About 6 years ago, Quin and I met playing in the pit orchestra for the musical Assassains at SVSU. Throughout the first couple months we talked a few times, but nothing too memorable other than me thinking about how cute (and good!) the percussionist was. Then, as I am leaving class thinking about how it was finally spring break and what my drive home was going to be like, Quin stops me at the door and asks if I would like to get dinner. My heart stopped and my brain was screaming "YES" but what I managed to say was "Yes, but I am driving home to Illinois right now" and practically ran away. With my mind swimming, I called my mom to not only tell her that I was on my way, but this guy just asked me out! One of the first thing she asks is "Did you say yes?". I couldn't remember what I had said, but I knew I wanted to go out with him more than anything. I stopped for gas a little was down the road and sent him a message on Facebook how yes, I wanted to get dinner sometime after I got back from break and apologized for running away, I was just caught off guard! Luckily he forgave me for running off, and I haven't left his side since :)

When I first signed up for pit orchestra I thought it would be fun exposure to a new style of ensemble I had not played in yet. Then I saw the tall cute clarinet player that was a non-major, so the only person in the room I didn't already know. After taking most of a semester to work up the nerve, bothering my friend who was her stand partner about her, and a good dash of overthinking I finally asked her to dinner and she ran away, she insists that she said yes but I don't remember hearing it (unknowingly setting the tone for our entire relationship). After a roller coaster of emotions she messaged me clarifying that yes she would like to go to dinner, but was going home to Illinois for the break. That spring break was one of the longest of my life and we finally went on our date to Lucky's and Sara ordered a salad because she was timid and I'm just lucky my table manners didn't scare her off. Since then she has started ordering real food at restaurants and taught me the finer points of civilization. I'm thankful every day that Dr. Haskett let that clarinet player into pit orchestra and that she let me into her life.