"We met at work" sounds so dry compared to the rich layers of our story. Literal years of history, starting with a plop down at his work desk saying "Okay, I'm here to watch you work today as my current internship assignment" and his shy reply "Oh, no. I'm the LEAST qualified for you to observe, are you sure?" With a laugh and a "Too bad, you're stuck with me for the day", our acquaintance began. Acquaintances into tentative friends, we worked around each other for years with some casual flirting (on my part), friendly obliviousness (on his), and finally lots of courage to hang out at a metal show after work one evening. All it took was his reciprocation of my enthusiasm for my favorite band and a STUNNING display of his sunny personality for me to decide there was more I wanted to explore. For his part, it took me spelling out that I was NOT interested in joining his vast legion of friends, but rather more than that. That message received, he happily planned a birthday date that was woven throughout with thoughtfulness and an apparent knowledge of my interests. I was swept away forever. Since then we have been rather inseparable with a relationship of easy companionship, loud laughter, and unconditional warmth.