New Post, New Family, and RRS #5

Hello avid readers!

It has been well over two years since I have posted to this blog, and while I do love keeping up with the horror movie blog, I have missed the cathartic experience of writing about myself.  Haha.  Or is that a narcissistic experience?  Whatever.  Since a lengthy stretch of time has elapsed, I feel like I should update you on my life, starting with

Ridiculous Random Story #5

This one is pretty comprehensive, as it ties in my pageant background with my current life.

Once upon a time, I won Miss Thousand Islands in 2008.  Little did I know that one of the judges would have a pretty big impact on my adult life.  Deltra Willis was one of those 5 judges who seemed to think I would do a pretty decent job as a titleholder, and then she soon started dating a lovely fellow by the name of Stan.  Fast forward one year to my warm up interview for Miss Thousand Islands 2009, where Stan was on the panel and also thought I could do a great job as a titleholder.  Too bad I was giving up my crown and wasn't actually competing, haha.  Fast forward to my first year on the Miss Thousand Islands board of directors.  I was basically there for talent prep, interview prep, and to voice my opinion, and often ran into Deltra and Stan who were both on the board.  They had mentioned occasionally that Deltra's son, Andrew, was a really nice guy and that I should meet him.  I had heard that before, and was flattered at the offer, but was already seeing someone.

That next summer, at the pageant workshop, we were at Deltra's house and I was running a modeling workshop.  Andrew was "supposed" to come but did not make it for one reason or another.  Offered as a nice substitute, were some dashing photos of him and his band, "Bye George".

Deltra kept suggesting we meet, and I found it hard to imagine what he looked like in present day based on photos from his youth.  I found myself not really keen on the idea, as it felt like I was potentially meeting someone the age of the students that I taught.

Seven months later, I volunteered to help with the Miss Thousand Islands Outstanding Teen Pageant.  I was teaching the girls how to model, and helping with talent.  I had also volunteered to sing, and to twirl my baton to a Michael Buble song.  Lo and behold, Andrew was showing up later to do sound.  "Oh brother", I thought.  I was kind of preoccupied with the contestants while he entered, and it wasn't until Deltra brought it up that I noticed him, and boy did I ever notice him.  It was that feeling you hear about in movies, but don't think is really real.  At the time, I attributed it to the expectation of seeing a 16 year old boy with braces, but being pleasantly surprised with the outcome, but I obviously now realize it was something more.

We introduced ourselves, and I ran through both my divertissements.  After the pageant was over, we chit chatted, and then he had to pack up sound and leave.  That was it.  No phone number exchange, no offer for a date, nada.  I wasn't disappointed, I was offended!  Why wouldn't he want to ask me out?  I'm pretty awesome and we had a lot in common!  (See above note: narcissism)  I went home and Facebook stalked him, but wait...he wasn't on Facebook!  It was then I really had to question if I wanted to pursue anyone who wasn't part of the Facebook virtual world.  I then did the most/least sensible thing anyone would do in this situation: I asked his mother for his e-mail address.

Okay.  That sounds crazy, and I have to admit that at the time I felt crazy doing so.  I just kept remembering that feeling I had.  I am not one to ignore these kind of things, and the worst case scenario if I asked was that she'd say no, or he would genuinely not be interested after getting to know me.  If I didn't ask, however, I couldn't help feeling like I would never know what would have become of our acquaintance/friendship/relationship.  She gladly gave me two e-mail addresses, along with his cell phone number, haha.  I am still very grateful to her for forking over her only son's personal information to someone who seemed really desperate!

It took me what seemed like forever to write the perfect, witty, non-stalkerish e-mail.  It was on February 13th, 2012.  We started dating on March 8th, 2012, and got engaged October 1st, 2013.  We will be happily married on August 16th, 2014!

So that's our story.  We have to constantly thank Stan and Deltra for persisting that we get acquainted, otherwise we likely would never have met.  In addition to being able to see these two wonderful people much more frequently, I also got to meet and fall in love with his whole family, including his sister, Deltra Lynne, his brother-in-law, Darrell, his two nephews, William and Zachary, his niece, Deltra Elliott (Ellie), his dad, Jim, and his step-mother, Hildegard, among MANY other family members and friends along the way.  I am so blessed to be a part of this wonderful group of people, and to call this handsome man my fiancee, and soon to be husband:

Oops, wrong photo.  I mean, THIS handsome man...

Again, I am so grateful for my path leading me to find this wonderful soul mate of mine.  Had it not been for pageantry, and the long list of friendships I have made through it, I would not be able to boast about Andrew being the center of my life.  I can now, proudly be added to the list of Miss America competitors that found her husband through pageant connections.

I intend on updating this blog a little more frequently, so keep up with me here, and on www.filmfilteroff.blogspot.com.

Much love,

Corri