Sara's Love Story; Part 3

Part III

So where was I?  Oh yes, “I’m in love with Mike Moore”!  So, after at least a month of pestering and nearly stalking the poor man, Michael finally asked me out for our first date.  I recall that Michael called me on July 22 because it was my dad’s birthday.  We had a brief conversation as I stood in my parent’s kitchen talking on the old style wall telephone.  And when I say brief, I literally think Mike said 1 sentence which was, “hey there…so I was thinking that maybe you should come over and let me make you dinner”.  For those of you who know me, you KNOW how I like to eat!  I thought I had died and gone to heaven.  I mean it couldn’t get any better than Michael making me dinner…or so I thought.  

We made plans for Saturday, July 24, 1997 and I came over to his apartment in Santa Cruz and when I arrived Michael was in the kitchen preparing dinner.  I quickly assessed the kitchen and found 2 boxes of Kraft Macaroni and cheese standing candidly on the counter next to a family size jar of apple sauce.  Okay, so maybe he wasn’t the chef I fantasized about him being, but it’s the thought that counts right?  And, I must say that macaroni was pretty darn good!  

Following our gourmet meal, Michael asked me to sit at the table and he pulled out a bottle of dark green nail polish and asked if I wanted my nails painted.  I agreed and he busily began his nail painting project with the same fastidious intensity he brings to every project he embarks upon.  After nails were painted we walked downtown to Café Pergolesi for mochas prior to the movie.  Our first movie, Dream with the fishes, played at the Nickelodeon and is a wonderful but dark independent Nick film.  The soundtrack to that movie by the way is pretty great.   As the movie came to an end, Michael and I hurried over to Santa Cruz Coffee Roasters for a night cap and were disappointed to find that they were closing up shop.  Just as I expressed my “ahhh maaan, we just missed it”, statement Michael spotted his friend Jeff and began wrapping on the window.  Michael negotiated with Jeff in his typical ‘Business man Mike’ style and made his plea for two coffees to go.  In a stereotypic Santa Cruzan style, Jeff then asked Mike for his hat in return.  The guy might as well have asked Michael for a family heirloom because in fact his Ritchey hat had just been given to him by his brother Ian who worked as a pro mechanic for team Ritchey.  Now, for those of you who know Mike, know that this request would have normally been met with a quick witted, snarky comment like, “would I ask your grandmother for her cane?” but instead, without hesitation, Michael leaned over the counter and gave Jeff  his Ritchey hat.   I think that this was the moment that I realized, “Oh my God!  Michael Moore is in love with me too”!! As we walked home together that first night, I proudly sipped my hot coffee drink and held Michael’s hand.  It was a beautiful night and a perfect first date.