As no newbie to the dating apps, I was perusing one day in late July 2020 and matched with this studly, adventurous, tall, bearded fellow on Hinge. I had only moved to Colorado a few months prior and was not complaining to come across a “mountain man” like him.

After only a few back and forths, I was loving the energy and enthusiasm I could feel with every message, so we decided to meet up in person for our first date.

He lived in Denver and I in Boulder, but he offered to drive 45 min to meet me in Boulder for a short hike he picked out. Well first he offered to pick me up at my apartment, but I politely declined due to the fact that he was a complete stranger, but I thought the gesture was really sweet.

I did agree to meet him at an unpopular, completely empty trailhead though, so I don’t know how much I can really say about my safety precautions BUT at least I had my car I could quickly run to and get away if needed. Modern dating I tell ya…

On the perfectly warm summer evening of Saturday, August 1, 2020, I pulled up to the trailhead coordinates Alltrails had given me. There was no sign of a place to park, only a tall, handsome man standing there telling me that the actual parking lot is down the road. He had walked all the way back about 1/4 mile to the spot he had also been directed to park to make sure I found him.

As soon as we began the hike, the conversation just flowed and the sparks were flying. We spoke about where we were from, our families, our childhoods, our travels, our philosophical life perspectives, our music interests (at one point we listened to “Jubel” by Klingande out loud) and so on.

It wasn’t too long into our hike that I quite literally felt like I was in the presence of an angel. I know it sounds corny, but I knew I had never met anyone like Tom before. He had (and has) a glow about him. The way he carried himself, spoke about himself, those he knew, those he didn’t know and the world at large. I remember thinking that if this doesn’t work out, I trust that I was meant to meet Tom to be shown what it can feel like.

The feeling must have been mutual because when we got back to the parking lot after our hike (now way past dinner time), we clearly didn’t want to leave each other, so we munched on protein bars we both happened to have on us, sat by the Left Hand Creek nearby and chatted some more while the sun set and left us in the complete darkness.

Tom then had the idea to extend the festivities to a nearby brewery to which we learned that Boulder breweries all close at around 9pm (which I would normally be all in favor for but I needed more time with this QT). I ended up offering up my apartment rooftop where we could sip on kombuchas I had in my fridge. I made it clear that we weren’t going to my apartment as that was not an appropriate first date location, but we technically did to get the kombuchas.

We then sat up together on my apartment rooftop continuing to chat and looking out over the magical flatirons skyline with the stars twinkling as we drew closer. Eventually, Tom leaned in for a kiss. Fireworks erupted. He then pulled back and asked “was that okay?” which very much confused me. Was he asking if it was okay that he had kissed me or was he asking me to rate his kiss?  It ended up being the first one, but before I knew for sure, I politely said “more please.”

I left that first date knowing something really special had happened that night. I actually sent a snapchat to a few girlfriends after he had left saying “I think I just met the man of my dreams.”

Inconveniently, I was casually seeing another guy at the time and had an early hiking date planned the next morning (like 6am), which I reluctantly went on. As much as I wanted to cancel, it felt rude to back out so late the night before and I still did like the prospect of going on this hike to spend my Sunday out immersed in nature.

As I had suspected, the whole time I was comparing this guy to Tom and thinking about how I only was now interested in Tom. He was a nice guy, but he just wasn’t Tom. That day, I ended things with him.

Tom followed up that next day sharing with me what an amazing time he had. I of course echoed his sentiments. We quickly got our second date on the books. This time in Denver where he had me over to his delightfully cozy, rescued plant-filled apartment (yes, he would find plants people were throwing away and rescue them back to good health). I was met with the aroma of freshly baked vegan banana muffins and the sight of his sister’s bike he had brought over from his parent’s house so we could bike to a local farmers market together.

From there on out (and truthfully since that first date), we were an item.

As much as I was so very attracted to him, I never felt nervous being around him. His presence provided such a state of comfort for me, like the feeling of home.

I think a big part of that was how unapologetically and confidently honest he was in sharing with me how he was feeling, even saying “I love you” through text just a few weeks into dating, which left me in shock and with butterflies and also wishing I had said it first because I had already been feeling that way for a while, but didn’t know if it was too soon to say it

and the fact that he wanted me to know the most important people in his life so soon, like meeting his darling sister Clare and her friends, alongside my college friend Mary visiting, on our beloved third date of a group climbing adventure in Boulder Canyon (also my first time climbing outdoors) or how I met his amazing parents, Doug and Diane, and youngest brother, Matt, just a few more dates in after a weekend of backpacking in the high mountains of Summit County.

