Stanford University

Fall Quarter 1995

Johannes and I first met the spring of our freshman year in Chemistry 33, Professor Wender's organic chemistry class. Mike Challen, my friend through Stanford a cappella, and Johannes' friend from his freshman dorm, introduced us after a tough chem midterm. As introductions were being made, I fumbled and dropped my entire organic chemistry model set on the floor of the lecture hall, sending the multi-colored carbons, hydrogens and nitrogens flying every which way. Johannes' first moments with me were spent on his knees picking up the little plastic molecules and molecular bonds from my chemistry set. I think I made a memorable first impression.

Our paths did not cross again until months later in the beginning of our sophomore year. I was living in Kimball Hall, and Johannes and Mike, who were now roommates, lived across the street in Arroyo. One of my closest friends at the time, Joanna, had a huge crush on Mike, so she convinced me to set up a double date for the three of us, plus whomever else I wanted to ask. Even though I barely knew Johannes, he was the logical choice for the fourth in the party because he was Mike's roommate and seemed like a nice enough guy.

The story of how Johannes and I became a couple is a long one, and will be saved for an event approximately two years from now (wink, wink), but suffice it to say that we both had the time of our lives on this double date. I actually said once that it was the best date I'd ever been on (Johannes reminds me often). Johannes isn't surprised by this confession because he had deliberately turned on the famed Kratz charm full blast that evening 5 years ago. We will celebrate the 5-year anniversary of our first date at the end of October.