Caroline

e met in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the College of Santa Fe.  I had actually seen Ben my first week and thought he was so cute. Two years later I noticed him eyeing me up at the college’s Toga party.  We ended up chatting and dancing and hanging out with some mutual friends. Later, Ben participated in one of CSF’s “favorite” past times, bike jousting. He claims to everyone that this is how he “wooed” me, but at this point we can’t ever remember if I actually watched the joust. After the joust we said goodnight, but I wanted to spend some more time together, so my friends and I decided to go get donuts and I yelled out as he biked away that he should come along. I was thrilled when he agreed. The next day our friends were gossiping away about the two of us, they thought we were an unlikely match. There was only a week of school left before he graduated and I was supposed to head home for the summer. We hung out for the week, and went on an actual date. Ben took me to a little gas station off the main road.  I had never seen it before and was very confused about the location as a date site. We walked in and went all around the small shelves and odd collection of items to the side of the building. I was happy to see there was a little Indian restaurant attached to the gas station. It was very good food and we had a lovely time. (I’m sure if you told either of us we would be engaged 4 ½ years later we would have scoffed at you!) I was scheduled to leave Santa Fe on the Saturday morning of Ben’s graduation.  Fortunately, after my car was completely packed up and I was moved out of my dorm room, I went to my car, and it refused to start.  Ben was really excited that I was delayed in leaving. I got it fixed the next day, but decided to stay in Santa Fe.  (Ben may or may not have been part of my reasons for staying.)