We met in the summer of 2014 when Alex was helping a mutual friend move into the same crappy apartment building where Shelby lived in Lexington. After spending a few weeks playing cards, hanging out, and listening to music, we quickly became best friends and decided to do this thing for real. In 2015, Shelby scored a gig working at a professional theater in Alabama. (Alex is adamant that I now mention that I broke up with him due to distance but quickly "came to my senses" and insisted that he join me in Montgomery. Frustratingly, he was correct, but I hate how he lords it over me, y'know?) We both worked at the theater and, being so far away from family, we really became each other's support system. After two years in Alabama, both Alex and Shelby came to their senses and moved back home to Kentucky. This is the part of the story where we settled in, started our careers, bought a house, and constantly fielded questions about when we were going to get married. We get it. This has been a long time coming. But we were just enjoying our life together, adopting cats and building a really solid foundation. A lot happened. Alex changed careers. The pandemic. Shelby went back to school. And the timing never seemed quite right. Fast-forward to 2024. Our 10-year anniversary was approaching, and the timing was finally right. Alex secured the green light from Ted and Janis over bourbons on a family trip to see Billy Joel in New York City. Plans were made to celebrate our anniversary weekend at Mammoth Cave. It was on the world's shortest trail that Alex decided to pop the question. Both Alex and Shelby suffered what we're calling "proposal amnesia" and can't recall anything that was said. But we're sure that it was very nice, and that Shelby said yes.