It’s funny how this (Vandal) life works. We first crossed paths during undergrad, part of a larger group of mutual friends. LET'S GO VANDALS!! But at the time, neither of us knew where this relationship was headed. We were in the same orbit, laughing at the same (dad) jokes (typically from Alex), attending the same parties, but it never felt like anything more than just another college friendship. Our mutual friend group kept us at the same tailgates, vandal games, and college hangouts. We might have shared the occasional conversation, a comment here or there, but nothing beyond the surface. Yet looking back, we can see now that those small moments—those quiet glances, dad jokes, and smiles—were the ultimate foundational pieces that would eventually bring us closer together! Then, about five years later, this Boise life had a funny way of pulling us back to each other. Our first official date was sharing conversation and drinks at Clairvoyant followed by a nightcap at the fine establishment of Fireside Inn- neither of us wanted it to end! By then, we’d both changed in ways that made us ready for something more meaningful, something deeper. It wasn’t one big moment—it was a series of little things: staying up late talking, hiking/camping all over Idaho, sharing our hopes and dreams, endless laughter, discovering the depth of our connection, skiing endless runs at Bogus, traveling internationally, and adopting the cutest pup ever. The more time we spent together, the more we realized that everything in the years before had been leading to this point. Our paths had always been connected, even if we hadn’t seen it before. All those missed opportunities and close calls had been part of the journey to get us here, together. It felt like we had always been meant to find each other, like this invisible string had been pulling us through the years, and guiding us toward one another. And for that, we are forever thankful.