How we met
Vanessa: I was in Durham for the summer of 2004 attending the American Dance Festival.
Nathan: I had just moved to Durham from Ohio to begin my graduate research at Duke over the summer. My friend James and I saw fliers for a party being hosted for the American Dance Festival in a club downtown and thought it would be fun to attend.
When Vanessa and I first saw each other, James and I were listening to a band play on the second floor of the club. Vanessa was with a friend and, while they certainly caught our attention, James and I were too intimidated to approach them. I continued to keep an eye out for Vanessa throughout the evening, but it wasn't until we met on the dance floor that we finally got to know each other.
Vanessa: After talking we decided to date for the remainder of the summer despite the fact that we both knew I would have to leave for Georgia. We got together often that summer, including regularly for coffee at Bruger's Bagels before heading off to work. It was talking over breakfast that I first got to know him.
Nathan: At the end of the summer Vanessa had to head back to Georgia for her senior year at Brenau University. We felt that we had a good thing going and decided that we should continue to date while she was away. Although we tried to plan visits, for the majority of that year our relationship was a 20 minute phone call at the end of each day.
Vanessa: After completing my Senior year I decided to move to Durham for good. Nathan and I continued to date for the next 3 years.
(engagement story coming soon)