Picture this: a dimly lit office space in the mid 1990s, sections defined with moveable walls, drab carpeting everywhere. The stale air is punctuated by the constant ring of telephones and the voices of friendly and/or bored Customer Service agents.
I settle into my chair, ready to answer calls, and glance across the room at the American Express division of Comp-U-Card.
She was leaving for the day, and strolled quickly towards the elevators. I was intrigued, and knew I simply had to get to know her better. Over the weeks, I interrupted her conversations with a co-worker, my contributions quite awkward in restrospect. Eventually, I followed her to where she sat at the food court for lunch, and mustered the courage to ask her out on a movie date.
It was The Crow, and I shielded her eyes from the scary bits (which was incredibly dorky).
I remember fondly ice cream dates at Swensons, long walks downtown, and finally finding the courage to grasp her hand at the Jazz Festival; meeting her Mom after a long Summer walk past St Joseph's Oratory, and late Christmas Eves dosing off next to her at Claire's.
Flash forward to 1999.
We're dressed up, me in a rare suit, she in a beautiful lilac dress, standing in front of a minister at Disney World, the December air warm and joyous. Placing the ring on her finger feels magical, befitting our surroundings, and it stuns me how almost 11 wonderful years have elapsed since that perfect day.
I was pretty lucky; when I met my wife, I didn't really believe that I could possibly find a person for me. Perhaps by having the state of mind where I wasn't actively looking, I was finally open to finding what had been missing from my life.
Isabelle is incredibly special: she's warm, thoughtful, with clear opinions and a tremendous capacity for love. We both share a refusal to grow up, and a desire to constantly communicate with one another. She has followed me across the country, without hesitation; together we've plunged into home ownership and raising a family. She has stood by me in sickness and health, good times and bad.
I was very fortunate to have met her in that office, and am truly blessed to have her as my life partner and best friend.
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