations Hannah!!! I'm speechless! I believe we're around the same age from your stories about your life. Whatever happens in the future, I'm sure you're still you, the critiques, the parodies and satirical remarks will always make laugh.
I can't believe you're getting married, but I wish the very best for you and Sean in the promising 2012.

Miriam said...

CONGRATULATIONS!
I love following your blog, you're a genius.

nest + venture said...

I was hoping that would be the ending! Love your blog and love this. Congratsaloni.

Anonymous said...

how do u find luv? people still suck. :'(

Inês Almeida said...

Awwwwww, so cute :) I'm so jealous! I wish i could find a guy, just like you found Sean ah ah ah
Congratulations btw!

Candice said...

that is one of the most wonderful things i have ever read. this is why i consider blogging to be so weird. i don't know you and have read your blog only a handful of times, yet i feel ridiculously happy after reading this post. this story did that. maybe its because i identify on some weird level. anyway, congratulations. they say that best friends make the best partners.

Megan said...

So loving this! Band Nerd love is the best!

Anonymous said...

This is so freaking cute! Cant even handle. Hope the best for the you guys c:

DD said...

This is a-dorable. Love your stuff. I came here wanting to do a blog by this name (just for myself) but no way could I ever. love this stuff. love!

Kayla K said...

And the angsty teen cries because all the boys she knows SUCK ;) Good for you!

M.R. Weaver said...

Congrats! Have I met this Sean kid? I vaguely remember a boy-type with glasses.

Abby Indge said...

Loved this <3 your art is amazing!

boom chaka laka said...

Way better love story then twilight :)

Che said...

congrats congrats congrats!! :)

Eshaa said...

Eyes brimming over... Love and luck ahead :)

Sierra said...

Im soo happy for you guys!! best wishes to the happy couple!! i love your post by the way. most of the time i die with laughter when i read them.

Anonymous said...

*is crying heavily from the heavy amount of romance and love and awesomeness. Somehow manages to get words out* C-C-Congraulations, H-Hannah! Sweet Jesus this was beautiful.

I did actually tear up at the end. This was beautiful, and beautiful, and epic. I hope you and Sean and a beautiful wedding. Tell Sean that some random person on the intervene says hi! :D

-Lily

CheriBeriCola said...

Did you give birth to "2012" yet?? :p

I discovered your site this morning while looking for a description for hipsters (In Vancouver, they're going to air a reality tv show called "The Real Hipsters of Vancouver...I'm afraid this isn't a lie...the casting call announcement is all over Twitter and craigslist :( )

Needless to say, in just part 1 of your 3-part hipster blog, I got hooked! I told my friend, and I quote, "She's soooo cool I want to snort her verbal vomit like cocaine!)

Hope you blog again soon :-D

Anonymous said...

Why would you do that to your kid? I hope you were joking about that... Cute story besides that though.