Kids, it was 2013 and I found myself staring at the white page of Google Images, hoping to find the perfect wallpaper for my phone. I had just watched an episode of my favorite long-time series of all time: How I Met Your Mother.
The episode that night was one of a kind, I kid you not, kids.
Before I go into further details why I thought the episode was one of a kind, let me tell you my fascination with the series (don't worry, I won't take 9 years to tell it all).
It was 2008-
No, I think it was 2007.
Okay, I really don't remember. I do know that I was in high school back then, a sophomore I think, I had actually become quite shy that-
Anyways, off topic. Moving on.
I was a sophomore in high school and a good friend had invited me to their home. As I walked in their living room, I heard wild laughter from their viewing room (yes kids, the friend had a viewing room. Viewing rooms are like the home cinemas of 2032). Her brother was inside and he was watching something on the screen that made him laugh like a hyena.
"What's he watching?" I asked.
The friend's eyes twinkled.
"Oh we're having a How I Met Your Mother season 4 marathon," she said, "It's one of the best series."
My mind rings a ding (get it? Ring a ding? Okay, never mind). The series did sound familiar. In fact, I heard a couple of kids talking about it at school. What I knew about the series was very little. I knew they had a guy named after a purple dinosaur who runs after women but is gay in real life. And that the series is about a guy who tells his kids about how he met their mother.
Kids, that was the how I met How I Met Your Mother.
Okay, that wasn't the time I met her. That was the time I first glanced upon her and looked away.
I wasn't interested with HIMYM that time. I can't remember what series I was hooked on: Ghost Whisperer, I think? Point is, I brushed off the series that would one day be a part of my college life.
Fast forward to 2012.
Kids, for the life of me, meeting HIMYM was one of those moments that just had to happen.
College was stressful. A good thump on the head with the Bible kept me going. Friends cheered me on.My family would raise flags in honor of me if they could. There was so much one can do in a span of five minutes.
By that time, I had said my goodbyes to Ghost Whisperer when I found out the show was cancelled after the fifth season. It felt odd not to have a series to hang on. We didn't have cable that time so I had no luck in finding one.
I fully met her one fateful night as I lay on my parents' bed, impatiently flipping the channels for a good show. I stopped on channel 9, ETC. On the screen, I watched as a blonde dude sing about suits and dancing along with four other people also in suits (even the women!). From what I could understand, this guy was singing about his preference for suits than women.
As I watched, I had this gut feeling that I was finally watching the legendary series.
And kids, that was how I met How I Met Your Mother.
After that, it wasn't instant love at first sight. It took months of encouragement from the babbles of my friends who are big fans and that certain dorm mate who took the liberty of sharing her HIMYM files (seasons 1 thru 7) before I gave in to the craze and joined the bandwagon for the search of the lady under the yellow umbrella.
And the rest they say is natural history.
Going back to that time I was staring at the white page of Google Images, I knew what sort of wallpaper I wanted for my phone.
The season finale of season 8 was one of the most explosive endings in my entire life, kids. Finally, after 8 seasons of wrong relationships, ducky ties, tramp stamps and runaway brides, The Mother was revealed. I stared at the face of the Mother everyone has been searching for.
You could imagine my excitement for season 9.
Anyways, I typed 'Ted and the Mother' on the search space. From Harry & Ginny to Katniss & Peeta, this new lovely pair added to my list of favorite couples ever since episode 1 of season 9. At first, Cristin Milloti seemed a bit off to play The Mother but as I watched her, I knew that they had a reason for casting her in such an important role.
When the page finished loading, I saw some of the most beautiful pictures in the world.
LOVE in a picture, kids. Love in a picture.
The episode that night was one of a kind, I kid you not, kids.
Before I go into further details why I thought the episode was one of a kind, let me tell you my fascination with the series (don't worry, I won't take 9 years to tell it all).
It was 2008-
No, I think it was 2007.
Okay, I really don't remember. I do know that I was in high school back then, a sophomore I think, I had actually become quite shy that-
Anyways, off topic. Moving on.
