It was my second year in a share house situation in Bay Head, and I had a vibe that something was going to happen this summer, that I was going to meet someone special.
So our house was invited to a party at "Rocky's house". Rocky is Steve Araki, but not many people know that that's his real name. The house he's a part of is known as "Rocky's house." And Rocky house parties were usually pretty fun.
Joanne was at the party with her housemates. They had rented the house which my group had rented the previous summer. This provided an easy topic of conversation, which several of my housemates used to engage Joanne and her friends.
I was immediately attracted to Joanne, but etiquette dictated playing it cool (or at least the way I understood the etiquette). So I didn't spend undue time with Joanne, although I did banter with her in that party-small-talk sort of way. She later told me she thought I was horribly obnoxious that night. I don't recall, so she's probably right. I do recall leaving the party being quite excited about her.
Two weeks later, our house threw a party, and someone invited her house. She came, and this time I talked with her the whole night. She again thought I was obnoxious, but in a cute way. I figured I was growing on her. But the summer was still young.
The next weekend was the long July Fourth weekend. I knew that she would be at the annual One Delaware beach party. The house at One Delaware Street is the only share house in Bay Head which is physically on the beach, and every July Fourth they throw a party which the whole share house community attends.
As expected, the party was mobbed, in that way that makes it very difficult to locate someone. I found plenty of Joanne's housemates who told me that "I saw her over there a little while ago," but no Joanne. I left the party somewhat depressed that I hadn't been able to find her and impress her yet again with my obnoxious party persona.
I probably should have just walked the three blocks to her share house, knocked on the door, and asked to see her, but unfortunately, traditional courting etiquette seemed somewhat inappropriate in the sharehouse environment. Besides, I'm terrified of rejection. Yeah, I know everyone is, but I really am. Or was.
So it's Monday afternoon, the last day of the long weekend, and my housemates and I are lounging on the beach, which is what we're supposed to be there for anyhow. All the share house groups form camps along the beach by circling their beach chairs, occasionally sending emissaries to neighboring camps to negotiate party invitations and spread gossip and such. Who should decide to leave the safety of her wagon circle and bound along the shore for a walk but lovely Joanne and her Walkman! I figured that if she could take a risk, I could too. So I took a deep breath and bounded up to her. We walked and talked for awhile, then sat in the surf and talked some more, and talked, and talked... Outside the milieu of a party, the conversation was much easier (and less obnoxious) and I was very happy to find that we developed a very natural and comfortable rapport.
After walking back to her house, I asked for her phone number, and broke etiquette (finally!) by calling her the very next day and going on a "real" date later that week.
And the rest is history...