m y T r i L i f e

How Naomi and I met

Ok, I know it's been almost two months since Naomi and I were married... but here's the story of how we met... as that's the question everyone likes to ask...

It all started last year, when one day I was bored and looking to kill some time. I did what triathletes do.. go hang out at the tri shop! It was a slow day at Element, and I ended up chatting with Cam for a while. I think I had been there for almost an hour and had finally decided to leave and find something else to do... when in walked Naomi.

Naomi was supposed to train that day, but was feeling burnt out from a long summer and the usual back to school blues. She drove to element instead to return a pair of sunglasses for warranty purposes. I stopped in my tracks as she entered the shop. I could do nothing but stare at her. We quickly struck an easy conversation.. talking about triathlon of course, but then progressing to life, work, etc. An hour later.. or was it longer(?).. we we're still standing in front of the Oakley display chatting!

However, I eventually had to head off. Knowing that the weather was going to be nice... I asked Naomi if she wanted to go for a ride with me the next day out in Strathcona county. She agreed, we exchanged numbers and a possible start time and I walked out of the store with a grin on my face. Little did I know the gossip inside the store when I left. "We're just going riding right?" "No, that's a date!" "Maybe he just wants to be friends?" "NO, IT's a DATE!" HA HA...something like that... I heard about this conversation a while later.

The next day we rode for three hours admiring the autumn colours in the county. The conversation was easy and relaxing, and even the silence was wonderful. I recall Naomi guessing my age in the twenties and her being MUCH relieved when I told her I was 33 (at that time). Although she looks much younger than her age, my guess of her age was much closer. I had done some mental math based on what she had told me about her education and work.

After the ride, we sat around and chatted, neither wanting to end the "date". After chatting for some time and that all important first kiss, we we're both starving for calories, and decided to get a quick meal. How's Wok Box for a romantic first dinner?

As I left her place that evening, I knew we had something very special. Actually... I knew right from the start in the shop that Naomi was the one. :-)

posted by Greg Nicholson @ 10/16/2008