Marie-Josée and Mike

We first met on a very unusual date between the first anniversary of 9-11 and a Friday the 13th. We met on September 12, 2002. 

Marie-Josée

I was flying to London, England that day to visit my friend Suzie. I was supposed to go in May 2003 but when she told me that they would probably move back to Canada around Christmas, I decided to go in September. 

My pre-booked seat was an aisle seat so I made it to the airport extra early (4hrs before my departure time) to try to get a window seat. No luck, there was nothing available so I had to keep the one that was assigned initially. 
When I got to my seat, I set myself up with my book, but I am not really reading… I am spotting the passengers and commenting to myself on who my “seat companion” for the next 6-hours will be… “Ah no, not that woman, she probably stinks of perfume”, “I hope it is not this big guy” … ”Hummmm, I would not mind this one!” and to my surprise, he excuses himself and puts his book on the window seat beside me. I am thrilled. I stand to let him in… he needs to put his stuff away on the overhead bin. As he is getting ready to sit, he asks if I would like the window seat… If I would like the window seat? I would love the window seat! That was it! I was in love! 
We introduce each other, Mike, nice name… 

Mike

I was supposed to go watch the Ryder Cup in September 2001 with my friend Leon but because of 9-11 it was cancelled and postponed to 2002. I had flown to Montreal from Ottawa and made sure I bought earplugs, thinking that I would sleep most of the trip. I boarded the plan and ended up sitting beside an attractive young woman whose name I had to keep repeating to myself. Marie-Josée, as many English and Dutch speaking people know, is a challenge to remember. I offered her the window seat. She was very appreciative. I introduced myself. We immediately started small talk. When you meet somebody on an airplane it is hard to tell what he or she looks like because you only see one side of their face. Later in the flight I had a chance to check her out when she went to the washroom. It was all good!

We talked about everything and nothing; music, pets, travelling plans… 

After dinner and a movie, I fell asleep wondering how I could give him my phone number. When I woke up, he put his personal business card on my table and asked me to call him when I have an opportunity to visit Ottawa so that we could talk about our trip… I answered that I don’t frequent Ottawa and that he should give me a call, I slid my card to him. 

We kept on talking and laughing. 

Customs took forever but it didn’t matter because we were getting along very well. When we cleared customs, Mike's friend Leon was waiting for him. Suzie had sent a cab for me, so we started looking around for somebody with a sign with my name on it but no luck. Leon had to go to work so Mike had to leave. So we said bye with kisses on the cheeks... the French Canadian way... 

Our vacation schedule did not co-ordinate so we could not see each other in England.

When we got back to Canada, we scheduled our first official date because being with somebody for 6 to 8 consecutive hours on an airplane can also be considered a first date.

We ended up meeting in Montréal 6 weeks later.... and then in Merrickville, and then in Montréal, and then in Merrickville.... 

Six weeks after a first encounter it is hard to remember what a person looks like… When we finally got together again we were not disappointed!