Let's I Do This Thing!

It wasn’t as much a love story at this point as it was a typical spring semester gym class, just one highlighted by gym softball and a pretty brunette upper-classwoman.

There was an interesting friendship on the rise and spring was in full bloom. AOL Instant Messenger was thriving, and smartphones were still only in Sci-Fi movies. At this point, the male hero of our story decided to face fears and draft a meticulously romantic note to ask his new Gym BFF to Junior Prom, naturally, by accessing the Buddy List on his AIM account. According to the male, she must have melted when she said yes.

A summer love ended with what is referred to as a “sabbatical”. Our heroine was off to pursue college studies, and the male (still a boy at this point of our story), courageously was pursuing his own direction.

Our male and female characters find themselves meeting at a local house party. The male, who we’ll call Ryan at this point in our story, stumbled to make a good first re-impression. Taken right back to the emotions of half a decade earlier, part of the strategy was fumbling jokes trying to make the brunette beauty laugh. Part 2 of the strategy also included consuming too much alcohol so our female counterpart would have to give him a ride home.

Months and months of flirtatious texts ensued (mostly involving fantasy basketball conversations). Our female, who we’ll call Kaitlyn, treaded quite cautiously and finally caved for a second 1st date! 6 months of a young summer love, 5 years off in different directions, and 1 chance night leaving each other with just enough nostalgia to wonder, … what if?

The boy - nervous emotions, scampering to get ready, dashes out the front door, hitting every 3rd step on the way down the stairs… feeling quite fleet-footed on a perfect summer night for that second 1st date. It wasn’t until it was time to pay that he had a realization; perhaps the reason he was able to pounce down the steps so quickly was because he was so much lighter without his wallet in his pocket… He still owes her for those drinks.

More dates followed. Laughs, drinks, events, and fun. For months, and months, and months, and months….. We won’t name names, but Kaitlyn made him earn her back. Until there we are, 2014, 9 years after it all kicked off at Junior Prom, a 5 year sabbatical, and a few years of putting the puzzle pieces of life together. We were in love and committed to building a life together. Dating, apartments, vacations.

An amazing trip to Iceland led to November 22, 2017. Ryan bending to one knee in 28 degree temperatures and 60 mile per hour winds at Skogafoss waterfall, and Kaitlyn agreeing to spend the rest of her life with him. Let the next adventures begin!