Maria gallery! (Clockwise from top left) : Sirby interrupts Maria's reading for a little hair-mussing; striking a sultry pose; giving up a pint for a good cause; raising the room temperature several degrees. Center : Two hearts beating as one! 

The Story of Maria & I

Beginnings

Mercy Hospital, April 2002. There's a new hottie working in Special Immunology, and having already established a friendly relationship with the secretary whose job the newbie was in training to assume, I was granted a formal introduction.  Well, here was a stunning beauty who was very polite and professional, and I managed a "how d'ya do" without betraying my inner thoughts (which were less than professional). In the course of the following months, we became friendly, and she soon was a member of my lunch "harem" (Bethany and Edlyn were the other two). She was very open and charming, and I marvelled at her beauty whenever I looked at her. But, figuring she was way out of my league, I did nothing to pursue anything more than a platonic relationship. I became a friend and confidante; listening to her and offering any opinions or advice that I hoped would be helpful. She was in a long-distance relationship, and was having the usual problems that are associated with such. But she was going to make a move to Germany nevertheless to live with her beau. I wasn't jealous...why would I be? She was beyond the reach of a hospital IT geek like myself. But I would definitely miss her.

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