Weddingbee Blog

After growing up in a fairly insular city in Wisconsin, I decided I was going to permanently get the heck out of the Midwest. I ended up at a great liberal arts college in Southern California. After graduating under a haze of smog and in 100-degree heat, I vowed that I was never coming back to California. It is clear—as I sit here, beginning a blog post about my six years in Chicago for grad school from my couch in Los Angeles—that I should stop making grand proclamations about my future geographic locations. Especially because I feel like I ended up exactly where I am supposed to be, with whom I am supposed to be with.

On a late, late evening in January 2009, I was browsing the personals on Craigslist. This seemed like a bad idea for two reasons: first, I knew that people on Craigslist could be a little…creepy. Especially late at night. (Not me, of course. OTHER people.) Second, I knew that I was just procrastinating. I had a chapter draft due to my dissertation committee in the upcoming weeks, and I had hours and hours of writing to go.

“Hey,” I thought as I clicked through ads anyway, “I found my awesome apartment on Craigslist. I sold my used Ikea furniture on it.*** And K., my best friend from grad school, met her awesome fiance here.” That last reason was admittedly the most persuasive.

I eventually stumbled across a witty ad by a 29-year-old guy who lived in Bucktown, rode bikes, and loved the Reader crossword. We responded back and forth, eventually exchanging pictures.

Mr. Mole’s introductory photo (at Madison’s Velo Swap)

My introductory photo (in Chicago’s South Loop, with a ubiquitous parking sign)

We eventually met up on January 28th at Lula Cafe in Logan Square, about a mile from my old apartment. We both ate BLTs at the counter. He had mentioned that he took the Blue Line there, so I offered him a ride home. As I dropped him off, he kissed me. I still remember how thrilled I was. (I still am!)

In April, he came along to Boston to cheer me along at the Marathon (and did so again in 2010). He even indulged my ridiculous craving for Taco Bell post-race.

Taco salads not pictured, unfortunately

In July, I went with him to San Diego’s Comic-Con and the San Diego Zoo.

Another reason for the Mole moniker: we are both blind without glasses!

In September, we watched my best friend K. get married.

This is one bridesmaids’ dress that I’ve worn again. Thanks, K.!

In December, we adopted a dog, an event that brought us even closer together.

Earliest photo of Tom Boonen!

We’ve been going strong ever since. Whenever anyone asks how we met, I am happy to say that we met on Craigslist, rather than playing that whole “friend of a friend” thing. The most common reaction is surprise. Yet, I figure that so much of our lives are online that it is no surprise that we can find the love of our lives there too.

Did you also meet your spouse, future spouse, or significant other online?

*** Sorry, Mr. Mole, for indirectly comparing you to an apartment or a Poang chair!