You Look Familiar
Well actually, they did meet at Tom Wall's birthday party at the W Hotel and Rosa Mexicana a month before but both were unsure as a debate over the ecumenical nature of Harry Potter led Mary to move to the other end of the table. Saturday night brought the usual hot-tubing and Monty Python where our two lovers bonded on the cool snowy night. Jeff even gave up 3 hours on the fresh powder on Sunday morning to stay and chat while Mary stayed back to relax.

The First Date
It was Good Friday 2004 when Jeff and Mary had their first date. Jeff had in mind a romantic dinner for two while Mary suggested a group night out. Arranged on email she suggested perhaps the Good Friday Redeemer service at All Souls on the Upper East Side. The service was full and the doors closed, but, lucky for Jeff, Mary saved him a seat and left her cell phone on so she could come to the door and let him in. At that point, only those with reserved seats were allowed in. Colleen gave the nod of approval and after the service Mary ditched the girls and headed out to Haru which then led to hours of talking over jazz music at the Brasserie. Mary set a record for staying up to midnight on a Friday night. They parted the night with a sweet kiss as Mary jumped onto the M79 bus back to the Upper West Side.

 

Boy Meets Girl
It was a warm spring ski day up at the ski house on Wobbly Lane in Killington, Vermont when Mary and Jeff first met. The snow was soft and fresh and deep. A Friday night out at the Pickle Barrel kicked-off the festivities. There Jeff and Mary danced to the latest tunes from Boston’s best covers bands. Jeff said, "My you have a nice smile." And Mary said, "Those are very cute dimples.” Everyone ended the night with a little late night pizza in the kitchen. Little did Jeff know that she'd be off and uncatchable on Sugar Bush Mountain the next day on her Volkl 5 Stars skis while Jeff and the crew hunkered down on Bear Mountain.

 

Tender Moments
Mary and Jeff’s second date was a romantic walk through Central Park. The same old spots took on new meaning with moments to linger in spots that Mary had walked past many times but never stopped to enjoy in quite the same way. Jeff brought a passage of scripture (Psalm 45) which added to the blooming spring romance.