How I Met Lisa

Contributed by Anthony Klopp

Klopp Family Tree – Chart I – IV

I have never been more thankful to go out for a round of beers after golf than that night. I had just finished, what I am sure was the best round of golf I have ever played and was feeling pretty happy about breaking 80. When my golf buddies asked me to go to the local watering hole, I thought, “I deserve a celebratory pint”. While waiting for the finishing touches of my Guinness to be poured, I saw her. I had seen her once or twice before but had never done anything about it. Considering how well I played that day I thought perhaps luck was on my side.

It was after high school when I moved to Victoria to attend the university. My first few years were like many others I am sure, floundering around with little focus. I somehow narrowed my field and wound up with a bachelor of science in economics.  I had managed to put my self through school with some interesting jobs along the way (I will save those stories for another time). After university, I actually found a job in my field, which allowed me to stay in Victoria.   Enough about that, let’s get back to the love story.

So there I was a 40 year old successful business man with a blossoming golf game enjoying my pint when she sat down next to me.  It turned out she had just finished her shift and my buddy Guy (a regular at the pub) asked her to join us. There she was sitting on the stool next to me making idol chitchat. It didn’t take long to learn she was as sweet as she looked. She was working as a server at the pub and the Empress Hotel while attending university for nursing. It was clear she loved her family, her friends and enjoyed a good laugh. For those of you who don’t know me, I am usually a little shy at first but with her it was easy. We talked all night. It was a bit of cliché how many things we had in common. Good food, wine, traveling and the outdoors. But alas the night ended and we went our separate ways. I remember thinking to myself she was amazing but for some reason I didn’t get her number.

It was about a week later and things were back to normal, me moving numbers around on a spreadsheet with breaks to practice my golf swing until I received a note from my friend Guy with her number. It was probably a few days later when I contacted her and we were going on a date.

We dated for a while seeing each other a few times a week. I would make Tuesday night dinners. Something new and delicious each week to keep her intrigued, not to mention it was so nice to cook for someone other than myself.  It went on for a while like that, seeing each other a few times a week. Since things were going so well we decided to try our blossoming relationship on the road and headed to the Oregon coast. The coast was stunning and we enjoyed our time together. Campfires on the beach and counting stars were the perfect setting for a new love. It was not long after, when I could no longer say I was living the bachelor life.

Fast-forward to this year we decided to buy a house together in the beautiful Oak Bay area. It is a charming 1931 house with heaps of charm. There is an established garden with grapes, strawberries and new blooms every week. We have been very lucky to have about half of the Klopp clan come to stay and we are hoping the rest will come this year. We are lucky to have Lisa’s family so near because we are able to have family dinners including this past Christmas dinner. It was really great this Christmas because I received the ultimate gift, I proposed to Lisa and she accepted.

I hope you enjoyed this little story of how I met the love of my life. The Klopp family is lucky to have such a wonderful addition.