I took Kassya to a friend's party. Sixty people were crammed into a little house. We walked in, grabbed two beers, and went directly to a bench on the back porch where, beyond the loud music, we sat and talked for hours. We were oblivious to everyone and everything. We got lost in each other.

Three hours later we realised it was three hours later. I know this sounds stupid, but honestly, all I remember is that at some point early in the conversation I looked at Kassya and thought, "I'm gonna marry this girl." She must have been thinking about forever too, because that's when she said, "Honey, would you mind getting me another beer?"

On the way back to her place I decided that I would be a perfect gentleman at the door because I didn't want to screw up my long-term possibilities. No way did I want her thinking, "Oh crap, we get to the door and he starts pawing me like a cougar." I kissed Kassya goodnight, then I backed away and said, "I'll call you." To my surprise, Kassya just grinned and said, "Get in the house."

I believe she might have put the chain on the door. Good sign and exactly what I wanted, not that I had anything to do with it. We stayed in the living room to talk. Then she said something funny. She walked toward the bedroom and said, "Enough chat. Come in here, I want to show you something."

Clown paintings. She had clown paintings!