We’d seen each other at a few Lake Area Furry Friends (LAFF) events and at Duckon, though I don’t think we had ever really talked much.

Then, in December I attended a Christmas cookie exchange party at wyldekyttin and crim_ferret‘s place. We chatted a bit at the party and had an amusing time during a game of “Truth or Dare” (nothing too exciting, you pervs! The clothes stayed on, thankyouverymuch). Interest was expressed by both parties, though not to each other.

Then came the LAFF New Years Eve party. Signals got crossed, unintended messages were sent, and neither of us knew where we stood. Finally, in February, e-mails were exchanged, and we set up a date: dinner and a movie. Dinner was a forgettable sandwich place. The movie was Mel Gibson’s Payback – a heck of a date movie, eh? After the movie, we went back to his place and stayed up very late talking. We talked about our lives, he showed me pictures and videos of himself and his friends. I left his place very late, but elated. What had started with a spark two months earlier became a fire.

February 27, 1999 was my first date with takaza. Ten years to the day, I can say that fire still burns brightly. I love you so much, Dan!