Warning: corny.
Fifteen years ago, I threw a surprise birthday/going-away party for Leslie, who was turning 22 and headed to London for the summer. I invited lots of people we knew, as well as some new friends she’d made during the semester I’d been in Costa Rica, plus her friends from various clubs, activities, associations and the like (Leslie was a “joiner” and is an amazing connector of people).
One of her “joiner” friends was none other than Jason Sugawa, whose name I had heard for years, such that it had begun to grate on my nerves like a badly tuned instrument. I remember saying to Leslie in the Cactus yearbook office (younger readers, I can dust off some old yearbooks to show you since I am told they don’t make them anymore), “God, who is this Jason Sugawa? What’s his deal? He’s Japanese?” Leslie said, “No, I think he’s Mexican. He’s from El Paso. I don’t know. Why?” “I don’t know, he just sounds so annoying.”
Throughout my senior year of college, his name was a sharp note, but I’d managed to avoid meeting him. So when I had the chance to invite him to Leslie’s party, I was…intrigued? He came. We met. We had a rousing argument about the relative merits of Quark Xpress (me) over Pagemaker (him), waxed on about our favorite segments of All Things Considered and got to know each other in a dorky haze while the rest of the party faded away. I still have the notebook where I wrote down his phone number — on what pretense, I can’t remember. Maybe paying off the bet about which would win — Quark or PageMaker? Jason was prescient (PageMaker = InDesign, m-effers!). I married him, so I guess he won.
Fifteen years ago, we had our first date, which wasn’t even a date. It was a conversation. And it’s one we’re still having.
Thanks, Leslie. Happy birthday.
SUCH A SWEET STORY! And the subject matter of your first debate gives me some insight into why I enjoy both of you so much. I was in HS yearbook and boy, Quark vs Pagemaker… that was a hot debate in that day and age. How time flies!
I have read this post several times today, but not commented until now because it makes me teary eyed to remember/know that you met Jason at a birthday party for Leslie. I don’t remember that. I knew she introduced you, but did not remember details. What a lucky day for you, my wonderful, favorite Katielou! You made a very good choice!
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I hope Leslie had a great birthday on Sunday.
Ah, yes, how I fondly remember my “surprise” party at the Dog & Duck Pub — if you can call it a surprise party when I provided you with an invitation list. You convinced me my other friends had better things to do after finals. I noticed the sparks between my two friends who had so much in common. The really fun part was playing matchmaker from across the pond that summer, communicating with you about Jason from the payphone at the end of the hall in my London dorm. How mid ’90s is that? It’s shocking that it’s been 15 years. My love for you both, and the family you’ve created, has only grown.