Mountains and Matrimony

1177 days. That is how long I have called Annalisa my partner, my strongest supporter, my wisest critic, my greatest adventure, and my best friend. I, Matthew, was just a small town southern boy looking for the next chapter. Little did I know, I would find the rest of the story in one beautiful woman. Despite Annalisa and I being from different parts of the country, our paths had crossed many times without our knowing. Four years we walked past each other on the south oval at OU and we even shared a chemistry class together. After years of close calls, Annalisa and I surprisingly met in the last place you’d expect: a dating app. It was my audacious challenge of a quiz about airplanes that caught her eye. Looking through my terrible mustache in the greasy bar I asked her out to (which I’d like to note has the best fried chicken in Oklahoma), Annalisa gave me a chance. We officially began dating on March 20th, 2022. Our relationship has been saturated by the military. Luckily, we were both selected to attend Vance AFB in Enid, OK for pilot training. Although the town of Enid doesn’t have a ton to offer, we were able to grow in our relationship and spend priceless moments together. From being there for first solos, to getting dressed up for graduation, and all of the emotions of learning to fly in between, neither of us would have made it through without each other. After graduating pilot training Annalisa left for ENJJPT at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, TX, for Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals (IFF) giving us our first taste of a distance relationship. We were lucky enough to see each other every weekend she was down there. When she graduated IFF I was still in pilot training, but we were able to make some special memories together back in Enid before she moved to Klamath Falls, OR. Once I graduated pilot training, Annalisa was well into the F-15C Basic Course and the distance started to really hit. We have had all kinds of FaceTime dates to keep our love burning. From building LEGO sets together, to share playing movies and our Bob Ross paint nights, there has been no shortage of fun in our times apart. When I graduated IFF, I made my way to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ to train on the A-10C, where we shared countless memories in the desert. Now, after three long years of training, Annalisa calls home Fresno Air National Guard Base, CA and for me Whiteman AFB, MO. Despite our demanding careers, we have always found time for each other. Me being a kid from the pancake-flat state of Oklahoma, you can only imagine my excitement when Annalisa took me to my first mountain in Breckenridge, CO. From there I developed a deep love for the outdoors; something we both share. We love exploring National Parks and our favorites up to this point include Redwood, Yosemite, and Crater Lake National Parks. During my month off before starting the Basic Course in Arizona, I visited Annalisa and we saw three National Parks in the three weekends I was there! North of Klamath Falls, Oregon is the gorgeous Upper Klamath Lake that she and I would hike near often. We found a trail in particular that became our favorite. I loved it so much that I decided it would be the place I asked her to marry me. It was the perfect spot. We have been so lucky to see each other every three weeks since our engagement, but we’re enjoying long distance dates until we can finally live together full time. The time we have spent together has felt like a blur. Never once have we looked back and thought we have been together enough. Rather we look to the future eagerly waiting for more. Every day I thank God that someone as wonderful and loving as Annalisa came into my life. I know she is the one for me and that she feels the same. Thank you to everyone for reading and being a part of our love story. If we are not conquering the skies or taming the nearest wilderness, you can expect us to be arm in arm wherever we are. ATTACK! and See You At The Merge!