Hi Y’all!

Marcela: "Help me here, what's the difference between Gucci, and Gucci Mane? Like.. are they affiliated?" Hardly the first words I would have guessed the gingery freshmen sitting near me in the Hyde Hall freshman dorm would use as a pick up line. I'd barely gotten out of one fast paced "Whatsyourname-whereareyoufrom-whatsyourdorm" style freshman year conversations, when I was caught up in another. This time with a more unique prompt than the rest. I had no idea that not only would the conversation last hours, leaving us as the last people in the room, but that I was getting myself into a lifetime of these whimsical, joyful, pointless chats. From "so I've been thinking of 1880s London tax reform" to "ROME??", I've been able to bounce similarly random half-baked ideas off Matt for over seven years. I can't wait for a lifetime more. Matt: Seven years ago, Marcela and I met in the Hyde Hall common room.  When it came time to part, I asked if I could walk her home.  She demurred, saying it was just across the way.  I walked her to the door and watched her walk the 30 yards to Coleman Hall. I couldn't believe this woman I had met, and I couldn't wait to see her again!  The same pattern played out each time we saw each other that year.  Marcela and I would draw out every parting, sometimes interminably.  We would stand in the Coleman entryway saying goodbye for thirty minutes, or longer.  This rather inconvenienced anyone trying to go in or out of the building.  Naturally, we developed something of a reputation.  Once, during the long Maine winter we outside the door "saying goodbye" for so long that the tree shrugged a branch's worth of snow onto our heads.  We never were much good at goodbyes.  I can not wait to marry her so it's never goodbye, just see you soon.