What She Said

So, here is where I tell you my version of how we came to be as a couple. The events may be the same as Connor’s, but I can assure you the interpretation is MUCH different!

Let me start at the very beginning. Social Sciences room 215, I sat in the back row, not because I was anti social, but because from there I could mutter under my breath and no one would hear me. Dr Miller, also referred to as “The Miller” or “The Byron” announces that one of the students in the class is going to give a presentation on some random thing they won an award for. I kind of rolled my eyes because I had heard about this project and it’s star students a million times. Up walks the student, I take a moment to see if it’s worth paying attention to, and see this grey haired, thick rimmed glasses, teachers pet standing there. My first reaction was to laugh that the teachers pet had more grey hair then he did, and my second reaction was to admit that he was cute, but then go back to writing notes on the paper I had due in a few weeks later. The paper was more important to me at the time – so to this day, I can’t tell you how the presentation was or if it was at all informative.

Fast forward a few weeks. Siting in Earth Sciences room 325, my good friend turns to me and says, “hey, I think we need a drink after this”. I couldn’t agree more, Dr Davies has that effect on people. So after class we saunter down to the Den and meet up with some of the other Urban Studies students. ~cue me laughing because sitting across the table was the teachers pet~ It was that point that I learned his name was Connor.

Over the next two years I learned a lot about this Connor kid. I learned that he didn’t think he was the “big deal” that the award made him seem to be. I learned that he couldn’t handle Davies and as a result would end up cheating off my study notes before exams. And I learned that you can deal with anything as long as you have a few good friends and a place to drink at the end of the day.

Eventually, we all graduated and dispersed. We thought we should probably grow up a little and stop hanging out at dive bars. That lasted all but a few months. Soon we were all meeting back up at the dive bars and lamenting about how life after university sucks. These nights out became some of my favourite. Please note: Many times there was meet ups, I either left early or couldn’t come at all because of family obligations. They thought I was making things up, trying to jam early, but alas, I now have a witness that can testify that I do, in fact, have a lot of family events. ~See Doug, there is a witness now!~

Now, cue Connor’s birthday. The invite goes out and I decide to go. Pack up a good friend and see what it’s all about. Well, the first few hours was all about ladies night…because someone was VERY late for his own birthday. I tried to leave because I’m kind of a stickler for punctuality, but said friend convinced me to stay. And I’m happy she did. You can say that it was this birthday that kind of helped Hansel pick up some damn bread crumbs and use my phone number for something other than asking when the term paper is due!

Fast forward through first dates that were a hilarity in their own right, a trip to Ireland that ended sooner than expected, and the easy but somewhat controversial decision to live together. Here we are – the teachers pet, and the girl with the answers. If there is one thing that I can say about this whole thing it’s that, once you’ve seen someone drink away the sorrows of finals, start twitching at the thought of another class with Davies, and cram writing a 2,500 word term paper between beers and a trip to ‘Could Be beef’, there isn’t much left you can’t figure out for yourself. Being friends before dating only made it all that much easier to fall in love with this nerd.

What He Said

I’m going to gander that the previous paragraphs mentioned one and maybe even all of the previous statements – Breadcrumb Trails, Hansel & Gretel, Being Late for my own Birthday … and yes it’s all true. Our relationship has the single most convoluted path in the history of mankind. Most of these detours rest solely on my shoulders.

But in my defense, we’ve only ever had one official date since this whirlwind trip began two years ago. So what was the rush? As we all know, The Good Lord works in Mysterious ways and look where we are now… Getting married.

So, really I was just following the Good Lord’s intended path?

I digress.

I first met the woman that would become my wife, where all good relationships start … the local university watering hole. There was a group of us that were waiting to head to another late evening course hosted by Wayne Davies. One of the usual suspects (The legendary Monte) suggested we prepare for class with a quick bite and pint at the Den. He was meeting a buddy there before class and invited us along.

His buddy turned out to be this girl… This girl turned out to be Caitlin.

There is no way to skirt around this, but my first impression of Caitlin was pure intimidation. Because of Monte’s archaic age and my general dimwitted nature, I assumed Caitlin was a 32 year old graduate student. She was head strong, book-smart, extremely organized and overtly determined with a witty repertoire – in short I thought she was far too mature to be toiling in the Den with this rag tag crew of UBST boneheads.

After that first encounter, Caitlin would continue to join our Thursday night meet-ups at the Den. Overtime, I’d be introduced to Caitlin’s sharply honed sarcasm, her infectiously warm smile, her uncanny admiration for someone named Merlin, her love of Robot Chicken and her odd spin on probability. Later that year, once I finally graduated from the University of Calgary, these UBST meet-ups would continue on. A year and a bit passed, Facebook would be thrust upon the world and the communication lines between Caitlin and myself would be reopened on a daily basis. Facebook would give me the pleasure of missing countless opportunities to ask out Caitlin … From the status scandal of early 2007 to the oblivious flirtation attempts from Caitlin with my corporate headshots. All golden missed opportunities.

Then in 2007, something rather funny happened on my way to go live in Ireland. (yes, I had randomly decided to rediscover my roots in Ireland and England for an undetermined amount of time) I threw a birthday/going away party and invited all of my friends. Everyone I ever knew. Including, my UBST friends and in particular, Caitlin. When we arrived at Broken City for the party, a rather unimpressed Caitlin greeted me at the door. (Apparently I was late for my own party and thankfully a friend had forced her to wait) It would be this night that I would finally muster up the courage to ask Caitlin out … on our only date … One month before I was to move to the homeland for a year.

We all know how this story ends up, I would end up cutting my Irish Exodus dramatically short. Caitlin and myself would move in 10 days after my return form Ireland and we’d be engaged the following New Years Eve as shower of fireworks exploded in the misty Seattle sky on the corner of Westlake and 5th.

Even I as I write my version of the story, the entire convulted process seems surreal. While, it has only been a short two year adventure, it’s been one hell of a ride. And I’m looking forward to what the future has instore for the two of us … and rest assured I’ll take solicstice in the fact that the Good Lord works in mysterious ways.