Brannen and I had known each other from river paddling for several years. One day at the Nantahala Falls, I had an out-of-boat experience that ended with my paddle going one way, my boat another, and me having a rather long swim. When I got to shore, my paddle was nowhere to be found. Brannen had already changed clothes and was checking to make sure everyone on the trip was ready to go home when I told him my paddle was lost. To my surprise and delight he changed back into his paddle clothes, got his boat off his car and went with me in search of my paddle. We couldn't find it and he had gone to get dressed again when a tip from the NOC Outfitter Store led me right to it. It was jammed up against a rock out in the current. When he returned to find me looking forlornly out at the river, he changed again and waded out until he could (safely) reach the paddle and brought it back to me. I was so excited and happy, I gave him a great big kiss! I knew I had found a very special man and not long afterwards he asked me out on a date. We have had seven wonderful years together since then.