Six years ago...

Six years ago tomorrow my life changed forever. Cliche I know but it's true.

On October 19, 2002, Denis and I went on our first date. I think it's a pretty great story so I'm going to share it with you here...

The Cole's notes "pre-date" version is that neither one of us was having any luck in the dating world so we decided to try our hand at Internet dating. We were both on Lava Life and I spotted him first. One look at those dimples and I was hooked.

We spoke online and on the phone for a good month before we could arrange to meet. I was a busy single girl on the prowl at the time and D was serious about his career and his hobbies.

We finally managed to set a date that worked for both of us. October 19.

We called eachother the night before to firm up plans and one quick phone call turned into eight (yes 8) hours on the phone getting to know one another. We were up the entire night.

Finally date time arrived. The funny thing is with Denis I seemed to break ALL of my dating "rules." It was like I new subconciously that this was different.

For starters I let him pick me up and who would have know that that in itself would turn into a story!!!

I got all gussied up and waiting on the front steps of my apartment building for him. He had a hard time finding my building and called from a few blocks away. I finally saw a vehicle approaching that matched his description but much to my dismay, he kept right on driving. I had this sinking feeling in my stomach that he was no longer interested when he saw me. Turns out he was so busy trying to find the address he didn't even see me!

Upon jumping into "Cher" (his Cheroke) I was handed a dozen roses. One point D. We had decided on pool and drinks at O'Conners in Kanata. D took the long scenic route so we had some time to talk. We just clicked. We weren't nervous and the conversation flowed...

At the bar we played round after round of pool and I won. He was a good sport about it. He must have been feeling pretty good about things because after one of the losses he said "one day we'll be able to tell our grandkids that grandma beat grandpa at pool on our first date." WHAAAAAAAAAA??????????????

Normally a statement like that would have sent me running for the hills. But not with D. It all felt so natural, so right.

We ended up meeting an older, married couple, also on a date. It was like looking into the future (or so we hoped). I had a bit of a slip up at one point. While I was explaining to the woman we were on a date I TOTALLY forgot D's name. How bad is that??? I still haven't heard the end of it!

The night continued to go extremly well. Denis was a polite gentleman and we had lots of laughs. We ended up sitting on a love seat watching the hockey game. I kept waiting for a real kiss but all I got were a few on my forehead. It was wild because I literally felt butterflies that they always talk about in romantic movies.

We made our way home and I was crushed when there was no goodnight kiss for me. Although the date had gone well this worried me. I remember jumping on the phone the second I walked through the door and telling my sister and Jodi all about it.

As it turned out I had nothing to worry about - D was just being a gentleman!

I ended up coming down with a severe case of bronchitis the next day and was out of commission for a week. The next Friday night we planned our second date.

I went over to D's place (still wasn't feeling well) so we planned a low-key evening.

Our first kiss finally arrived and it was particularly memorable. Just as we kissed D started to vibrate...no, nothing gross. HIS PAGER WENT OFF! Talk about timing...

That was our first kiss and the excitement hasn't stopped yet.

We've had to overcome a few challenges.

I had to get used to sleeping with this on the wall beside me at D's house watching me as I slept (I still have nightmares about him from time to time)...

Denis had to win me over from other suitors (mainly his nephew Bobby)...Baby Bobby would get all defensive and "jealous" when D would come near me

By that Christmas (just two months later) we were as good as married...

And D was a big hit at my staff Christmas party...
We look sooooo young (and soooo drunk)!




He's always outdone himself when it came to "courting" me. My "big" gift that first Christmas was that he re-did one of his bathrooms so that I had a relaxing space to myself when I stayed at his place...


At the opening of Beckta Dining and Wine...
So much has changed. I went from a hot little red convertible to a more "family friendly" Jeep!

We've travelled far and wide together. These were taken on our first trip together to Toronto...
Check out the roses in the background! I think those cost about as much as a mortgage payment! When I stepped into the elevator with them as we left the hotel, two "much older" couples were in the elevator with us and one of the men told Denis he was making all men look bad! Ha - isn't that the truth!




And before we knew it it was time to make things official and on August 6, 2005 we were the married...

I thank my lucky stars every day that I found him. I feel like I got the best of the best and I look forward to many more exciting adventures together.

I love you baber always and forever (k)