I first met Lauren while she was working at Jakes in Iowa City. It was the bar that my friends and I visited regularly. Lauren had become friends with the guys before I transferred to Iowa...many of them had crushes on her because of how cute she was. Lauren and I knew each other, but it was never much more than that while we were at school.
A few chance encounters and random texts in the years following graduation kept us in touch. It wasn’t until a holiday party in Chicago 2008 that sparks flew. A few weeks later, I invited Lauren to join me at a bar to watch the national championship football game (and we all know she didn’t come to watch the game…). That was a Thursday night. We then hung out on Friday and celebrated her birthday on Saturday. Our first date was the following week at El Jardin, a Mexican joint that offers order-by-number entrees and delicious sangria-margaritas. The perfect mixture of food and drink to impress the lady.
It was pretty obvious right off the bat that we were meant for each other. For one, we all know Lauren has a thing for Iowa boys. I was a shoe-in to start. But even so, it seemed we were a perfect match. We were both a little goofy, always up for a good time, and loved dogs. Did I forget to mention Koa? She may have been the one who really sealed the deal for me. Thanks Koa!
The next few years were full of baseball, basketball and hockey games. Trips to Omaha, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Iowa City, San Diego, NYC, Vegas, Aruba and Napa. Bike rides to the beach, the farmers market, restaurants and bars. Late night visits to Ian’s and Allende. Saturdays watching the Hawkeyes and Sundays playing kickball. It has been the best time of my life and I couldn’t have chosen anyone else I’d rather have shared it all with, my best friend and soon to be wife.
If the next 60 years with Lauren are half as good as the last 3, I’ll be a very happy man!
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