Once upon a time ...
These two lovebirds first met after their final year of high school, at their senior banquet where Ben was keynote speaker. It was a brief encounter -- an introduction by Ms. Sasha McGee, a few minutes of conversation backed by deafening dance music -- but enough to leave Lisa with a sense of curiosity about this odd fellow. She had heard his name in the past, but never made his acquaintance due to his somewhat individualistic -- one might even say anti-social -- tendencies at the time.
That fall, both headed to college at the University of Washington. Here they crossed paths a handful of times, generally in the presence of Ms. McGee. Their first substantive encounter occured in the fall of 1998. Lisa was back from Trailblazers summer camp living with three dorm mates. Ben had moved into an apartment nearby.
It was twilight, after sunset and before the sun dropped eighteen degrees below the horizon. Ms. Manzer sat on her front stoop chatting with a roommate, watching the world and its people stroll by on the street below. From up the block neared a familiar face, a handsome young man leisurely strolling along the sidewalk.
"Ben!" she shouted.
Mr. Livingston has often heard what he thought to be someone calling his name, only to find that it was not so. By now he has a general rule that it is safe to assume he is not the sought after party unless a second shout fills the air. However, this "Ben!" was quite loud and well-pronounced, so he turned his head from one side to the other, scanning the darkening landscape in search of his calling.
His eyes set upon the three-story white house on the corner of Twelfth Avenue and Forty-Second Street. Crossing the river of asphalt, he climbed the red-staired stoop to find the lovely Ms. Manzer enjoying an August evening above the U District. There they sat into the wee hours of the morning, enveloped in conversation, each delighting in the company of the other. Subsequent evenings were similarly spent.