As many of you know, the story goes... Anna and Ben became friends in their seventh-grade theater class, sharing lots of laughs and smiles from across the room. They got to know each other as Anna was in the orchestra and Ben was in the band (ask Danny and Peter all about it). The two texted back and forth constantly, hiding their phones late at night to respond to each other's "truth or truth" questions. There were hugs before getting on the school bus, group dates "uptown" and to the movies, and then, of course, the iconic day Ben asked Anna to be his girlfriend outside of the fine establishment of Mansfield House of Pizza. They continued to look forward to every class together, every chance to cheer each other on at sporting events and school ceremonies, every moment they could spend together. After graduation, Anna went to UMass Amherst and Ben to UNH, "the most prestigious university," as his Papa would say. During their first year apart, Anna would catch a ride with Natalie to visit Ben at UNH, and Ben would embark on a journey by Amtrak or Peter Pan Bus to UMass Amherst. Anna and I were both eager to travel after COVID, so we chose our first adventure together to be a road trip around Colorado to explore Rocky Mountain National Park. Since then, we have had the opportunity to visit many unique and beautiful destinations and national parks, including several trips to Acadia. While I pursued my OT Master's Degree, Anna supported me as I bounced between temporary homes across Maine and New Hampshire, visiting me as often as she could. I made trips home to visit Anna as she began her nursing job at Children's and moved into an apartment with Sarah in Somerville. In September 2024, it was finally time to start living together in that very apartment. For the last few years, we have been learning to cook new recipes, exploring the Boston area with friends, spending hours doing laundry in our combo washer-dryer unit, walking along the Mystic River in the evenings, and celebrating cherished memories. Ben proposed to me in August 2025 as the tide was coming in on the very special Kingsbury Beach! Zoey was a witness to the whole proposal, and Brandon and Izzy made sure to capture it on camera, hiding behind beach chairs, the sand dunes, and in the crab grass. Ben, with the help of friends and family, organized a surprise engagement party just down the road. It truly was the best day ever! We have been soaking up this incredible time as an engaged couple, and we cannot wait to celebrate our marriage with all of you in Bar Harbor. We love you!