We met at a bar in my then neighborhood of Chelsea, on Halloween, 1995. Neither of us were dressed in costume, although I did have scandalously ripped jeans on that may have helped with my flirting abilities:-). The bar, Baracuda, had only been open for a few weeks. I was there looking for friends I was to have met up with earlier in the evening. As I looked around I saw two handsome men lounging at a table. Rick & his roommate Oliviér were having a quiet drink. Rick looked over & our eyes met. We smiled at each other & kept up with the glances. When the waiter walked by I asked him to send a beer over to the “cute blonde at the table over there.” (Yes, Rick was a “blonde” then.. & I had hair! LOL) When the waiter delivered the beer I waved at Rick & turned to walk out thinking I didn’t have a chance since he was seemingly with someone & there was no need for me to stand there, staring at him all night:-) But before I could get through the crowd to the door, Rick, in what I would come to know was a very unusual move for him, got up & came after me, thanking me for the beer & asking me where I was going. He invited me back to the table & after introductions all around, the three of us sat & chatted. Rick & I continued chatting well after Oliviér left. In fact the two of us were the last patrons to leave the bar. Due to Rick’s busy schedule, (definitely not my lack of trying, lol) it would be three weeks before we were able to meet up again in Rick’s neighborhood of Tribeca for a proper date, but after that dinner Rick chivalrously hailed a taxi for me. I opened the door and pushed him in it, jumped in after him, slammed the door & shouted to the driver, “19th Street between 9th & 10th, please!” We've been together ever since - & 25 years & 2 apartments later, here we are - (finally) ready to tie the knot! Rick, the ultimate Wisconsinite, often jokes, that had I sent him a little cheese with that beer... it wouldn't have taken him three weeks to meet up! HaHa!