Neil’s version:

I really like how we met. I feel like so many people become couples through one-sided pursuit or through online dating. I like how symmetric and swift and naturally our relationship began. That's what I kind of struggle to succinctly articulate how we started dating. Taylor really enjoys the story of her being at the soccer game. While I do enjoy that story, It was not the beginning of our relationship. Maybe it would have been nice had I asked her out at that point but that's not really my style.

The next time we interacted after that and the first time we really had any interactions was on a hike with another Lyndenite. Following that, we had a couple one-on-one interactions including a run or two and a hike. A couple weeks later we went on a hike in the evening. For some reason I forgot to bring a water bottle. When we had finished the hike and we were back at the car it was very clear that Taylor wanted to extend the interaction. I remember her grabbing her water bottle and migrating back to the bumper of her car and commenting how pretty the stars were. This was unfortunate for me. I really wanted to continue interacting with her but I was also pretty dehydrated at that point. I felt bad because I asked her if we could leave. It was a delicate balance because I didn't want her to think I wasn't interested but rather truly needed water.

When we got back to where I lived, I invited her up so we could continue talking but I could help my kidney… we ended up talking till 2:00 a.m. that night and eventually talked about having feelings for each other.

Taylor’s Version:
I was on my first clinical rotation of PA school at Northwestern. Because of some church connections, I got the opportunity to return to a place I had gone on a mission trip as a high school student: Rehoboth, NM. I had planned that my clinical year would have absolutely no distractions - I would focus and work hard to finish up my program...


**enter Neil**


My clinical preceptor ran some sports med so I was assisting at a game. I got chatting with an assistant coach because we had the same alma matter: Calvin. The doc I was with told us to be quieter because the head coach kept turning around. The doc thought we were distracting the soccer players and being too loud and the coach was mad at us. Later on, I found out Neil (the head coach) kept turning around for a different reason. A mutual friend from church introduced us by inviting us both on a hike together around Labor Day weekend.


The next weekend Neil took me on a hike called the Crevice and after three weeks of getting to date in person, I was shipped all across the country for my program. Neil drove/flew to wherever my clinical rotation was every single month for a whole year making his way to Washington, Colorado, Michigan, and Iowa. I did not make it easy at all for him, but he proved he was willing to pursue and love me no matter where I went.