Be My Baby
Still My Forever
*Arianna’s POV*
22 years… 22 years since I met Jon and Pat. 22 years since I moved to Chicago. 22 years since I’d been swept off my feet and had my world changed by a man I’d only ever dreamed of. The years have gone by so fast and every day is a new adventure for our huge family.
Jonathan Toews- Jon retired about 8 years ago at the age of 42. His whole career was with the Blackhawks and he is now the coach for the team and it’s his dream. Hockey was his everything for so long and even though he retired, he wasn't about to give it up. Coaching isn't the same as being on the ice, working out there with your team, but he still loves it. We still live in the same house- our dream house, the house we got engaged in, the house we raised our 4 kids in, the house that held so many memories for our family.
Annabella Toews- At 20 years old she’s a student at Concordia University and she found her own love in a hockey player at 18, in college, just like her mom did. She and Nathan have had ups and downs, but he’s it for her… Although she may live in Canada now, she comes to Chicago often to see her parents, sister, brothers, and the rest of the hockey family. She’s always talking about food and so it was no surprise when she told her parents that after this year at Concordia, she would be transferring to culinary school to do what she really wants in life.
Alexander Toews- He’s his father’s child. The day he was eligible, Jon signed him up for hockey and he’s been a superstar ever since. Captaining his school’s team to the championships his junior and senior year and playing on it every year. The day he got the call about the draft was the day that I saw every piece of Jon in him. He was drafted 1st overall by Chicago and Jon and the rest of us couldn't have been happier. Now, he goes to the rink every day and is coached by his father and every night he goes over to his girlfriend, Amelia’s house. Even though everyone thought Lena and Ryan would end up together, we all knew Amelia and Alex would end up with each other too.
Lena Toews- Lena is your typical 18 year old cheerleader. She’s peppy and bubbly just like her mom and uses profanity beyond belief while watching hockey also just like her mother. She was named prom queen and was accepted to the school of her dreams- John’s Hopkins and it getting ready to spend her last summer here before she heads off to college. Two years together and they’re still going strong. Ryan was eligible for the draft this year and was drafted 6th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes which obviously made Lena happy since that’s not far from her college. She majoring in medicine and, as I like to say, also happiness because whenever you’re near her, you can’t help but be happy.
Andrew Toews- The baby of the Toews children and your typical crazy 4 year old. He was a surprise to everyone including me and Jon, but a good one. He’s always keeping us on our toes and making us chase him around, but like his brother and his father, he’s a hockey child- no question about it. He may be a lot younger than the rest of the kids, but they all have a bond- the Toews and Kane children will always have a bond.
Patrick Kane- Patrick retired the same year as Jon and is the coach of the peewee hockey team in Chicago that Andrew will be joining come next season. He and Abby ended up moving to a different house once the kids got to high school. During the off season for peewee, he and Abby spend their summers in Buffalo at their house while Arianna and Jon go up to their house in Winnipeg. Retiring from hockey wasn't easy for Pat but after his last concussion, things were never the same for him. He’s proud dad to his hockey loving son and grown up little girl Amelia.
Abby Kane- Abby is still my best friend and will always be. She was there for every game that Ryan was in and made sure that everyone stayed grounded, especially Pat during the season. The day Ryan was told he was going to the draft she cried and the day Amelia left for college, she cried even more. She’s still bubbly and fun loving and very inappropriate all the time and Jon and I ended up getting her and Pat a do not disturb sign so the kids wouldn't see them “jumping on the bed” anymore.
Amelia Kane- The oldest of our six kids, but she doesn't seem it. Like her father, she’s a kid at heart and is always showing it. Whenever she comes home she’s with her boyfriend Alex or her best friend Bella. Although she’s farther away from home now due to attending the University of Boston, she still comes home to Chicago every chance she gets, but like me and Abby, she loves Boston and always will. It’s hard for her and Alex- doing long distance, but they make it work and we’re all waiting for the day they come home and say we’re getting married.
