Noodle Meets Leprechaun

See me in the front right?

It was the summer of 2000. I was between my sophomore and junior year of high school, and Shane had just started at FSU. For some really odd reason, there was an SGA field trip this summer. The destination... Bush Gardens. I was not a part of SGA yet, but my friend Hogie did not let that stand in the way. We had a blast. It was one of the best field trips I ever went on.

The previous football season Hogie had meet Shane at an FSU game. Since he is from the Tampa area he decided to meet up with us at Bush Gardens. We were in line for the sky tram when he joined us. Are you expecting me to say it was love at first sight? Well it actually was not at all. In fact, both of us were dating other people at the time. But I do remember this moment very clearly which I find very interesting.

The night of our first kiss :)

But a friendship had started. We talked often on Instant Messenger (hahaha remember that!) and saw each other every now and then. Two years later I set off for FAU and Hoggie went of to FSU.

My first week at FAU someone said to me, "You know what FAU stands for? Find Another University." And a year and a half later, that was exactly what I was doing. I had made several trips to Tallahassee to visit Hogie, and on one fateful trip something changed for Shane and I. What was once a friendship suddenly was more. I can't really say what changed, but I'm thankful it did.

I moved to Tallahassee on May 4th 2004, Shane and I became official on Cinco De Mayo, and we have been inseparable ever since.

P.S. Forgive the crappy photos... this was before the digital age :)

On of my favorite pics from one of my MANY trips to tally.