On hinge, we talked about going on hikes near Portland as a date idea, and you decided to make that a reality for us. I was very open to the idea, but frankly had no knowledge or experience in the matter, so I was keen to join when you suggested. You also invited Maia along, which was appropriate as she was also the chaperone for our first meeting, at the Game Of Thrones finalie party I threw to get to know you.
This is the first phot we took together. We were so cute and so young.
The “hike” was easier than any of us expected. It was paved from the parking lot to the waterfall, and it was not very long, less than a mile. This was just fine with me.
There was a giant boulder to the right of the waterfall. We took turns climbing it, even you when you didn’t think you could. I was proud to see you face a challenge head on, inspired, attracted.
5 years later, August 19, 2024, we sped hiked a reprise of this trail, just the two of us, between visits to Sugarpine Drive-In the day before your 34th birthday. It was steeper and rockier than we remembered, and we laughed at the thought of others seeing us walk down and immediately walk back up, but we wanted to get to the food shop before it closed for seconds cause it was damn good food and ice cream.
As we walked back up, you imagined yourself floating like a faerie gently up the steep rocky hill, and I pictured myself as a giant lumbering step by massive step. When you got back to the paved path before me, you laughed at how muscular and stiff I looked.
