andrew and i disagree on when we first met.  I am right, of course, because his memory is foggy (something that he illuminates in his plays all the time), but I am right.  On my first day as a freshman at Skidmore College, we had to take a walking tour.  I remember standing outside the president of the college's house, and seeing this really tall, a little funny looking guy.  I remember thinking:  I am going to date that boy.   I overheard him talking about how he was in theater.  I  introduced myself, said I would be in the theater department too.  He was, um, a little rude.  But I still knew I would date him.  The only problem was that I had a pretty serious boyfriend at the time, and Andrew had been a little rude. Cut to maybe a month or so later..The Samples and Ziggy Marley were playing at Skidmore.  I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but by the end of the evening I was making out with Mr. Irons.  I guess we started "dating."  And yes, I still had the boyfriend from home.  But within a weeks time I had decided that Andrew was boring. And in a not so gracious way, I just stopped calling him.  Cut to nearly four years later.  I was directing Burn This (by Lanford Wilson) for my final senior project in my grandmother's vacant house.  I had a great cast - Alexis Ryan, Tim Fannon, Matt Fisher but I couldn't find my Burton.  Alexis first suggested to me, and then Tim, and then Matt that I cast Andrew (they ganged up on me). I was like, um what? he's boring.  They were like, um, you need to cast a writer with large hands, who could be more perfect?  I was not convinced. Then sitting in acting class I watched him.  And I realized they might be right.  OK, they were right.  So I asked him to be in the play.  Maybe I asked him to audition, but I can't remember, I'm thinking probably not. Anyway by this time boyfriend from home was LONG GONE, and several probably unhealthy, but very fun, and then very unhealthy relationships had followed - (in college, chaste is not how I would describe myself). Anyway.  We started rehearsals.  I guess I was finally adult enough to be ready for honesty and softness because within the first week of rehearsals I was full on in love with Andrew Irons.  The only problem was, well, he had a girlfriend.  BUt he was in love with me too.  I knew.  He knew.  One evening we were nearly inappropriate.  And I had a rule that I never dated my actors (one that I had broken on several occasions).  It was almost Valentines Day.  Then, there was one evening of rehearsal, the only evening I scheduled for Monologue work.  My stage manager (her name was betty) called in sick.  Andrew was scheduled last.  We were alone in the room.  We went through a full hour of work.  Good work.  And at the end of the evening, I went to the kitchen and got a glass of water.  Andrew looked at me and said, um "so i broke up with..."  I looked at him.  I dropped the glass of water.  I jumped up and down giggling.  And then stopped.  "Are you OK?"  I asked.  Our first official date was on Valentines Day.

I guess you can't get cheesier than that.  But that was almost 12 years ago. Since then we've been in a long distance relationship, then lived together first in the east village and then in many places in Brooklyn.  I directed two of his plays.  It was hard.  But we did it.  I decided we should be married.  I spent about a year waking him up and saying, when are we getting married?  When are we getting married?  On September 7, 2001 we got married in a Japanese Stroll Garden attached to an art museum. It was small and wonderous.  Neither of us had been to a wedding before, so we kind of made it all up.  I guess it wasn't traditional, but we didn't have anything to compare it to, so who knows.  And four years later, almost to the date, we had a baby, Jacob, who is almost three.

We're tired.  And very happy.  And still very much in love.