Nine lives of us
Scavenger hunts, sunsets in the suburbs and a throwback to celebrate nine years
Last week Ari and I celebrated nine years since the night we (officially) met. A date that for us holds more significance than the day we actually became “exclusive”. Because it was the day that we became inseparable.
This year our anniversary felt a little extra important. Maybe it’s because now we’re married or maybe it’s because we haven’t had the best year together. Whatever the reason, I knew I wanted to do something different with my handmade card – no “you’re my everything bagel” or “two peas in a pod” of drawings past.
How could I adequately convey the pride and honor of the last nine years spent growing together – and the future years I hope we continue to share – with my limited artistic abilities?
That’s when I decided that a cat – with its mythical nine lives – felt symbolic to the infinite lives we’ll spend together and a nod to the nine lives we’ve already survived.
I drew a cat. Rather, I traced the outline of a cat I found on Google that printed larger than the paper I had to trace it on.. And ended up with a cat whose head was too big for its body.
July 16, 2015 – I wasn’t expecting to meet Ari that night. I took the train into the suburbs after a long day interning at $15/day to meet up with my college friend, T.
As we neared the end of the wine bottle, she asked if I wanted to join her and a couple high school friends at a local dive bar. She was interested in one of them and thought the hang would solidify their mutual crush. I was okay ending the night there and getting picked up by my standing summer FWB. T didn’t want to take no for an answer, looking back I don’t blame her – why would I choose to end my night with a FuckBoy instead of being a wingwoman for my friend? To further convince me, she said there was a cute, good guy named Ari coming and I should meet him. “Because your set ups worked SO well in the past?”, I remember sarcastically saying but intrigued, I gave in.
We were picked up by her crush, and I don’t recall much from the ride except that Ari was in the passenger seat and introduced himself. A drink in hand and the fact we’d both just watched Montage of Heck, the Kurt Cobain documentary, conversation finally flowed.
Do you believe in conspiracies?
Why? You think Courtney was involved?
I don’t know, I’m suspicious… okay so tell me, I heard you’re in a band?
Yeah. I play the drums.
I’m not musically inclined. I dropped out of band in 8th grade. I love music because of the lyrics.
“I never listen to the lyrics, I listen for the sound.”
“So you never listen to the lyrics? Ah! My restaurant coworkers are here, let me go say hi.”
“You work at –name removed for privacy duh–? My family goes there all the time, probably been there at the same time.”
“Doubt it, I just started this summer. I love their seafood casserole and warm buns? So good. I’m a pescatarian so I eat fish but no meat.”
Life was so easy then. No full-time jobs. One recent grad hoping to land a full-time job in a nonprofit with aspirations to write a movie or show à la Broad City with her friend S. Another entering his last year of school after failing the first time, he needed time off. Both living at home.
July 16, 2024 – I made Ari a cat outlined card. He handmade one with two stick figure lovers and set up a scavenger hunt (classic Ari move). While I ran up and down the condo trying to decode the riddles and screaming for clues, Ari prepared us tofu/chicken with broccoli in tahini sauce and brownies for dessert.
The last riddle led me to the car where I was directed to drive us to watch the sunset while we ate our home cooked meal.
Life is interesting right now. I finally have a job again. Ari is trying to find what his next move will be. We’re both living at home with parents (his mom & stepdad). That basement we used to sneak into is now the place we call home.
Here’s to nine infinite lives of us.
P.S. shout out to
’s Nine Years post that inspired me to write our story!