It all started about ten years ago when the Havelock High School Rams Football team was playing yet another playoff game. It was cold and it was windy, but the Rams were winning, per usual, plus we were kids so we enjoyed basically anything but being inside. And, when I say "we" I am indeed referring to Luke and I. We were twelve years old and went to two different middle schools. We both attended our local High Schools Football that December night. A boy named Juan took a hat that belonged to a girl and her name was Hannah. These all may seem like minor details but if it wasn't for him taking that hat, I may have never met Luke or if I did, it may have worked out differently or not at all. Because most of us went to Havelock High School you'll understand when I say, we were hanging out during half time on that blacktop area before the home visitors stands and the concession center. Its actually part of the track for the runners but we never refer it to that. Those were some of the best moments of our childhoods whether we knew it or not. It didn't matter if the memory or memories you shared on the blacktop were from middle school, high school, graduation, etc., they were good and I'm thankful for that "hangout area" because I met the love of my life.

Usually on Sunday's we will have a family dinner and cook out but this Sunday was different. Luke put one of his new button up shirts I had found and his new boots before we headed out for mini golf and bowling or at least that's what I thought but that wasn't his plan. As we were driving through town, we ended up driving down the island to get to MacDaddys because Luke wanted to drive that way. I suspected nothing of it, mainly because I love driving down the island, its relaxing. Anyways, Luke ended up making me turn down some random road in Emerald Isle, that he thought some random, kinda isolated, beach access and fishing pier was. He ended up telling me what he was looking for because we admitted not remembering exactly what street the access point was located. We ended up back tracking about 2 miles before arriving at the docks, I definitely thought we were lost. I even asked him, "Are we lost?" and "Are you sure there is still an access over here somewhere?" We got to see some beautiful houses, amazing views, people on bikes, and a bunch of dogs walking along the way! We walked out to the docs where two men were out there fishing when Luke made small talk with them before asking one of them to take our picture which ended up as a video and him getting down on one knee. Completely surprised, I didn't even say yes, I just turned my head a little and said, "Are you serious?". Why? I don't know, maybe because I didn't see it coming, or maybe because I had been waiting for so long when I said that I was making sure it wasn't a dream. Thankfully it wasn't, it was all real! The question, the ring, the dolphins, all of it! He got it on video, he got pictures, it was all wonderful!