I was a sophomore in high school and a good friend had invited me to their home. As I walked in their living room, I heard wild laughter from their viewing room (yes kids, the friend had a viewing room. Viewing rooms are like the home cinemas of 2032). Her brother was inside and he was watching something on the screen that made him laugh like a hyena.
"What's he watching?" I asked.
The friend's eyes twinkled.
"Oh we're having a How I Met Your Mother season 4 marathon," she said, "It's one of the best series."
My mind rings a ding (get it? Ring a ding? Okay, never mind). The series did sound familiar. In fact, I heard a couple of kids talking about it at school. What I knew about the series was very little. I knew they had a guy named after a purple dinosaur who runs after women but is gay in real life. And that the series is about a guy who tells his kids about how he met their mother.
Kids, that was the how I met How I Met Your Mother.
Okay, that wasn't the time I met her. That was the time I first glanced upon her and looked away.
I wasn't interested with HIMYM that time. I can't remember what series I was hooked on: Ghost Whisperer, I think? Point is, I brushed off the series that would one day be a part of my college life.
Fast forward to 2012.
Kids, for the life of me, meeting HIMYM was one of those moments that just had to happen.
College was stressful. A good thump on the head with the Bible kept me going. Friends cheered me on.My family would raise flags in honor of me if they could. There was so much one can do in a span of five minutes.
By that time, I had said my goodbyes to Ghost Whisperer when I found out the show was cancelled after the fifth season. It felt odd not to have a series to hang on. We didn't have cable that time so I had no luck in finding one.
I fully met her one fateful night as I lay on my parents' bed, impatiently flipping the channels for a good show. I stopped on channel 9, ETC. On the screen, I watched as a blonde dude sing about suits and dancing along with four other people also in suits (even the women!). From what I could understand, this guy was singing about his preference for suits than women.
As I watched, I had this gut feeling that I was finally watching the legendary series.
And kids, that was how I met How I Met Your Mother.
After that, it wasn't instant love at first sight. It took months of encouragement from the babbles of my friends who are big fans and that certain dorm mate who took the liberty of sharing her HIMYM files (seasons 1 thru 7) before I gave in to the craze and joined the bandwagon for the search of the lady under the yellow umbrella.
And the rest they say is natural history.
Going back to that time I was staring at the white page of Google Images, I knew what sort of wallpaper I wanted for my phone.
The season finale of season 8 was one of the most explosive endings in my entire life, kids. Finally, after 8 seasons of wrong relationships, ducky ties, tramp stamps and runaway brides, The Mother was revealed. I stared at the face of the Mother everyone has been searching for.
You could imagine my excitement for season 9.
Anyways, I typed 'Ted and the Mother' on the search space. From Harry & Ginny to Katniss & Peeta, this new lovely pair added to my list of favorite couples ever since episode 1 of season 9. At first, Cristin Milloti seemed a bit off to play The Mother but as I watched her, I knew that they had a reason for casting her in such an important role.
When the page finished loading, I saw some of the most beautiful pictures in the world.
 |
| The Mother and Ted* |
LOVE in a picture, kids. Love in a picture.
Entertainment Weekly's HIMYM shoot struck me like cupid's bow. Titling their article The Mother of Goodbyes, I felt the slow farewell of my favorite series, which was bound to end on March 31, 2014.
Time flew so fast.
I decided to look for more pictures of the shoot. Google never failed to give me what I wanted.
It seems like yesterday that Barney swore off women for good and got himself engaged with Robin. I never thought that such relationship would push through. Who would've thought a slobbering womanizer like Barney would end up with Canadian rock/ previous teeny bopper singer/past anti-marriage girl like Robin. The weekend wedding of season 9 (dragging it may be on some occasions) has been an interesting ride towards the end and also a revealing change for the both of them.
I mean, c'mon kids, the rehearsal dinner was a definite heart-tugger.
If Marshall & Lily are Mr. and Mrs. Awesome, Robin & Barney are Mr. and Mrs. Legen- wait for it- Dary!
 |
| Mr. & Mrs. Legendary |
Speaking of Marshall and Lily, I can't imagine a more awesome married couple than them.
