Our Story, part 1

One of the reasons we started this blog was to share more about us and our story. We'll start at the beginning and break break it up into a few parts with some other stuff between installments, so it’s not too much all at once. We think this will help you get to know us better, and will give you an idea of why we’ve chosen the path we’re on.

Our story begins in Amherst, Massachusetts in Spring 1997. Susan was a grad student at the University of Massachusetts, studying Art History. During this time Susan shared an office with another grad student, who was in a German class with Mitch. She thought that her friend Susan and her classmate Mitch would hit it off, and she was right. (Thanks CH!) She got us together for lunch one day, and a few days later, Mitch asked Susan out on their first date.  

One of the ticket stubs from our first date.

That date went long into the night and into the next morning, with us talking and laughing until the sun came up. We had so many common interests, it was like we were made for each other. Our next date was the same way, with us staying up all night sharing our ideas and our opinions. We spent as much time together as we could, and when we weren’t together, we were on the phone. Soon we were inseparable.

One of our favorite memories is of Thanksgiving that year. Susan’s family lives in Orange County, California, but many of Mitch’s relatives live in New England. We spent Turkey day that year with Mitch’s mom and grandmother, an aunt who lived in Connecticut, and an aunt and uncle visiting from Norway. It was such a warm and loving day, with all of us laughing and having a good time. Susan shared her mom’s cranberry bread recipe with Mitch’s visiting aunt, and his uncle said that day that Susan & Mitch should be together forever. (He was right!)

Photo booth fun!

As our love for each other grew, we started talking about what our future would look like. We wanted to be together, of course, but we knew we also wanted to share our love with a child. We’re both from small families, without nieces and nephews, but when we talked about our future, it was as a family, not just as a couple.

Susan got her Master's degree in Spring 1998 and moved back to California soon after. We had talked about both of us moving at the same time so we could set up our life together. However, Mitch wasn't quite ready yet and it would take another year before he made the move.

During that year, we visited each other several times. We celebrated New Year's Eve together in Cambridge, Massachusetts and attending the wedding of good friends in New York. On the West Coast, we visited Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, and Santa Barbara. We also spent more hours on the phone and exchanged many cards and emails. Our love was still strong, but we needed to be together for real. Finally, overcoming the fears that had prevented him from following his heart, Mitch packed up his car and drove out to California in Fall 1999. It was one of the best decisions Mitch ever made.

The two of us back in the early days.

You can read more of our story in part 2 and part 3.