We were both at a party at UNH when someone said "Annie Gonsalves" - Ben turned around and said "Do you know Jimmy Gonsalves? I work with him at the Rye Beach Club during the summer!" At that moment, we took a picture to text to Jimmy on Annie's Blackberry cellphone (see image below). From there, Ben and Annie became good friends and Annie even went on a family ski trip with the Halloran's! Over time, they went their own paths until Annie started visiting Portland, ME with her MOH Kelsey. Annie and Ben reconnected and hung out regularly until Kelsey said "Annie, have you ever considered dating Ben?" and from there, Annie *somewhat aggressively* pursued Ben until he inevitably caved and they started dating in June 2017. Annie & Ben are now settled down in Portsmouth, NH with our dog, Mia after Annie commuted for 3 years from Portland, ME to Exeter, NH - all for love!

The week leading up to the engagement started off by Ben asking Annie to go to Peaks Island. When Annie replied a little too excited, Ben could tell she was catching on. Since they were in the process of finding a home to buy in NH, their plans changed so that they could go tour a house instead. The Friday night before included a nice dinner out where Annie said that she hopes she doesn't have to wait another year before they get engaged. The next day, after touring a house and on the way back to Annie's parents house in Rye, they stopped "for a drink" at Portsmouth Country Club, where Ben looked to Annie and said "You know I'm not going to make you wait another year, right?" Annie whipped her head to look at Ben and said "ARE YOU PROPOSING?!" and in classic Jim Gonsalves fashion (Annie's dad), Ben proposed sitting in the front seat of the car in the parking lot facing the golf course maintenance building - how romantic! Annie having envisioned her proposal being in a different setting than her Subaru asked Ben to get on his knee outside of the car and he did right on the white line between the cars. Of course Annie said yes and they went to Rye for a surprise engagement party with friends and family.