"It all started when I was sitting on the beach! I'd found an isolated spot to sit and read while I waited for my dad to come back from work. I'd already resigned myself to a life of spinsterhood, most likely involving cohabitation with not less than a dozen domestic felines."

She said it with great casual matter-of-factedness.

"I was elbows deep in the fishing bylaws section of 'Chapman Piloting and Seamanship' when I was distracted by a commotion nearby! A boy had fallen off of his bike, and I realized somewhat belatedly that they might have been trying to talk to me, possibly for several minutes prior. But before I could make contact he ran away!"

She dramatically embellished her emotions, holding up her fists in despair.