Home is Where we Hook-up

We met in Santa Barbara California in 2000. Here are our stories.

Paula’s story.

I was walking the boardwalk in Santa Barbara looking for a place to read my book. I could have never predicted within the next few hours that my entire future would take a total 180. But, that’s what happens when the stars align and people are paying attention Keith Gill I know, now, what it took for you to skate up to me that morning and ask “what’re we reading?” And later, when you stood next to me and a full-blown electric shock ran through my body, well, there wasn’t much either of us could do but trust and fall in love. And so we did. In the first week of knowing you, you asked if I had a passport, and when I said no, you suggested I should get one. I did. It’s full now and we’re working on the second. Together we have adventured, explored, and followed our dreams of just what’s possible. We bring out the best in each other (and ok – we have learned a bit about the worst too – we are human!!!) Your support of me in every single thing I’ve ever wanted to do is almost like a miracle to me! YOU have always seen the greatness within me, we make a terrific team and our future is as bright as the stars that brought us together so long ago! My heart soars that we are now back living where we met, come on, let’s get down to that beach and take a stroll. Loved you the day I met you, and for forever after.

How did we meet? Here is my side of the story, .

Keith’s story

I knew from 20 feet away that I was going to have to meet Paula. Just back from Australia, I had decided to burn away some Sunday morning jet lag with a skate down the shoreline bike path near my Santa Barbara home.

The bike path crosses a creek that trickles its last life into the sand by the beach. I accelerated a little to crest the bridge but stopped short on the top of the bridge. A woman stood at the top of the bridge looking out to the Pacific. I never just stop and talk to women, and this one looked like she was just as likely to speak German or some Scandinavian dialect. She was even far more likely to walk on before I thought of something to say as I stood by the bridge railing. Standing there, a panting mouth breathing, slightly sweating stranger, I figured I had maybe startled her. When noticing her book, I said,

“So, what are you reading?”

She looked at me, flashed a dimpled, blue sparkly-eyed smile, and then dropped the bomb.

“The Testament,” she said.

OH NO! I thought. But, managed to stumble out some remarks about the right day of the week for that book.

“Enjoy your day, ” I said as I rolled down the bridge.

Now I have no aversion to religion, but any conversation that begins with a Bible reference is about as inviting to me as a visit from the IRS during the Super Bowl. About the time I was asking myself how something that felt right could be this wrong it clicked. Skating back alongside the now-walking lady, I said,

“Uh, that would be John Grisham,” The Testament”, correct?”

She laughed and said, “Yesss, I knew, what you had thought.”

Well OK! I was thinking, she realizes that I appear to be not so smart, and yet she seems to like me being here. I know I like her. The more we walked and talked along the bike path the more I knew that I was just exactly where I was supposed to be, and I couldn’t have been happier.