During the summer of 2006, I had been working at Knott's Berry Farm for about 3 months. I worked in Camp Snoopy, one of a few locations in the park where the sun seemed to beat down a bit harder than other areas. On June 4th, during my lunch break, I saw one of my favorite coworkers, Amber, in the Crew's Nest (employee cafeteria), so I asked her to sit at the table with me. She was training some new guy, who I didn't really pay any attention to - so many new-hires could not make it through the summer heat - what would be different about this one. Life sure does have a funny way of inserting irony into the equation.
We ate lunch at the middle table along the rail, closest to the lunch counter. Sara sat with her back facing the counter and we sat opposite. I thought Sara looked cute in her Camp Snoopy uniform, with her hair in a ponytail and sun glasses propped on her head. After lunch, I asked Amber a very innocent question regarding Sara and because of her bubbly personality, she kept prodding me for more information as to my intentions until I revealed I thought Sara was cute.
On this particular day, I was driving the Walter K Steamboat around the lake. (Sadly, they removed this ride and put in Sierra Sidewinder.) I had a pretty full boat and was in the process of making my second trek around the lake when I heard the dock phone ringing - when the phone rings at the dock, the boat ride seems so long. By the time we made it through the entire 8-minute ride, the phone was still ringing. When I was finally able to get to the phone, Amber was at the other end asking me what I thought of the guy. I had no idea who she was talking about, so I asked:
"What guy?"
"The one I'm training, Bryan."
I honestly thought she was interested in him, so I said he was cute. Immediately Amber became really excited, that is until I told her she should go for it. Then she just laughed at me. What I had not realized was that she was calling to tell me that this Bryan thought I was "hot," but was too shy to call me at my station, so I should call him. Of course I was too shy to call him as well and therefore asked Amber to have him meet me by the ride's office after work. I finally, truly laid eyes on Bryan as I was standing by the schedule wall. All I kept thinking was that he was tall, and so handsome. The conversation was very short, and awkward, but ended with me asking if he had a cell phone. When he handed it over to me, I quickly entered my number and told him to call me some time.
Later that night I talked to her over by the schedules. I called her from my parent's patio late at night on their home phone (at the time I had a pay as you go cell phone). There was no answer, so I left her a message.
I personally believe "If you're Snoopy Sara, then I'm Bullet Bryan" is the best pick-up line I have ever heard. I had gotten a call from an Orange County number I did not know a couple days after I met Bryan, so I did not answer the call. It turned out Bryan was calling me off his parent's phone and since I did not answer, that was his opening line on my voicemail.
Fast forward a few days - We eventually made contact on the phone and would talk for multiple hours for many nights. We constantly spent time together after work, because our lunch shifts never coincided after that first meeting. Whether it was just talking by the ride's office or going out with fellow ride operators to Denny's, we found that we truly enjoyed each other's company.
Our first official date was in a familiar place for both of us: Knott's Berry Farm. Bryan and I took turns finding ways to hold each others hand. He took me onto his ride, the Silver Bullet, and had me hold his hand instead of the handles as he claimed it was more fun to ride that way, I thought it was cute. I tried to pull the same tactic on Supreme Scream, but did not realize the freefall would almost cost me my hand; Bryan has a pretty strong grip. Before we parted ways Bryan gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I remember realizing how different he was from other guys I had met. I believe I knew at that moment he was someone I didn't want to lose.
A few weeks after Sara and I started talking, I consulted Caitlin McGinnis, a fellow ride operator for some advice regarding Sara and me. I asked her how I would know if Sara and I were boyfriend-girlfriend and Caitlyn asked if I had talked with Sara about it. I told her I hadn't and she told me that asking Sara was the only way. On July 4, 2006, after work, we were setting off fireworks in the Kirkorian parking lot with a couple other ride operators. We drove back to Western lot just after 12AM to get my car. Before I kissed her goodnight, I asked her and she said yes. She then asked what time it was because she wanted to know if we started dating on the 4th or the 5th. I told her since it was only 12:30 AM on the 5th, we hadn't gone to bed yet, and my intention was to do it on the 4th because it is easy to remember and I like fireworks, that we should make it the 4th.
One night in the South employee parking lot after work, Sara and I were talking, as usual. She was smiling especially big that night and was being extra huggy. She stepped back at one point so she had me at arms length and told me that out of the few guys she had dated, I was the best. She told me that she felt like she was falling at that moment and didn't know when the feeling was going to be complete. I told her that I had already hit the bottom and I loved her. At that moment, I think I surprised myself as much as I did her. She told me that she loved me as well, but didn't want to say it first because she didn't want to scare me away. We talked about how even though we had only been boyfriend-girlfriend for about 2 months; we were already further along in our feelings for each other than she had been with her other relationships, even though she had dated one for 6 months.
From that moment on, we seized every opportunity to spend time together, even if it was just to catch a glimpse of the other. One of the rides in Camp Snoopy was a short train ride that briefly passed below the loading dock for Silver Bullet. Whenever I would pass, I rang the bell and Bryan and I would sign I love you to each other. It was a simple gesture, but it has stuck with us and we constantly find ourselves using it in special ways today.
Eventually I found myself being cross-trained up at Silver Bullet by Andy Caldwell, our best man. I was elated because Bryan and I could actually work together. There was a gesture amongst the Bullet crew I would quickly come to learn. Occasionally when Bryan was in the dispatch booth and I had a direct line of sight with him, he would occasionally announce over the microphone, "Hat swipe, unload 3." This was the gesture I came to appreciate because it meant that Bryan thought I was cute, which I knew, but now the whole crew did as well.
Over the years, Bryan and I have met the challenges that have been placed in front of us. Our hardest obstacle being the distance between us to start our careers was only met with our continual love and support and God's never failing love.
Our relationship continues to be filled with small gestures and expressions of love that has carried us through to where we are today and where we aim to go tomorrow. Thank you for all who have been apart of our story so far, and will continue to be apart of it for the years to come.
