John and I met while performing improv comedy in Livonia in 2011. It was an activity that we enjoyed separately and then together, allowed us to meet some amazing people, and became a background for our courtship. I remember one of the first compliments John gave me was a sports analogy. He said not only did I know that I was a team mate in the game, I was able to both catch and then run with the ball. I don’t follow sports but I knew it was his way of complimenting me. I told him I really liked that he was a family man. Not only immediate family but extended as well. He would tell me stories about his crazy Connors uncles and all the fun they had hunting up north, even if they didn’t actually shoot anything.

I fondly remember all the meals we cooked together. When we were at his house, I was the sous chef and we used his recipes, the reverse was true for meals at my condo. Although he thought it odd cutting up so many vegetables for my special meatloaf recipe, he never complained. I returned the favor by not questioning why his white vinegar was stored with toxic cleaning chemicals in the basement. I think we both were happy to be in such a comfortable relationship that we weren’t worried about the little things.

One day John asked if I would be interested in selling our homes and buying one together on a lake so we could enjoy our lake toys. Although I grew up with access to a lake, I never thought I would actually live on a lake. How could I resist? It was a long, systematic process but we accomplished it all. As a bonus, it gave me more opportunities to spend time with John’s children and our grandson. We now use John’s meatloaf recipe with vegetables on the side and we own not one, but two bottles of white vinegar. See, over time everything works out.