It was a cold, January afternoon, and I was just starting the second semester of classes at college. The first semester had come and gone and I hadn’t had much time to make many friends.

As I was heading to my first class, I heard someone yelling my name from a nearby building. It was a friend from high school! She had transferred to the branch campus after her first year didn’t work out so well. Finally, I had someone familiar to talk with at college! I asked to see her class schedule, and sadly, none of our classes overlapped.

I did notice, however, that she was taking bowling class. Since I still needed to burn a few more P.E. credits up, I figured it’d be a great way to do it and spend time with someone I knew!

Even though my intention was to take a class with an old friend, I would actually end up meeting my future wife. On the first day, we split into teams of four. In the lane next to me, was not only my high school friend, but also a beautiful red-headed girl (who turns out was an excellent bowler!)

After getting to know her after several days of friendly chitchat, I finally mustered the courage to ask her out on a date. The first weekend I asked her to a movie she told me she was ‘busy’ (later turns out that she actually was busy - I just figured she was politely declining). But, I tried again the following week and we went on our first date in early February 1997. I remember it well, we ate supper at Friendly's, walked around the mall, and went to see the re-release of Star Wars (I know, romantic, eh?).

Needless to say, I was very nervous. With me be quite a dorky nerd in high school, she was my first and only serious relationship. Beginner’s luck? I should say so. Well, it turns out that I had little to be nervous about. We had lots in common and always enjoyed each others company.

Once college was done, I proposed to her when I knew I was going to get my first job in weather in Sioux City, IA. Two long years later (waited for Marni to finish college), we got married.

Now, like Neo from The Matrix, I’m not much into fate. I believe that one is in control of their own destiny and that nothing is truly destined to happen.

Nonetheless, when I think about the whole situation, it never ceases to amaze me how different things would have turned out. If my friend hadn’t of seen me on that day, would I have still taken the bowling class? Would I have ever run into my wife had I not taken that class?

Guess a little fate isn’t such a bad thing...

Happy 6th Anniversary, Marni