“Hey, we should do lunch sometime,” said in an oddly comfortable, charming tone out of a crazy cute side grin. I was in my mid-20’s. You can still say “mid” for 26, right!? Let’s go with yes! Ok, so I was in my mid-20’s, attending a high school girls’ basketball game supporting a friend’s daughter. I spotted a childhood friend of my sister as a coach on the away team’s bench. BUT, he wasn’t just a childhood friend, he was “Ty McClain!” – (yes, with an exclamation point) her middle school boyfriend (which, thank God lasted only a couple of skates around the old roller rink and maybe an awkward middle-school-like kiss). He was part of her circle of friends all through middle/high school. He had been, in some capacity, around almost my entire young life (because I was the annoying 6-year younger baby sister who my sister let tag along with the “big kids” because she was good to me like that).  

Now at a random basketball game, standing in a gym and creating small talk, we discovered we often worked in the same small town (me, doing marketing consulting for various health organizations and him, a financial advisor at a bank). When it was time for his team to load the bus, he began walking out of the gym (with his forever imbedded in my head “McClain Stroll,” looking back…saying THE line…“Hey, we should do lunch sometime….” 

I assured myself it was just some random offer from an old family friend. Yet, something about it felt a little more intriguing. So, I did what any girl would do….got the up-to-date scoop on this dude!! What was up with “now Ty McClain” (versus circa 1986 “Class Cutest”)? This actually meant having my people CALL his people (like on a landline phone) because there was no such thing as Facebook stalking or social media searches at the time (yes, I am old…this actually used to be a thing!). He had followed up pretty quickly on that lunch offer (although he tries to deny it he was equally as intrigued). And my “prying” found him to still be a decent guy. So, as you can guess, I took that coach up on his lunch offer.

That lunch led to a “drop by” my apartment…and then another…and then another…and then, one day, he just never left. We suddenly had a house...a dog…and an “us” that I never wanted to go away (well, most days).
 
A few years later, the two of us became three…then four…living life by five. Five fields of health– physical, emotional, spiritual, mental and financial – and making intentional choices within each. Some days not quite as in sync as others, but all days at the top of our priority list. (Oh, and we also got married in that mix of children, but I will save that story for another day). 
 

OUR “PEPPERY” STORY

The “pepper” portion to our story? Well, that began when our kids were younger and we were on vacation. Our children were clearly starting to develop our Type A personalities (intense, agenda and goal driven, not much wiggle room for just going with the flow…all good characteristics for success…but slightly terrifying when seen, to somewhat of an extreme, in our young children). Concerned, I said something to Ty about it…he replied with another great, life-changing “one liner” that then became both our ongoing family joke AND mantra…”babe, you can’t mix a habanero and a jalapeno and get mild!” I belly laughed and knew he was so spot on! Although, at that moment, I did vow to channel more of my “inner chill” vibes to set an example for our children that life CAN just go with the flow at times (which is a version of me that still, to this day, can be super annoying for Ty...we’re always a work in progress).  

The rest, well, we’re just trying to figure it out…one “peppery” day at a time...one “field” at a time! 
 
There it is…Our Story...or at least how it all began. Please drop me an email so we can hear more about yours. OH! And do share what kind of pepper you are. I kinda admire you mild yellow peppers! My husband clearly designated me the habanero in his scenario - fair :)! 
 
Keep on peppering on - one mindful moment at a time,

-j.j.