IT'S HAPPENING!

Once upon a time in the heat of summer in a high desert kingdom known as New Mexico, two strangers laid down in their respective beds and, with their bright magical contraptions illuminating the dark, they messaged each other from opposite sides of their sprawling hometown, talking and hinting and smiling and getting to know each other at what would turn out to be the start of an unlikely pairing. He was an engineer. She was a finance student. She came to Albuquerque from half a world away. He had been in place for the past 10 years. And he was growing exasperated at his losing battle with her busy schedule and the difficulty in pinning her down to a date to meet. Despite her upcoming vacation and the plethora of associated packing and preparation, something in him must have intrigued her enough to find the space in her schedule to meet him late on the fateful night before her trip to California. In retrospect, it was likely her best on-a-whim decision ever. Maybe it was the nerves, maybe the beer. Probably it was his inviting presence and curiosity. But on that night she spilled her guts without even thinking about it, talking of her past, present, and even plans for her future. On later dates she would remember to breathe and ask him about those things too. Meanwhile he was enraptured by her story and her expressive and infectious energy. On later dates he would find out that was just the tip of the iceberg. Well, time passed quickly and soon they realized the kitchen was closed and they would need to carpool elsewhere for food. Weirdly she felt good having him drive her despite her naturally controlling personality about such things. Having agreed that he would drive and she would DJ, he was enamored to find she had fantastic taste in music, leading to their first kiss just after parking the car. From there the relationship was sealed as they continued late into the night discussing music and their desire for travel over charcuterie and wine. Two and a half years and many music-laden road trips later, they found themselves on a secluded beach in Los Cabos after tacos and beer enjoying the Friday night sunset. Well, half-enjoying at least. She found herself a bit terrified by the prospect of being nestled between rocks with the incoming tide. Nevertheless, she found herself drawing courage from him as she had done many times in their history and enjoying the sound of the waves when suddenly, after some unexpected talk of feelings from him, she found him down on his knees asking the question she didn’t dare dream, even if they had talked of it many times. After some nerve-driven questions asking if he was sure (making him laugh), she said yes and teared up at the thought of her life with him as they embraced. Far off in this land distant from their hometown, they dared to begin planning for their future life together and to begin dreaming of their own happily ever after…