Ryan Kane- Pat’s hockey star and my little girl’s world. He and Lena had always been special, and the day they came home, Lena’s 16th birthday, and told us they were dating I almost cried due to my happiness. He was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes 6th overall and it was the best day of his life according to him and he said it’s even better because he’s close to Lena. He may be a hockey boy, but he’s grounded and smart like his mom and doesn't let the fame go to his head.
As for me… well I’m 40 now. Four years ago I got the surprise of my life in the form of my little boy Andrew. Looking back on the last 22 years, it all seems like a dream and I’m just waiting for the day I wake up, back in my bedroom at home in Boston, 18 years old and getting ready to leave for Chicago for college. Jon forever changed my life and I couldn't have asked for anything more. Marchy finally found his girl in the form of my best friend Lianne and Dougie finally popped the question to my sister about 2 years after Lena was born. And as for Adam… he finally found his dream girl and I was happy for him. At their wedding he told me he hadn't been this happy in a really long time and he really understood why I couldn't choose him. And my dear boy Tyler, well he finally settled down with a nice girl and they have 2 beautiful little girls and Tyler is hoping three times a charm for a little boy.
As for the rest of the Bruins, well, I’m still close with all of them and I’m in Boston a lot to see them. They were my family, still are, and always will be. My summers are still spent in Winnipeg with Jon’s family, but we have our own house there now. I cried the day Alex got drafted and I cried when Annabella left for college in Canada and I cried the day Lena told me she was in love with Ryan. All happy tears, and happy memories. Although I’m getting older, the memories are getting better and better.
Thinking back on all life has brought me- Abby, Jon, Pat, both of the hockey teams I’m so grateful to have become friends with, my family, my friends, this amazing city- I smile and know I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m not gonna lie. Life was crazy for me and at times I wanted to just throw it all away and give up, but in the end, it was all worth it. When I was 18 I was Chicago bound with my best friend Abby, at 21 I said forever to Chicago, and now, 22 years later, it’s still my forever.
Jon is still my forever and he will always be my baby.
22 years… 22 years since I met Jon and Pat. 22 years since I moved to Chicago. 22 years since I’d been swept off my feet and had my world changed by a man I’d only ever dreamed of. The years have gone by so fast and every day is a new adventure for our huge family.
Jonathan Toews- Jon retired about 8 years ago at the age of 42. His whole career was with the Blackhawks and he is now the coach for the team and it’s his dream. Hockey was his everything for so long and even though he retired, he wasn't about to give it up. Coaching isn't the same as being on the ice, working out there with your team, but he still loves it. We still live in the same house- our dream house, the house we got engaged in, the house we raised our 4 kids in, the house that held so many memories for our family.
Annabella Toews- At 20 years old she’s a student at Concordia University and she found her own love in a hockey player at 18, in college, just like her mom did. She and Nathan have had ups and downs, but he’s it for her… Although she may live in Canada now, she comes to Chicago often to see her parents, sister, brothers, and the rest of the hockey family. She’s always talking about food and so it was no surprise when she told her parents that after this year at Concordia, she would be transferring to culinary school to do what she really wants in life.
Alexander Toews- He’s his father’s child. The day he was eligible, Jon signed him up for hockey and he’s been a superstar ever since. Captaining his school’s team to the championships his junior and senior year and playing on it every year. The day he got the call about the draft was the day that I saw every piece of Jon in him. He was drafted 1st overall by Chicago and Jon and the rest of us couldn't have been happier. Now, he goes to the rink every day and is coached by his father and every night he goes over to his girlfriend, Amelia’s house. Even though everyone thought Lena and Ryan would end up together, we all knew Amelia and Alex would end up with each other too.
Lena Toews- Lena is your typical 18 year old cheerleader. She’s peppy and bubbly just like her mom and uses profanity beyond belief while watching hockey also just like her mother. She was named prom queen and was accepted to the school of her dreams- John’s Hopkins and it getting ready to spend her last summer here before she heads off to college. Two years together and they’re still going strong. Ryan was eligible for the draft this year and was drafted 6th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes which obviously made Lena happy since that’s not far from her college. She majoring in medicine and, as I like to say, also happiness because whenever you’re near her, you can’t help but be happy.
