Congratulations to Robert and Laura! We had a great time seeing everyone, however briefly. The bride and groom made it all look easy.

Some dread the early darkness of approaching winter in Oregon. I think it speaks to my hyperborean genes; it summons the primitive subconscious back to the cave, the fire, and the well-stocked larder. It recommends capitulation to winter, letting the wind and the rain do as they will while we store fat and reflection and try to forge a shape for the upcoming season. Northern philosophy must have been born in winter.

It also reminds me of Kelly’s and my first year together. My earliest memories of us are usually after dark, bundled against the cold downtown or along 28th Avenue in my old neighborhood, or walking in the unexpected warmth on Cannon Beach in December, with not another human in sight. Or I’m cooking against the darkness at the window, while Kelly patiently waits at the table drinking red wine from a mason jar.

For that first Christmas of 2005, I flew back to Indiana to see my family. No one knew Kelly and I were dating at the time, but she kept coming up in conversation. My friend Jennifer asked about the woman I’d referred to on my blog, so I told her and her husband Jim all about her. They said, “She sounds like a good one. You should hold onto her.” I figured they were probably right. All during that trip, I realized that I was seeing it—the landscape, the people, the towns—for Kelly, sustaining an internal dialogue as her tour guide to where I am from. I wanted her to see it, and so she was with me the whole time. By narrating my trip to Kelly’s shadow, I was—I realized even at the time—inviting her to understand the ground I’d covered previously on the trajectory that brought us together. Lucky for me, she took me up on it.

Plans update: Kelly has a dress. We have a rehearsal dinner location. You who count yourselves among the insiders—i.e., those who haven’t stumbled on this page by accident—should soon receive a reminder to save the date.

nemesis: cool girl in black

First, she was my competition.

I flew out to Oregon to interview for two job openings in spring of 2005. Oddly, my friend Pat was on the interview committee, and after the first day, he gave me a situation report.

“Okay. It went well. I think you’re in good shape. Your only real competition is this woman named Kelly.”

Maybe Pat was just being kind to me. It was strange enough sitting through a job interview with my long-time buddy and former roommate asking me questions and making notes. Hadn’t I proven myself to him already? How many drinks had I stood him over the years? Whether he was being honest or not, for day two I could go in with a rival in mind: Kelly. If only I had a face with which to visualize my nemesis.

Turns out we both got hired. Kelly got the position that I was targeted for, and I got hers. Either way we both wound up attending the New Teacher Orientation. I arrived first into the narrow conference room where we would be initiated into the mysteries of room keys and security systems. She came in looking pretty in black. I was pleased when she sat down beside me. In retrospect, that seems uncustomarily forward, but I’ll let her explain it if she feels the need. I immediately ascertained that she was smart and cool. There’s never a guarantee how many people on a high school faculty will meet those criteria, so I commenced a small-scale charm campaign. Though Kelly may dispute it, it seems to have worked.

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Check out our venue, Cornelius Pass Roadhouse, via the link on the left.

Save The Date

As you probably know, Kelly and I are getting married. I think I speak for both of us when I say we're excited, a little nervous, and eager to host a party for our family and friends.

One of my solemn responsibilities as the groom-to-be is creating a webpage. We'll use this space to post general information on the event, places of interest in and around Portland, and rabid left-wing political fulminations.

First, the date: July 11, 2008. You'll be receiving more formal notice via the US Mail, but you might want to go ahead and jot it down on your calendar.