Our fate changed on a summer day in 2014 when Valerie got a glimpse of her future mister. While browsing the fellas in Denver and comparing them to her mental checklist she stumbled on a handsome blue-eyed brunette. Josh aka NetJet1 was an educated, sarcastic, older man (check, check, check) that enjoyed antiquing, sports, and witty conversation. So, as the story goes, Valerie, or COplusHI put on her big girl pants and sent him a message. The contents of said message are widely debated and forever lost in the tombs of match.com archives but vaguely translated said “Hi. Let’s date.” After a handful of text message and phone calls they decided to meet for a drink on Tennyson street. **Spoiler alert: this would later become the site of the proposal just over a year later**
Our first date was not one of fairy tale comparison. In fact, it was awkward at best. We had spent many moons talking about our passions and ambitions of the phone that when it came to meeting in person the crickets could be heard over the silent hum of awkwardness between us. We dined on Moscow mules and house chips and in a lucky turn of events decided on a walk around the neighborhood to reduce both the noise in the bar and (hopefully) the awkward small talk. Indeed, the walk lead to beers at another local watering hole and a leisurely stroll to Valerie’s car that she parked in front of her friend’s house in case Josh turned out to be a murderer (Shout out to Bridget and Mike for living in the West Highlands!) A second and third date later ensued that same week.
Though we joke it was our sixth date when we moved in together, it was in-fact around 6 weeks after meeting that we moved in together. Valerie recalls the fear she felt when informing her family that she would be shacking up with a man they’d met twice. As all good mothers do when their daughter shares this news she said “how do you know he won’t kill you in your sleep?” Thanks Mom for your attention to detail. Anyway, it was official. We were living under one roof together as a couple by September 2014.
The next year was one filled with about a zillion dates, a handful of fabulous vacations, and a dash of future planning.
