And So It Began....

It all started with a little purchase at the University of Utah Bookstore, at the Candy Counter.... I work at the Bookstore in the Merchandise Department during the fall and spring. This particular semester (spring 2009), I would take a shift at the Candy Counter for about two hours everyday. I enjoyed the break from folding shirts and hanging things, as well as the customer interaction. I would get to enjoy many of the treats that I sold, one of my favorites was Chocolate Covered Cashews...yummy!

Nathan came in one day to buy some chocolate covered cashews, and I happened to be working the register, (if anyone knows me, they know I like people!), I make comments on things that I like. I asked him what was in the bag (it was bulk candy) he told me Chocolate Covered Cashews and I smiled, knowing it was one of my favorites and said, "Good Choice." That had caught his attention, plus my curly hair (I am quite sure). With all the customers I go through I don't remember too many customers, but he remembered.

My side of how our courtship unfolded, was that he came up to me later at the University Institute and asked me if he could use Gift Cards at the Candy Counter, I told him he could, but was thinking "how could he know that I knew that?" he was very smooth in asking me about that and catching my attention as well as asking what my name was... again, and I didn't remember introducing my name before either. I promptly told him my name and he told me his, which to my surprise, I remembered.

The day after our first encounter on the West side of the Institute (which was my first location in the scavenger hunt for the proposal), he saw me after I had gotten done with Sigma where we had been doing Richard Simmons' 80's aerobics. I was heading out and he came up and talked to me, we happened to get talking about sports and he asked what sports do I do. I didn't want to tell him right out that I do triathlons, so I skirted around the question saying that I swim, run and bike, but I didn't get away with just saying that. My awesome Sigma President Alicia was walking up the stairs and promptly told him that I did triathlons and that I was going to Lubbock, Texas for a big triathlon. I was shaking my head thinking, "oh man, now he is going to be scared off," (this had happened before with other guys). He told me to stay there for a sec and he left, I said, "Great, it did scare him off, but at least he was polite about how he left." What did I know but he went and got a few of his buddies from Mu, who all wanted to do tri's, and told them about me. It was so flattering, and he really caught my attention with not being scared off by that.

He happened to be in a Triathlon Training class at the time and asked me to come along, so I did, I needed all the training I could get. I was so happy to be getting to know him, and the more I got to talk to him the more interested I got, he was to interesting to talk with (and not the Scott meaning of interesting). I was starting to really like him. I looked forward to being able to see him, or occasionally run into him, whether it was at the institute or on Facebook Chat at 10 o'clock at night (I would often stay up a little later just so I could continue talking to him).

He did not ask me out on Facebook, he waited till right before Spring Break when we were both going to be gone to ask me out. Luckily for the both of us we had the Tuesday evening free before we both left. It was on March 10th and he made me dinner at his apartment. I helped, and ended up dropping a piece of chicken in the grill! He says its because I am left handed, but really it is because I was distracted. It was a low key, but fun date. We looked at his mission pictures, watched and episode of The Office, but when it came time to take me home, we just kept talking, I didn't end up going in until almost 2am. My parents wouldn't let me live it down, but I didn't care I was so excited. He did sign a Buck Shot Shot Gun Shell, as all my first dates have, and now he gets to shoot them all off, except his own, my dad gets to keep that.

We both went on our Spring Break trips, but I was distracted the whole time, thinking "hmm... does he like me, oh I don't know. He keeps texting me and talking to me. Oh I don't know." I was a typical girl about it. I thought way too much about it, and over analyzed it all. He called me after he had gotten home, he called me and asked me out for a second date that Saturday after I was home and I was just so excited, I could not wait to get home. I got home on Thursday night, he could not wait to see me and so after he got off work that night he dropped by. He was so cute, it seemed like he had missed me. He bought me a Tinkerbell Key Chain to hang in my rear view mirror.It was just so thoughtful of him! I loved it, and it is still hanging in my car. We sat on the couch talking, I just had to ask him so I asked if he liked me and if he missed me while I was gone. We cuddled a little and then he kissed me. I felt to good, and was so happy.

That was the beginning to a long lifetime together, what will never be ending. It has been quick, but often times hasn't felt that fast. I look forward to our time together, and I am very glad that he said he both missed me over spring break and that he liked me. I love Nathan, and I am very excited for our future together.

~Linnley