My "Once Upon A Time"s

Once upon a time, I watched countless Disney movies, as did almost all 90's children. The prince in the story would fight gallantly for the princess (wrestle on a rooftop/fight a dragon/jump from his rowboat to kill the evil sea witch... etc.), sweep her off her feet (kiss her awake/transform into a prince), and they would ride/dance/sail away together to live happily ever after. I wondered if life could have fairy tale endings, or if people could fall in love at first sight.

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Once upon a time, I was a junior at PVHS. My mother told me Michael Pergler was staying overnight with us later that day. I thought nothing of it. Later, I was at the bar doing homework (mild shocker, there) when my mother answered the door. I turned around to greet our guest, who I hadn't seen since my childhood. Our eyes met. I smiled. He smiled. My homework motivation was suddenly gone. We talked all night long.

Me: Note to self: date someone like Michael Pergler.

Him: Wow! She's cute! She's smart, fun to talk to... shame she's not a few years older.

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Once upon a time, I was 18 and graduated from high school. Derek received his mission call to leave in October of that year. He asked me if I would wait for him on his mission, and write him often. I unabashedly replied "Hey, don't worry about it! I'm only 18. You know I don't want to be married until 25, anyway."

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Once upon a time, I was a first semester Freshman at Utah State. It was an early morning in the autumn, all the leaves turning a bright yellow, the clear blue skies, and the little breezes that would dance around your feet. As I walked to class, I suddenly stopped and realized I was absolutely in love with Logan. I thought to myself: "I am so glad that a Bachelor's degree is four years! I can't imagine leaving Logan sooner than that. Even 2 years just wouldn't be enough time here."

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Once upon a time, Tara, Mom, and I were driving to SLC to help with Sharisa Pergler's wedding reception over Christmas break, 2010. Mom invented a wedding questionnaire, and asked both her daughters questions about their dreams of marriage. Mom asked, if we had to choose now who we would marry. Tara considered all of her options thoughtfully and eventually listed one of her previous boyfriends. I replied without a second thought: "Michael Pergler." (We had yet to go on a single date.) Mom asked what kind of details we envisioned for our wedding. Tara had a vision of an outdoor wedding, a white tent, knew all the foods and decorations she'd want, and was (by my consideration) pretty well prepared in her mind's eye. I knew almost nothing; I wanted a lace dress and a halo ring.

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Once upon a time,  Michael and I worked together to set up his sister's reception. He asked me on a date the next day. We walked for hours that night in streets covered with snow, talking about anything and everything, unwilling to leave. Talking that night, I realized my future had just been completely rewritten. Six days later, Michael told me he loved me and asked me to marry him.

Later, I started planning... with a lace dress and a halo ring. Then I got to figure out the rest.

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Once upon a time, a group of four second semster Freshmen huddled by my Mazda in the G2 parking lot outside Central Campus. The night air was bitter, but they hardly noticed. I had dropped all of my 17 credits and withdrawn from USU. Though I had postponed several days, I was finally leaving. Ari clung to me in a farewell hug, but her words wouldn't let me leave. "I don't want you to go. You can't go." I cried fiercely; my desire to do so was even less than hers. Kenny arrived just in time to say goodbye. I had never done anything so hard as to let go of him and drive away that night. I left them a group of three in the parking lot, my vision blurred by my tears.

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Once upon a time, a missionary in Montana had been out only three months received a letter from his ex-girlfriend, who was now engaged. He took it surprisingly well, considering.

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Once upon a time, I fell in love with Michael Pergler and it turned my world upside down. There are days when I feel like everything that was me doesn't exist anymore; like it's all just gone somehow. Everything I thought I wanted for my life is different. It used to confuse me, trying to start it all over again. 

But, you know, I think Michael is the best decision I've ever made. Marrying him is the greatest gift I've ever received. I love him, and I really want to marry him. I want my life to change. And I want to be with him forever.

So, just maybe, upside down is exactly the way my world is supposed to be. 

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Once upon a time, Tiffany had tried to make a huge plan for her life. 

Once upon a time, she was glad that God had something else in mind.