By Amanda and William

We turn to a new chapter in a lively location with a set of fresh-faced characters. Freshman move-in week in August of 2016 at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Amanda is busy checking in at the front desk while her parents oversee the unloading of the rental minivan, with the much-needed aid from the football players, as Amanda is always prepared but not a light packer. At the same time, William found himself stuck in rush hour traffic, on a bridge above the Monongahela River, slowly inching farther away from Duquesne after he made a series of wrong turns. After making a very questionable U-Turn, both Amanda and William found themselves on campus for the first time together.

After the whirlwind Orientation Week, where Amanda and William both met longtime friends, classes soon began and the realities of college set in. William attended his first class at 9AM, while Amanda reaped the new rewards of a college schedule, sleeping until her 10AM class. It was at this 10 AM class where their paths intertwined for the first time: Dr. Paul Houghton’s Freshman Literature Class. William noticed Amanda right away, if only because she walked in at 10:03. Not to worry, Dr. Houghton did not arrive until 10:05. Everyone was on time. They both proceeded through the first two months of class, making friends, earning grades, experiencing the new city, etc. William would notice Amanda every time she walked in, and Amanda would notice William’s answers in class. By mid-October, Amanda and William realized that they lived in the same building, Assumption Hall, and began walking back from class together, making awkward small talk about classes, smelly floormates, and crummy dining hall food. A week later, William summoned a previously unknown courage and asked Amanda if she would like to join him for lunch on a date. Amanda happily agreed; however, it had to wait until the weekend, given her busy class schedule. On October 23, 2016, they took the walk into downtown Pittsburgh to Market Square, where they selected the American restaurant, Diamond Market Bar & Grill. Amanda ordered a proper salad, while William ordered the pulled pork sandwich. They ate and conversed for what felt like hours, but Amanda had a pre-planned hard cutoff; she had tickets to the Patriots-Steelers game at Heinz Field that afternoon (and yes, Brady won). Amanda and William felt an immediate comfort with each other’s presence and continued to make the time for their relationship to go on dates in their new home city. Both enjoyed sporty activities, movies, and exploring new restaurants. Wanting to ensure each enjoyed the full college experience, they established a day for each other and a day with friends each weekend. During school breaks, they took turns flying to each other’s home towns to visit. By October of 2021, Amanda and William completed their schooling and certifications and were set to start a new chapter away from Pittsburgh.

William’s work allowed him to work remotely and Amanda secured a position back in her native New England region in The Berkshires. By the end of January 2022, they were moving into their first place together. William and his parents got their first taste of a Massachusetts winter on move-in day due to a storm that decided to make its way through the state with six inches of snow and sub-zero temperatures. Amanda started her job just two weeks later, and William started counting down the days to spring. Now, over two years later, Amanda and William lean heavily into the local culture and take advantage of this area’s location, nature, history, and relaxed atmosphere every single weekend. They enjoy the dozen or so scenic trails within a twenty-minute drive, the ski lodge five minutes away, and the golf course three minutes away. Amanda’s family is within a two-hour drive, which makes it very easy to celebrate birthdays, holidays, and other milestones. William’s family has taken advantage of Pittsfield being a stop along their road trips to stop and enjoy the fresh air next to a fire pit with s’mores. Historic Albany, New York is only 45 minutes away, and the couple has enjoyed concerts, attended sporting events, and made their first big purchase – a new couch from Bob’s Furniture- in NY’s capital city. Two large cities, Boston and New York City, are within a three-hour drive, and the couple pay quick weekend visits to connect with longtime friends. The couple has been very fortunate to have regular visits from these old friends and also enjoy the area’s offerings with their new local friends Amanda and William met through work or golf.

By the spring of 2024, after a busy winter, William started putting the plan together to ask Amanda a very important question. He’d already secured the blessing from her parents and the jewelry in her size. He looked ahead at the weather app to ensure it would be a nice day for a hike. Wanting to draw from his seldom-seen creative side, he needed to find the right way to ask her to guarantee that she would remember the moment forever. Amanda and William both studied abroad in China after their sophomore year in college, and William thought it would be fun to get custom-made fortune cookies that helped ask the question. With the weather lined up to be perfect, the cookie order in, all that was left was the location. Amanda’s favorite hike in the area, Hollow Fields, has a bench along the trail that she always stops at to take in the views of the mountains. Perfect! On the Fourth of May in 2024, William loaded up multiple fortune cookies (to provide insurance against a break), a few waters, and the ring box. Amanda hopped in the car without a hint of what was coming. Once they arrived at the parking lot, William made good on his promise to Amanda’s parents to give them prior notice to the proposal with a quick text. Amanda laced up her boots, and they started the hike up Hollow Fields. They sat on the bench for a few minutes, taking in the views, conversing, and catching their breath. When Amanda indicated she was ready to continue, William asked if she would like a snack. Right there, Amanda knew something was up. She cracked open the fortune cookie with William’s special message inside, William got on one knee, and asked if Amanda would marry him. Amanda said “Heck Yes!”

Coming Soon: 6/21/2025