Colter. That’s a cute name! My co-workers thought so too. Running was something I was trying to get back into and he had pictures from half and full marathons on his Bumble profile so I took that opportunity to kick off the conversation. As soon as we started texting back and forth we didn’t stop for about a week. We decided to meet up on Friday night November 3rd at Houston’s for dinner. Starting off with wine, the waitress had to come back about 47 times before we made any food decisions. Four hours, an appetizer, two salads, and a giant sundae (that I still dream about) later, we decided it was time to call it a night because I had an early flight to Denver in the morning. I know I was smiling and distracted when I left the date because I drove out the wrong exit in the parking garage and had to pay $18.00…and I wasn’t even mad!!! Our second date in the Orange Circle a week later was also 4 hours. And then we continued to hang out the following two nights, one of which included several of his friends. We joked at this point that we weren’t even going to pretend to be dating other people. Three weeks later he asked me to go Vegas with him for the night to meet up with a friend. My mom’s reaction: “WHAT?!” After I explained to her that I was a 32 year old adult, we had a great little road trip that involved a 7 hour drive home. I decided this was a good time to tell him that my mom said “if a strange guy is taking you to Vegas for the night before meeting us, he better be planning on introducing himself when he drops you off.” I just said it and laughed, waiting for a reaction. We stopped at In N Out on the way home (duh) and during our debate about whether or not to get milkshakes, he said “let’s skip the shakes and pick up your parent’s favorite dessert to have with them when we get to your house.” Seriously?! Who was this guy. Spoiler alert- my family loved him. Two and a half years later, we have learned so much about each other (yes, there was still more to learn after being stuck in the car together for 7 hours) but his loyalty to friends and family, genuine interest in others, and HUGE heart continue to blow me away. So thanks to Jim and Joy for naming him Colter- it was that cute name and priceless smile that got me hooked!
You have to jump. It’s a metaphor that refers to skydiving meant to inspire risk taking and leaps of faith in life. This was the mantra encouraged by my father, Jim, that led me back to Orange County at the end of 2017. I finished my MBA at TCU (Go Frogs!), left a job I loved at American Airlines, packed up my Toyota 4Runner and headed west; literally blaring and singing along to Going Back to Cali by The Notorious B.I.G. and California Love by 2Pac and Dre as I watched Dallas fade in my rearview, still wiping the tears off my face as I stopped by my brother, Brody’s, grave one last time for now. As I drove to Amarillo, on to Santa Fe, and then Phoenix, my mind raced with thoughts about what my new future might hold, as I attempted to start over in a familiar place in my mid-30s. I arrived back in SoCal on October 22nd; matched with Tori on Bumble October 25th; and our first date was November 3rd. I had been back in town for less than 2 weeks. Living in my mother Joy’s, guest room, spending half the day between CrossFit and the beach, enrolled in acting and voiceover classes, studying for the LSAT in case more school might be in my future, I was officially on sabbatical. I remember telling Tori that I would understand if she decided we should just remain friends, as I was clearly wrapped up in finding myself and rediscovering my sense of purpose and happiness. Little did I know then that Tori was put into my life to remind me who I really was, and to make sure that whenever I was ready, my parachute would open. Fitting that our initial meeting would take place in her hometown, Irvine, at an establishment named after my place of birth, and a major Texas city – Houston’s. We were like old friends from the start. Nervous, excited, but at ease that we had a similar system of values, and had both spent summers at Wild Rivers and Salt Creek. Our first few months of dating revolved around her showing me the sights of central and northern Orange County, whilst we rediscovered the beach cities and south OC through the eyes of my 17-year-old self, visiting our favorite childhood memories with each coffee, ice cream or beach walk. Laguna Beach is less than 15 miles away from Irvine. You can call it fate or luck or timing or serendipity. The outcome is the same. Somehow we never met at Disneyland or an Angels game or Knott’s Scary Farm all those years growing up as kids. But as 30 somethings, thanks to a popular dating app that uses our equally large Facebook friends list to suggest potential suitors and a penchant to spend too much time on our iPhones, we happened to swipe right and find each other, the best friend we’d both been searching for.