How Joe and I Met – Kate’s Perspective

When Joe starts with, “accounts of how Kate and I met differ a little depending on who you ask” he’s making of bit of an understatement. You should know that the now-married couple who introduced us have a bit of a feud going of who gets more of the responsibility for setting us up.  Joe also seems to think that I was WAY into him when we first met.  But here’s how I remember it.

 

After living in Seattle for a year and half, I wasn’t having much luck on the dating scene. My good friend Kim had recently started seeing this guys Dan, who I had met a few times and seemed like a good dude.  Kim told me that he had a friend, Joe, that she wanted me to meet. I told her that I would be open to that idea.

 

When Dan’s Halloween party came around, Kim mentioned that Joe would be there.  I asked a few questions about the guy, she said he was a shoe photographer. I wasn’t sure how anyone could make a living doing this but I was definitely curious. Most of all she told me he was cute and that I would like him.

 

Now, you should know, I love Halloween. I get real excited about putting together my costume. I had long ago decided that this would be the year that I would be one of my own personal heroes Kelly Kapowski.  And I was pumped. 

 

Dan’s party was in full swing by the time we arrived.  And I recall Kim tracked me down pretty quickly to introduce me to Joe.  I remember thinking straight away that he was pretty cute.  And Kim was right, he was just my type. 

 

Now, I should say that I put a lot of thought an effort into my costume.  And I remember distinctly when I asked Joe what he was supposed to be, he said, “uhhh...I don’t know.” 

 

Well, I thought that was pretty lame and I didn’t mind telling him so.  I mean if you are going to be a tourist, why not really do it?  Wear shorts with black socks, a little zinc oxide on the nose, camera, maybe a cheesy fannypack, put a map in your pocket.  What takes a costume from boring to great is the details that you put in. I thought Joe was being a stick in the mud – he bought a $2 hat and called it good.  But if you know me, you know that I only tease you if I like you, so this was a good sign for Joe right off the bat. 

 

We quickly developed an easy banter and talked about being from California, our rival high schools and Halloween costumes.  

 

With it getting late and being in the boonies of west Seattle our little crew needed to call a cab to get back to civilization. When I went outside to try and direct the driver to where we were, Joe followed me out there.  I have a distinct memory of the sheepish look on his face when he asked for my number, clearly not a player but cute still the same. 

 

I should note here that there’s an even longer story about that night about how another married couple got their start that same night but to protect both the innocent I will keep this about Joe and I.