The Best First Date...

It didn't exactly start out as a first date. We were friends who hadn't seen each other in a while, but had grown very close... he wanted to travel (the bait) and needed a navigator (the hook, line, and sinker I bit into...)

We're on our way to Lake Placid - the first stop (we're still friends here)... 

Lake Placid was quiet and nice... we did all there was to do in an afternoon and decided to take a hike on a local trail... I almost froze to death (totally worth the frostbite that has prevented my fingers from blogging these last few months)... I almost fell, he grabbed my hand (still friends)

We left Lace Placid and went to Albany... dinner was nice (still friends)

The next day I learned something about Luke... he's the nicest person EVER! I was pretty confident of this before the trip, but then he held an umbrella over my head all morning while we traipsed through the rain so I could take pictures (still friends)... 

a church in the center of the city that we both thought was nice (still friends - so I probably thought it was nice and he thought he should be nice - still friends)

The Empire State's capital building. Lovely right? (still friends here too) 

We decided to head to Maine via Vermont and New Hampshire (still friends)... 

we came up with a new slogan for NH -- "Not quite as cool as Vermont"

(still friends)

We liked Vermont a lot (we've since returned)...

We arrive in Portland, Maine but not before stopping to watch a Nebraska Cornhuskers (one word) football game in New Hampshire, which ended up not being televised therefore we got back on the road after eating and I GOT to stream live updates on my BlackBerry (yup, still friends)

Nebraska scored, what Luke would later refer to as an "inconsequential field goal" and I squealed with delight (still friends, but I have a suspicion that this may have been the turning point)...

Portland, Maine... a comedy club and a whole lotta fun... this is where the Good Lord starts really smiling on me... the comedy club was packed so we had to sit very closely... I don't know what the jokes where, but I could tell you how much daylight was between us (still friends)...

it POURED rain, possibly some snow, that night and we walked in it... being helpless I had to hook my arm on his and let him lead the way... (STILL friends)...

We enjoyed a lighthouse and some coastline in Portland (still friends)...

beautiful picture, huh? (still amigos)

aren't the colors rich and lovely? (buddies)

Romantic? (nope- we're pals)

Picturesque! (Still friends)

I've officially started filling out a change of address card to live in Platonic-ville when... 

a

glimmer

of

hope...

I look horrible in this picture because I was going through one of those weird -- I'm not going to fix my hair because if he doesn't learn to like me the way I am it will never work anyway crazy feminist phases.

(I know what you're thinking -- and no, we're compadres here too!)

Once again we hit the road - this time we stopped in Kennebunkport, Maine (because we live like the Kennedys - except that we're friends)

The weather was cool, but beautiful. I obviously love this picture so much I made it my blog title. 

(friends)

He was so nice to let me take all the pictures I wanted and chase sea gulls to my heart's content! 

(buddies)

(pals)

I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I wanted to be friends with him at this point... best friends... like the really really good kind... the really really good kind that date each other... 

(still buds)

beautiful sunset, beautiful beach... (please hold my hand!!! argh, still friends)

The best part of this story is... 

1. We're still friends

2. We're not just friends

3. The fact that he was such a gentleman the entire time made him the most trustworthy person I've ever known. 

4. I love my best friend - I am blessed beyond measure!