I was able to trust Tom so fully in such a short amount of time as he led me on some of the wildest, stomach-turning adventures I had ever been on, always making sure I was safe and still having fun. He was my official Colorado adventure guide (quite literally teaching me how to outdoor rock climb, snowboard, backpack/camp, etc.) and I was his greatest paying customer (in love).

The beginning of our relationship involved A LOT of driving back and forth between Boulder and Denver to see one another. Tom then decided in late fall of 2020 that he was going to move back to an old home of his in Eldorado Springs, just 15 minutes south of me. He said it was because he missed it, but I think we both knew it was because he wanted to be closer to me.

It feels like we’ve already experienced so many chapters of life together in the last 4.5 years - from new degrees earned, job loss, career pivots, navigating physical and emotional hurt, pseudo-camping canyon life, buying a home, major renovations, all kinds of travels and seemingly endless adventures.

To this day, Tom leaves me in complete awe at the angelic human that he has.

It has been my greatest honor in this life to have met, to love and do this life with Tom Robinson. I love our now and can’t wait for what’s to come.

You know when you chat with someone over text and you are like they can’t be real. They are so expressive with their emojis and stories, and so quick to respond. This person is just too on top of it and well-spoken. That’s how I felt messaging Colleen on the dating app Hinge. Wow, is she real or is this too good to be true. Well I guess I found out. Gratefully, I just met a unicorn.

I arrived at least a few minutes early, maybe the first and last time in our relationship, to a parking lot in the North Boulder foothills, the Buckingham park parking area. The Joder Ranch trail was hard to find. This trail somehow, I’m sure to someone's dismay, was put on the All Trails app but was mostly just a neighborhood trail with no dedicated parking lot. Of course, it had epic meadows and views because you know, Boulder.

I marched my way up the road to the trailhead and waited eagerly to greet my date. I was practically in the road looking driver’s down to try to make sure she didn’t get lost as I did.

We saw each other and she pulled over. She had some large sunglasses on, so I couldn’t see her eyes yet but noticed her luscious curly hair and soothing voice. I told her to drive down, and there was a parking lot a little down the road. I walked back to greet her. Thus began a night of ever-growing interest and attraction.

My first memories are really side angle shots of her with her sunglasses on and hair flowing. I can’t emphasize enough the hair and her voice, the initial intrigue. We walked and talked about our lives. I listened as she shared about her time at Virginia Tech, starting the Veg Club, and working at Vega. She wanted to show me a song and we listened to Jubel by Klingande which has become sort of an anthem for us and our relationship. On the Joder Ranch trail, listening to this song was our first time of silence where we felt comfortable just listening, not talking, peaceful in each other's presence.

Both of us were eager to extend the date. First we sat by the Left Hand Creek, and I shared about why I left my job that I loved in Denver to travel east and eventually to China and Vietnam, and what that trip taught me. I felt heard. I felt comforted to have this complete confidence that she was interested and I was free to share.

After leaving the park, we wanted to extend the date further. We were searching for any breweries that were open to get a drink, but alas everywhere closes at 9 PM in Boulder. 

Colleen suggested we go back to her place. Not actually to her place, but to meet on the rooftop. She had some hard kombuchas we could enjoy and keep talking. 

We met up on the rooftop and had our drinks. I remember feeling so comfortable. I was now gazing into her deep green eyes. I felt gutsy and leaned in for a kiss. I followed the kiss up by saying, “was that alright?” I meant more was it alright that I kissed you, but I guess Colleen thought I was asking if the kiss quality was okay. She did say yes and said “more please.” So I kissed her again, and we shared a sweet kiss on the rooftop.

After our intimate moment, I left to spend the night at my friend Adam’s place. I left feeling very warm inside and at peace. I felt like I had met someone truly special and was excited to hang out again.

This initial date gave me glimpses into Colleen and her personality. She is a source of calm and truth–open with her feelings and thoughts, and genuinely curious about others. This was only the start of an incredible romance. But, that will be explored in the book...just kidding.

Thanks for reading.