The story of Brittany & Erik
March 10, 2001 (approximately)
Erik answers Brittany's Love@AOL ad with his own ad. By this time, Brittany has had her ad up for almost a month and after a lot of near-misses, losers and even good dates that went nowhere, she's ready to throw in the towel. Then Erik changes everything.
March 14, 2001
After talking on ICQ and then the phone for 3-4 days, Brittany and Erik decide to meet. He picks Brittany up at her apartment and they head out for dinner at an Indian restaurant. Brittany is pleasantly surprised by how handsome Erik is, as she had some terrible experiences previously. Brittany shows her cheap side by offering a 2-for-1 coupon, and they joke about how it would be in terrible taste for Erik to use a coupon on a first date.
March 16, 2001
Brittany and Erik decide they have something pretty special, and agree to be mutually exclusive.
March 30, 2001
Brittany introduces Erik to her mother and step-dad at her mom's birthday karaoke night. Erik wins Mom's heart by fearlessly ruining Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." Brittany tells Erik she loves him on the way home. It takes Erik a few more days to say the same.
June, 2001
Erik moves into Brittany's apartment. He agrees on the condition that the spare room becomes "his office."
August, 2002
Brittany and Erik move to a new apartment together in the Greenwood area.
October, 2002
Erik has an opportunity to work as a contractor in a villa in Paraguay for 6 months. He promises Brittany he will propose to her upon his return. They make arrangements for Brittany to move down there with him for 3-4 months until his contract is up. Meanwhile, Erik asks Brittany to pick out ring styles for him. She's miserable when he's gone and cries a lot. They have tense and pitiful conversations on IM. Erik swears he will never be gone for so long again.
December, 2002
Brittany has given notice at her job and trained her replacement when Erik finds out that his project has been cancelled and that he'll be coming home unemployed at Christmas.
Christmas, 2002
For some reason, Brittany is certain that Erik will propose, but no ring is forthcoming. They drive to Portland on Christmas Day to spend it with Erik's family, and Brittany is heartbroken, thinking Erik has changed his mind. She spends all day trying not to cry.
January 8, 2003
A mysterious package arrives in the mail, and Erik suggests a picnic at Golden Gardens. Brittany knows something is up. They pack up some food and freeze on the windy beach. Erik proposes, after a slightly cruel game of "guess which box has the ring in it?" Brittany says yes.
March 14, 2004
Erik and Brittany are married in a beautiful noon ceremony at the Lake Union Café.