Nate and I met in Colorado while attending a Japanese language class at Colorado State University.  One day he came to class wearing a Big Island Surf T-shirt, and I asked him if he was from the big island.  I knew a few people from Hawaii, but had yet to find a fellow big islander.  He said no of course, but told me he had visited there often as a child.  We started talking about Hawaii, particularly about the food, and just kept talking and talking.  He said he would take me to the Asian market in Denver, and I was sold.  We worked together with a couple of other students on a James Bond skit in Japanese, and continued to study together after that project was finished.  One day I told him I could not get my printer to work with my computer, and asked him if he could help.  He asked me “what is your operating system?” and I said “what’s that?”, and thus started a long and mostly pleasurable journey into Nate’s world of technology.  Almost five years later, I count myself among the above-average when it comes to computers.  I still run to Nate if I have problems, but that’s ok, he still can’t ride a horse ;-) 

Nate and I lived together in Colorado for two years through his 12 hour night shifts, my long days in the snow, and one somewhat ill-fated gingerbread house making party that actually turned out all right.  He introduced me to his friends, who welcomed me in with open arms, and I introduced him to my friend (hi Krystle!).  I don’t know what you call the opposite of a social butterfly, but I’m it.  Despite my, and to a lesser extent Nate’s, lack of social gregariousness, we managed to have some wonderful times with friends we loved.  We met each other’s families, and took some awesome weekend road trips to surrounding areas.  We got a gym membership, and actually went once in a while.  And of course, we made regular visits to the Asian market in Denver.

Despite my happiness with Nate, I was not very happy with my work.  I did not feel I was growing in any way, and the hard physical labor left my body almost always aching in one spot or another, usually my back.  Despite Nate’s research into, and consequent purchase of, the warmest socks money can buy, including a pair of battery operated ones; I was also tired of working out in the cold.  I was also concerned about Nate working nights for so long, and about his declining health.  So Nate and I decided I should take my parents up on their offer to come and work for them, so I could better figure out what I wanted to do.  A very long year later, Nate got a job in Honolulu, and moved out to Hawaii.  We were very fortunate that Nate’s work sent him to the big island often enough that we did not have to break the bank to see each other.  I moved to Oahu to live together again in August.  It was tough being long-distance, but after almost three years of it, I think it’s safe to say it was meant to be.

Nate proposed to me on October 31^st, 2006 (he said Halloween would be easy to remember J) It was the happiest day of my life…so far.