About Nate and Michelle...

For those of you who don't know Nate and Michelle, I will attempt to give you a little insight so that when you meet them you'll feel a bit more like family.
As well, you'll have a few tidbits with which to start a conversation or fabricate a tasty story of your own.

Now Nate has created a big world. Lots of stuff – toys to be exact – motorcycles, cars, snowmobiles and the requisite motor home and trailers to get people and things where they need to go. Nate's Big World has always been an open invitation to play and explore - so much so, that his home on Vashon is known as "Camp Nate", host of many a BBQ, motorcycle rendevous, festival and friend in need of a refuge or a job. Nate's Big World is amply funded through Troll Motors, his Saab repair business of many years. Likely he is the wheelingest-dealingest, most Saab saavy guy around – so mind your talk about cars, you'll be on your way to Sweden in a flash. Don't let that stop you from talking about diving in the Pacific, snowmobiling Yellowstone or lighting fires at Burning Man.

Michelle – you've got to be agog to meet someone so beautiful, who's so smart, such a great athlete and can ride a motorcycle like a Moto Grand Prix liquor store bandit. I mean she's got a PhD in Bio-something-or-other-over-my-head Engineering-or-science or something and is a doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. If it weren't for her modesty, kindness and compassion we'd all feel like gradeschoolers in her presence. Host of Vashon Island's "Michelle's Motorcycle Mystery School" for girls, and boys who like to watch girls learn to ride motorcycles – beyond being a great doctor, Michelle's contribution to the community can never be underestimated. She grew up in Vermont, so I imagine she knows a bunch about Ben and Jerry's, snow storms and environmental politics too, but don't quote me on that.

Be sure to ask about the kids: Spirit (Nate's Golden Retriever) and Molly (Michelle's Greyhound). You may have seen them already in the pictures section.

I hope that's enough information to get you started. You'll have to make up the rest as we go along. My wish is that you glimpse their greatness and their joy in our time together at the wedding and as friends down the road.