Suzanne’s side of the story

Pardon me while I gush a bit. This is the story of Dan (AKA Good Lawyer) and I.

On a summer Saturday last year, I was hanging out with my best friend Brandon. We spent a few hours eating and drinking, laughing and talking. Somehow we ended up on the topic of dating and my prospects. I recounted each terrible date I’d been on and also each fantastic date. I’d been on a lot of bad dates recently (your friends weird film goth party?! really?!) and some fantastic dates but no matter what the date, I felt like it wasn’t the place for me. Some other girls might have been swept off their feet by those dates but I just didn’t ever feel a spark. After some joking around, Brandon and I decided to try OKC Local, a blind date app. My entry was something along the lines of “Let’s go grab a GOOD beer tonight.” Within minutes I had several replies and one guy caught my eye. Less than two hours later, I was scooting downtown to meet Dan for the first time. I’m not going to say it was love at first sight. I’m not going to say, “I knew from that moment,” but there was something different about him. He made me laugh, we had inside jokes from the get-go and I couldn’t wait to spend more time with him. We spent the whole evening together and there wasn’t an awkward or silent moment the entire time. I knew I wanted to see this guy again. That’s how it has always been with Dan. Easy, simple, fun and I find myself always waiting for our next moment together.

Over the next few months Dan and I had adventure after adventure together, we went to Chicago festivals, experienced new things together, took a weekend trip to LA (where we first said I love you), made our way around Michigan and Indiana to visit some of the best breweries, took a trip to Austin to meet my family and each day was fun, each day I was left wanting more.

We aren’t perfect, no one is. We fight just like anyone else, and we’ve had our ups and downs and struggles. In the beginning of 2012, I had to make a very difficult decision about my career and our relationship. I was offered the opportunity to work in London for 3 months. Dan was excited that I had this opportunity but in all honestly, we weren’t thrilled about the idea of spending 3 months apart. On my last day in Chicago, Dan drove me to the airport and I completely lost it. I couldn’t believe I was leaving. Couldn’t believe I wouldn’t see him everyday. He walked me into the airport and I broke down as we said our goodbyes. The first few days were rough but Dan and I found ways of making the 4,000 mile difference work for us. Being apart has made us realize even more how much we love one another. Distance does really make the heart grow fonder.

While I was living in London, Dan and I were talking about the big M word. We had tossed around the idea before but the conversation had never been this serious. We knew we wanted to be with one another. I figured he’d propose within the next few months but I didn’t think it would be like this. Before I even knew it, he was calling my parents and asking for permission and word spread pretty quickly about our conversations. Next thing I knew, Dan and I are on Facetime with my mom in the background on Skype and Dan was proposing to me. This definitely wasn’t a typical proposal but it is very us. I laughed my way completely through it and I’ve had a smile on my face for the last week straight. 

I’m so happy to have found someone that makes me laugh, a deep down belly laugh. And someone that I know I will have endless new experiences and adventures with. Here’s to our next great adventure. I can’t wait to spend it with Dan, all I ask is that you don’t take up too much room in my closet.

Dan’s side of the story

It was the winter. It was the cold winter. Gosh. It would be great if I could start like that. Very classic. Very je ne sais quoi. Hmmm….Wait. I know….It was the summer. It was the warm summer.  Ah. That’s better. For your reading pleasure (drumroll please). Here’s the story of me and Suzanne. The girl who stole my heart—and taught me to tame sloths.

You know what it’s like when you meet someone special for the first time. Maybe you don’t know from the point of inception that you’re going to be best friends with this person. But you know there’s something there. Something magical. Something that makes your heart beat a few (not a couple) beats faster. Gives you butterflies in your stomach. Makes you not want to hold in your farts for at least a few hours (gross, I know). Forgive me for bringing emotions in. But that’s how I felt when I first met Suzanne.

But let’s back up a bit. It was a summer day. I was sitting in my apartment per the usual. And I’ll be honest with you. I had joined a couple (the real version of a couple) dating sites. OkCupid had just released a new phone app for local meetups. I gave it a shot. A posting from a girl looking to grab a good beer caught my eye. And hey, she was a COD player too! 

Much to my chagrin I suggested a chain bar for a good beer. And Suz knows her beer! But that was ok because we hit it off straight away. Never a dull moment the whole night. I couldn’t wait to see Suzanne again. I was, dare I say, completely smitten.  

I never expected to meet someone like Suzanne. Never expected that my life would change so much for the better. I was so excited during and after that first date. I just didn’t want it to end. I never would have gotten on a scooter with someone I had just met before that night. But I did. I didn’t want the night to be over.

Let’s skip forward a few beats shall we?  Better yet. Let’s make it into a montage!!!  Suzanne and I travelled the world together. In eight months we’ve been on two separate continents and on multiple coasts—yes, in this scenario Austin is somehow considered the south coast, don’t ask me why, ask the scientists. We went on a short trip to Bell’s Brewery in Michigan singing Baby Got Back and American Pie on the way home. Fast forward…We’re in LA. Did I mention the roving gangs of shopping carts? Yeah. There were those too! Fast forward again…LONDON!

Yes. That brings me to a big development. Suzanne moved to London. Crazy right? She’s working for a Shell Corporation. We made it work though. Distance can really make the heart grow fonder. And I’ve only grown more in love with Suzanne. Oh. Did I mention. There’s pictures too! CLICK ME!

I’m in love I’m in love and I don’t care who knows it (TM). I’ve never been so excited. Never been so in love. Never felt this way before. If I hadn’t gotten on the back of that scooter, who knows what would have happened. I’m so glad I did.  So glad I met a person who makes me laugh with the silliest of jokes. Who makes me so amazingly happy.

Oh. You didn’t think I forgot about the sloths did you. There were sloths. Lots and lots of sloths. Hanging out on the furniture. Hanging from trees. Cuddling. In the future sloths become hyper-intelligent — but slow — beings.  And they make people react like this.

Yeah. That last paragraph was pandering.  That’s ok though.  I love Suzanne Marlatt!!!