Andrew Toews- The baby of the Toews children and your typical crazy 4 year old. He was a surprise to everyone including me and Jon, but a good one. He’s always keeping us on our toes and making us chase him around, but like his brother and his father, he’s a hockey child- no question about it. He may be a lot younger than the rest of the kids, but they all have a bond- the Toews and Kane children will always have a bond.
Patrick Kane- Patrick retired the same year as Jon and is the coach of the peewee hockey team in Chicago that Andrew will be joining come next season. He and Abby ended up moving to a different house once the kids got to high school. During the off season for peewee, he and Abby spend their summers in Buffalo at their house while Arianna and Jon go up to their house in Winnipeg. Retiring from hockey wasn't easy for Pat but after his last concussion, things were never the same for him. He’s proud dad to his hockey loving son and grown up little girl Amelia.
Abby Kane- Abby is still my best friend and will always be. She was there for every game that Ryan was in and made sure that everyone stayed grounded, especially Pat during the season. The day Ryan was told he was going to the draft she cried and the day Amelia left for college, she cried even more. She’s still bubbly and fun loving and very inappropriate all the time and Jon and I ended up getting her and Pat a do not disturb sign so the kids wouldn't see them “jumping on the bed” anymore.
Amelia Kane- The oldest of our six kids, but she doesn't seem it. Like her father, she’s a kid at heart and is always showing it. Whenever she comes home she’s with her boyfriend Alex or her best friend Bella. Although she’s farther away from home now due to attending the University of Boston, she still comes home to Chicago every chance she gets, but like me and Abby, she loves Boston and always will. It’s hard for her and Alex- doing long distance, but they make it work and we’re all waiting for the day they come home and say we’re getting married.
Ryan Kane- Pat’s hockey star and my little girl’s world. He and Lena had always been special, and the day they came home, Lena’s 16th birthday, and told us they were dating I almost cried due to my happiness. He was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes 6th overall and it was the best day of his life according to him and he said it’s even better because he’s close to Lena. He may be a hockey boy, but he’s grounded and smart like his mom and doesn't let the fame go to his head.
As for me… well I’m 40 now. Four years ago I got the surprise of my life in the form of my little boy Andrew. Looking back on the last 22 years, it all seems like a dream and I’m just waiting for the day I wake up, back in my bedroom at home in Boston, 18 years old and getting ready to leave for Chicago for college. Jon forever changed my life and I couldn't have asked for anything more. Marchy finally found his girl in the form of my best friend Lianne and Dougie finally popped the question to my sister about 2 years after Lena was born. And as for Adam… he finally found his dream girl and I was happy for him. At their wedding he told me he hadn't been this happy in a really long time and he really understood why I couldn't choose him. And my dear boy Tyler, well he finally settled down with a nice girl and they have 2 beautiful little girls and Tyler is hoping three times a charm for a little boy.
As for the rest of the Bruins, well, I’m still close with all of them and I’m in Boston a lot to see them. They were my family, still are, and always will be. My summers are still spent in Winnipeg with Jon’s family, but we have our own house there now. I cried the day Alex got drafted and I cried when Annabella left for college in Canada and I cried the day Lena told me she was in love with Ryan. All happy tears, and happy memories. Although I’m getting older, the memories are getting better and better.
Thinking back on all life has brought me- Abby, Jon, Pat, both of the hockey teams I’m so grateful to have become friends with, my family, my friends, this amazing city- I smile and know I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m not gonna lie. Life was crazy for me and at times I wanted to just throw it all away and give up, but in the end, it was all worth it. When I was 18 I was Chicago bound with my best friend Abby, at 21 I said forever to Chicago, and now, 22 years later, it’s still my forever.
Jon is still my forever and he will always be my baby.
I'm sorry :/ We just didn't know what else... we've done everything we can but we're glad you all enjoyed it and we'll be posting more verryyyy soon ;)
9/1/13