I got to know Mie 51 weeks ago at Burning Man 2002 and became enamored of her. Despite her intention to avoid getting too close (due to the reality of geographical distance, as she lived in Japan and I lived in San Francisco), I even kissed her one night.

Two months later I visited Tokyo, feeling awkward, not knowing what to expect. The uncertainty dissipated quickly, thank goodness. Love, as they say, blossomed.

Over the next 10 months I visited Japan once more, and Mie came to California twice. Together for two weeks per visit, separated up to four months in between. Some would say we have had scant time together to really know one another, but we employed methods afforded to us by this modern age which allowed us to share both the large and the small moments of our lives. We intertwined ourselves regardless of timezones or oceans.

As I type this Mie is 35,000+ feet over the ocean hurtling towards a new life. In a little over two weeks we will have been together on the same continent for the longest uninterrupted span of time ever. And frankly, I never intend to be apart from her for even that long again.