Our Story

Last March one fateful Sunday evening Karen was out celebrating March birthdays with her girlfriends at the Santa Fe Brewing Company. She was pretty convinced she was entering the realm of permanent old maid. She ’d been hearing for years that South by Southwest was the best country and western dance band around so she and her girlfriends had decided to go listen to the music and hopefully get some dancing in. As she sat with her friends and watched the dance floor she noticed an especially smooth and elegant dancer maneuvering himself and his partner around the dance floor. He was leading some intricate moves, and she thought it look like a lot of fun. Karen thought to herself “I want to dance with him and learn to dance as well as him. “

 

Chip was as usual speeding and twirling his partner around the dance floor when during a pass he noticed a bright illuminating smile on a dark haired beauty sitting with a group of women back in the far corner. Chip thought to himself, “I wonder if she knows how to two step?” After a few more passes he thought, “I am going to ask her to dance.” So he made several efforts to get over to the table where she and her friends were sitting, but each time he tried to make his way, another dancer would catch him and invite him out to the dance floor.

 

Now, Karen had been shown the basic 2-step less than a handful of times, and two of the ladies she was with had been taking 2-step lessons. They were all beginners and decided that if they wanted to get asked to dance, that they should move over to the entry area near the dance floor. Each got asked a few times, and then, the fabulous dancer, asked Karen if she would like to dance. She responded with a resounding, “Yes.” Suddenly, it felt like she was able to follow easily. It was FUN! Chip and Karen danced a couple of songs, she learned some basic information about his life, and asked him to dance with her friend once. He agreed, and then danced with some other people, and asked Karen to dance again. It was the last song of the evening. Afterward, she rejoined her friends, she really wanted to dance with Chip again, so, totally out of character she gave him her number & let him know that she would love to dance with him again.

 

Through all his efforts he’d never made it to her, but much to his surprise, as he was coming off the dance floor, he saw her standing over near the steps. He thanked his dance partner and headed straight to where she was hanging out offered her his hand and invited her to dance. Her dancing was a little unfinished but he could immediately tell she had some potential and likely a diamond in the rough. After a couple of dances she asked if he would dance with her friend and being ever the gentleman happily obliged. As it turned out it was the last dance of the set and he returned her friend to their group Karen invited him to stay and chat. She had a wonderful bubbly personality, which put him at ease, and kindled an interest in perhaps sharing some more dances with her. Sadly he had promised to start the last set with his good friend so he asked, “Perhaps we can have another dance later.” After several dances it was time for the last song of the evening, he made his way back to her as promised. Regrettably the event was over, he asked whether she would be out to see South by Southwest again, secretly hoping that she had enjoyed the dances enough, to make her want to come back out. What a surprise, she offered him her phone number…The long drive back to Rio Rancho didn’t seem so long that evening.

 

When she hadn’t heard from him for three weeks, she assumed that he had no interest in dancing with a novice like her. Soon after, he called and invited her to attend a special event with him, in Angel Fire. She happily agreed. On the way up to Angel Fire, they learned that they shared the same musical tastes, being in the mountains, dancing, horses, and that neither of them had any vices that the other thought unsavory. She had a really enjoyable evening, and soon they were fishing, hiking, dancing, riding, camping, and planning their excellent backpacking adventure.

 

The ogre and the pumpkin princess lived happily ever after…..