We met on the N Judah, one of San Francisco's Muni train lines! That day after work I rode BART out to Oakland to look at an apartment and after took a later train back home. I stood in the back of the car reading a book to pass the time. About halfway through two very talkative guys boarded my car and continued their animated conversation nearby me. I couldn't help but overhear bits about this and that, but what caught my ear was when one of them said how "tech is up and coming in Austin, TX." and then somewhat sheepishly admitted to not really knowing since they'd never actually been there. I grinned and laughed to myself. I was new to SF and soon to be all on my own and trying to make friends. I took that statement as my IN into their conversation and butted in with something about how I DID know about it because in fact my brother-in-law was transferring to Austin, TX from his job here in the city. The three of us chatted for several minutes and then we started to come up to their stop. They asked if it was mine too. I said it wasn't, I had a bit further to go. They invited me to join them for a drink. I thought to myself, they seem harmless and if they end up being weirdos I can just jump on a train and probably never see them again. There are a LOT of people in the city anyhow! I said yes and we all jumped off before the doors closed. The three of us walked to The Ice Cream Bar and chatted about our interests and our families over ice cream cocktails. Terrence and I discovered that we both are from large families (me 10+ kids and he 8 kids!). He not so slyly tried to guess my age with the age of my youngest sibling minus our age gap. We laughed and then headed to another bar to play darts, drink whiskey and talk about motorcycles and making friends in the city. He invited me to meet up the following night with coworkers for trivia and I agreed and gave him my number. I had no idea what would happen but I knew I had just met someone really special.

Wednesday 6-12-19 started like any other day. That afternoon was another work happy hour I wasn’t sure I would attend. Several hours after happy hour ended, my coworker Nate and I emerge from a dimly lit bar to find the train home. As we board I survey the other passengers and notice a dark haired young woman holding a tablet in the back of the train car. Nate and I start chatting and the conversation wanders as they tend too after a lengthy happy hour. We chat about other cities with a growing tech presence in the US. I mention I've heard that Austin is becoming a tech hub for Texas but I have never been. Before I am aware totally of what's happening Nate is saying hi to the dark haired girl as she approaches us. I pull myself up a little straighter, thank goodness these train cars have bars to hold on. She came over after hearing us chatting about Austin, the tech company her brother in law works for is opening an office there. This helps solidify my extensive knowledge of the Austin tech scene. Over the next few minutes of chatting we learn her name is Tiana and she is new to the city. The stop Nate and I are jumping off at is fast approaching, I've spent the last few minutes trying to determine how we could keep chatting. I turn and announce we should all grab a drink. After some quick thinking we settle on a cocktail at The Ice Cream bar. Little did I know I was taking a whiskey drinker to an ice cream bar. After the ice cream bar we proceed down the street to your run of the mill Irish neighborhood watering hole. Earlier we had learned she is seeking to make more friends in the city, I knew this was a perfect chance for me to get her number. Nate departs, giving me a knowing glance. We walk to the train and chat as we wait for her westbound N Judah. I extend a trivia night invite with my friends, she agrees and we exchange numbers, agreeing I text her the details the following day, Her train pulls up and I wave goodbye as I start walking towards home.