While in college, Shannon and I met online.  We established an online friendship and that’s pretty much what our first meeting was… just friends hanging out even though I was very attracted to her, I was just too shy to act on it. I ended up moving to Colorado but we continued to talk online and by phone. Eventually I returned to California where we rekindled our friendship.   I realized I really wanted to further our relationship and break thought the shyness during the “Avocado Festival” which was a local street fair. I remember standing behind her as she looked through various objects and being completely oblivious to everything around me but the way her hair fell around her shoulders and neck…

            We went our separate ways that day and I called her later that night to tell her the way I felt since I couldn’t do it in person.  It took a little convincing to move our relationship from friends to a more meaningful couple, but I finally convinced her to go on a date with me.  Our first date was at an Indian craft fair in Hesperia and again I found myself admiring her and being oblivious to anything around me. I considered it an accomplishment that I was able to hold her hand.  After that my floodgates opened and I was no longer nervous with her, in fact she instilled in me a deep relaxation that I hadn’t felt before. Our relationship grew from there and 4 ½ years later we were married.