It’s weird, typing that sentence in 2021 sounds like I’m about to tell a story of being verbally assaulted in a target. Instead, it’s the story of meeting my forever home. 2018 I made my way up to Alaska for a maintenance gig on Fox Island, an island with a handful of buildings 15 miles off shore from the city of Seward. My first day I had to go into the office in Seward and do hiring paperwork before taking a boat out to the island. As I sat there in the office, Karen came in to grab a cup of coffee. There was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity to say hi to this pretty lady. I left that office feeling like a million bucks and already thinking of when I’d be able to speak with her again. One of my jobs on the island was to help catch and release the boats. So fortunately for me, I was right on the dock when she got off the boat. I was shocked, I hadn’t expected to see Karen until I got back to Seward. She walked by without saying a word, but certainly said enough with her eyes. She left me with cheeks red, a smile that couldn’t be tamed, and butterflies in my stomach. After the boats I was supposed to build a set of stairs for a deck. It just so happened that the table Karen was eating at was between my tool shed and the stairs... I had no other choice but to walk by with my tool belt, drills, and saws. Oh and it was absolutely necessary to carry a bunch of heavy lumber by her table as well. For all my showboating I still hadn’t worked up the courage to walk up and say hi again, so she came and said it to me. We agreed to hang out the upcoming weekend for the Fourth of July. On the third of July, Seward has a huge celebration. Fireworks, a mountain race, and dancing at the bars. Karen and I decided to meet up and get a drink together. Before long we were dancing, swaying and grooving to the music. The rest of the night was a blur of dancing, drinks and more laughs then I could ever count. That summer flew by and I knew I could never get enough.

We met in Seward, Alaska! We were both working for a whale watching co. Actually, this part of our story is kinda creepy but very millennial. Before coming to Seward there was an employee list published. I looked at the list to see who I would be working with. You know the usual Facebook creep (Haha). So, I looked him up and saw that he was very attractive and liked dogs. I screenshot to send to my roommate in Seward and said "This is gonna be my boo this summer." Joking yet not realizing this was actually my destiny. Weeks go by and the season is well underway. I had forgotten about the Facebook creeping. I was checking people in for their tours when suddenly...I saw him. I realized how I knew his face and started laughing with my coworkers about how creepy that all was. Then, I decided to go introduce myself. I went to "grab a coffee" in the break room. He was in there with another employee that I had known from previous summers. Coworker asked me if I had met him yet, to which I replied no. James stood up and very confidently shook my hand and said "Hi, I'm James." Nothing romantic but I was like...yes...this man is as hot as I thought. Being human is so simple sometimes. Then one night a bunch of the front desk girls decide to go to the Island. We are sitting down eating and he keeps walking past our table. He walked past enough times that my friends were like "This dude is trying to talk to you." So, when he walked by again I asked him how he was enjoying the island. We chit chatted and he asked if I wanted to grab a beer with him in Seward. I said yes and started to walk away. I wanted to play it cool. He said "Wait, I don't have your phone #." And I cooly said "You'll figure it out!" We ran into each other at the bars and danced. It was so much fun. He was just dancing goofy and having genuine fun. We hung out all night and from then on the rest of summer we were falling in love. He is my equal. We are partners. I can't wait for all of our adventures.