June 11, 2019. JFK Airport. Terminal 4. Some people remember where they were for historic moments. I remember exactly where I was when I met Julia. Terminal 4 at JFK. Birthright trip check-in. El Al counter in sight. I saw Julia come up the escalator and thought, I hope she’s on this trip. After the classic Birthright icebreakers, I made my move. I went with a strong opener: “So… where are you from?” When she told me, I thought she was kidding. Same hometown. Same ice rink. Same restaurants. Same mall. Same grocery store. We had been running in the exact same circles for years and somehow never met. Statistically impressive. Then we boarded the plane. She was seated in the front. I was in the back. Not ideal. But fate, and El Al’s seatback messaging system, had other plans. I figured out how to message another seat through the screen, and we ended up talking for most of the flight to Israel through those tiny monitors like middle schoolers passing notes. Over the next two weeks in Israel, we laughed, danced, and made some of the best memories of our lives. From hiking Masada at sunrise, rafting down the Jordan River, to a couple of late nights in Tel Aviv, I knew something special was happening, I just didn’t realize how special. When our trip ended, I gave myself a mission. Hold on to her. From the long-distance days, me in Charleston, Julia in Indianapolis, to muddling through the pandemic and somehow thriving, finally graduating college, and now settling into our first apartments in Chicago, we have built something to last. There were plenty of long flights and facetime calls, and moments that tested us - and so many more that reminded us why it was all worth it. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. Maybe just asking her to marry me sooner. With the help of Hashem, we’re grateful for the way it all unfolded. And now, we’re excited for what’s next and even more excited to celebrate it with all of you. With love, Spencer