Mr. Mink and I never actually had our first date. We stood each other up. When we tell people that, they usually demand to hear the full story…
Have you ever moved not knowing many people at your destination? I saw taking a job in Virginia as an adventure. My work was fulfilling, but I was lonely. I didn’t know anyone here and, while people were friendly enough, it was hard to move to being friends. I’m not sure if this is common, but I often wondered if I had made a mistake. I wondered if along with taking my first big risk I was experiencing my first big failure. I felt like Charlottesville was a club into which I hadn’t yet gained entry. Everyone was so happy here that I started to wonder if I needed to change to find happiness. Thankfully, that was when I met Mr. Mink.
Soon after I arrived in Charlottesville, an acquaintance promised me that I’d meet “everyone” if I went with his friends to the opening of the new concert pavilion in town. He was right. I met hundreds of people that evening, including a popular duo who hosted a morning radio show. When one of them called to ask me out, I wasn’t quite sure I knew which he was. I was on a trip for work at the time and told him to email me the time and location of our date and that I’d check my email when I got home that Friday. (This was before everyone had a smart phone.) When I got home, there was no email. I was so sad. I felt sorry for myself the rest of the weekend.
On Monday morning, we realized that Mr. Mink’s email had gone astray. He had been sitting outside a restaurant with a box of chocolates for two hours that Friday night. One of my friends was certain this was a sign that I had to move back to Boston. I decided to take a chance and go on a “second first date” with Mr. Mink. It was essentially a blind date because I still didn’t know which radio host I had been speaking with. We were opposites in some ways, but shared a love of great music, good food, and travel.
As I got to know Mr. Mink, it was as if someone had twisted a dimmer switch and slowly illuminated my life in Charlottesville. We fell in love exploring this small, diverse city with its amazing history, great architecture, and eclectic mix of academics, artists, and musicians. Mr. Mink got me to let go of my city-girl inclinations through hikes along the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Miss Mink encounters her first deer / Photo by Miss Mink
I was happier than I had ever been. By the time Mr. Mink finally asked me to marry him, there was no question about where we would get married. Charlottesville was home.
Mink feet dangling from a cliff / Photo by Miss Mink
Welcome. Charlottesville is a really nice city. I loved my visit there. I wish I could move out of Northern Va to Charlottesville.
How sweet that he brought chocolates to (what would have been) your first date. So cute!
Well, I moved to a new city when I started my job but it was only an hour from home. I thankfully met a ton of people quickly at the new job. I think it’s cool you accepted a date w/out really remembering who he was!
What a great story! I always secretly like when annoying mishaps happen because they always make a great story in the end.
What a sweet story, Miss M….I’m looking forward to getting to know the two of you as your wedding planning adventures continue. 
@kayakgirl73 There’s always room for one more in Charlottesville! Come on down!
@Miss Dalmatian: On top of that, he didn’t tear into them and brought them to our second date. They were these amazing chocolates made by a local chocolatier who was profiled in Gourmet or Bon Appetit! He got big brownie points for that!
@Miss Sunhat: I was so lonely back then that I was thrilled someone actually invited me out to do something! I have to admit that I wasn’t used to how southern men pursue women. At first, I was a little afraid!
@Miss Unicycle: I’m with you! Mr. Mink loves to tell people that I stood him up for our first date! He doesn’t know that I kept the bounced email he sent…he spelled my name wrong in it. Hee hee!
@Mrs. Ostrich: Aw, thank you so much, Mrs. O!
@Miss Pony: I just went back into my email to read those early emails. I wouldn’t have gone to look for them without the Bee.
@Miss Doe: Thanks! We love sharing it.
I just realized who you are!! Congratulations!! I am SO excited to watch you as a Bee!
@bookworm88: I think we have a Virginia connection as well, don’t we? Did you see that Miss Hawk is getting married at Wren Chapel?
so interesting to hear about your experience moving to c’ville! i had a similar experience – while i loved my colleagues, it was hard to meet folks outside the UVa bubble. there was a group of 20-something women who all worked in ODOS during that time (if we could private message i’d name names 
) and we all hung out and took advantage of the awesome restaurant scene. i think for me, it wasn’t a good place to be single (and car-less) but i think i would love it now. the plus side is, my husband is a faculty member in a field that has a well known department at UVa, so maybe we’ll get to return some day.
have some amazing bread & manchego cheese at MAS and a lychee martini at Bang for me!!
@goodheart: It’s called The Hook for a reason. You’ll be back! No matter where you go, Charlottesville always seems to reel you back in.
@goodheart: P.S. You can private message here! People on the message boards do it all the time.
That is such a sweet story! Having moved around a few times I know how hard it is to adjust to a new town. So glad you found Mr. Mink and happiness in Charlottesville!
@Miss Mink: Yes I did! Virginia has such gorgeous college towns.
@Miss Hawk: Thanks, Miss H!
@TinyTina: Aw, thanks for reading it.
Mrs. Mink, Charlottesville, Virginia Age and Occupation: 34, College Administrator Fiance's Age and Occupation: 40, Craft Beer Consultant Engagement Date: November 26, 2010 Wedding Date: June 2012 Venue: Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards About Me: I left a pre-war brownstone in Boston six years ago to live in a funky, Southern city where Thomas Jefferson, Dave Matthews, and urban chicken keepers enjoy equal social standing. I still love my Patriots and Red Sox, but have fallen in love with Virginia. I work in education and specialize in integrating technology into my work to improve the student experience. I’m a diehard blogger, animal lover, jamband follower, and DIYer. I paint to relax and have transferred by energy from home projects to wedding projects in recent months. When Mr. Mink and I started talking about marriage, we knew our wedding would be outdoors, that my golden retriever would be part of the day, and that the music would be fantastic. We’ve taken a few risks during our planning process and we’ve been enjoying the process immensely!
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