I've always been a fan of their quirky and odd married lifestyle. In their little group, L & M are the only ones who are so attuned to one another that should one stomach ache, so would the other. Marshall has been a very loyal hubby, doesn't attempt to instantly lust after other women because of his intense devotion to his Lily-pad (despite the latter's odd desires and somewhat bisexual preferences?). Not only that, his 'oh-shucksy-doodles' demeanor has bought him closer to our hearts.
Lily's the typical small but terrible girl who proves that life can bring you down but you can always stand up and Aldrin Justice those who deserve it.
Now, they have Baby Marvin who is the epitome of baby awesomeness. Their streak as the best couples is now being overrun by their goal to become the world's most awesome parents.
And then, there's Ted.
Kids, for the life of me, I've never met a dad who would take 9 years in telling his kids the story of how he met their mother.
Ted has been the poster child of all those who are searching for love. I don't know how long it took him in the series to find the Mother. Must've been 5? 6? Well, all I know is he was past 30 when he got married. And let's not forget the 20 plus women he dated and slept with, with only 5 of them significant: Victoria, Zoey, Cindy, Stella, Robin and of course, The Mother.
Hopeless romantics loved Ted. He searched for love high and low, in bars, laser tags, and the likes.
His long narratives pissed, not only his kids, but also us. Like I said, kids, it took him 9 seasons to get to the end of the story. There were false alarms like Stella, Cindy and Robin and all of them caused me to bite my pillows furiously. Though he'd been broken one too many times, Ted persevered (although I wanted to smack him when he wanted to leave for Chicago)
Finally, after 9 seasons, he was going to meet her.
I've always been a fan of their quirky and odd married lifestyle. In their little group, L & M are the only ones who are so attuned to one another that should one stomach ache, so would the other. Marshall has been a very loyal hubby, doesn't attempt to instantly lust after other women because of his intense devotion to his Lily-pad (despite the latter's odd desires and somewhat bisexual preferences?). Not only that, his 'oh-shucksy-doodles' demeanor has bought him closer to our hearts.
Lily's the typical small but terrible girl who proves that life can bring you down but you can always stand up and Aldrin Justice those who deserve it.
Now, they have Baby Marvin who is the epitome of baby awesomeness. Their streak as the best couples is now being overrun by their goal to become the world's most awesome parents.
 |
| Lawyer'ed by Mr. & Mrs. Awesome! |
And then, there's Ted.
Kids, for the life of me, I've never met a dad who would take 9 years in telling his kids the story of how he met their mother.
Ted has been the poster child of all those who are searching for love. I don't know how long it took him in the series to find the Mother. Must've been 5? 6? Well, all I know is he was past 30 when he got married. And let's not forget the 20 plus women he dated and slept with, with only 5 of them significant: Victoria, Zoey, Cindy, Stella, Robin and of course, The Mother.
Hopeless romantics loved Ted. He searched for love high and low, in bars, laser tags, and the likes.
His long narratives pissed, not only his kids, but also us. Like I said, kids, it took him 9 seasons to get to the end of the story. There were false alarms like Stella, Cindy and Robin and all of them caused me to bite my pillows furiously. Though he'd been broken one too many times, Ted persevered (although I wanted to smack him when he wanted to leave for Chicago)
Finally, after 9 seasons, he was going to meet her.
 |
| The Yellow Umbrella Couple |
Despite the fact that Ted finally meeting the Mother meant the end of a wonderful show, I knew that at some point, we all had to let go. We had to let Marshall & Lily unpause and settle for the biggest decision of their lives: Marshall becoming a judge or Lily becoming an art-consultant in Rome? Barney and Robin must finally seal their wedding with a kiss and prove to others that lone wolves can live together and be happy forever.
And Ted should finally meet the Mother.
Kids, I will never forget How I Met Your Mother. It taught me not to stop believing, to never give up on hoping that love will be found by you when you're ready...that there's so much more to life than just finding the One.
Someday, you'll understand why your old Mom loves yellow umbrellas.
Because they remind me the things are going to be legen- wait for it- dary.
Legendary.
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| Barney & Robin |
 |
| Lily & Marshall |
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| Legendary Fab Five +the goat |
(c) Ashley Petallano, 2013
*Photos from Entertainment Weekly September 2013 Issue
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