In the Winter of 2021, Ann Marie and Zach went on their last first date ever. Ann Marie still talks about the right-swipe that changed everything, captivated by a picture of Zach shamelessly posing in the Patagonian Andes, shirtless, of course, in true Smokejumper fashion. After some back and forth, they agreed to meet along the Boise River. Ironically, Ann Marie showed up on a bike while Zach drove, and the rest is history, After a couple months of dating, during which Zuri did her part as a faithful guard dog before warming up to the idea of having Zach around, their common interests were undeniable. Love of the outdoors and public lands, progressive ideals, and special places in their hearts for dogs. When Spring came, it was time for Zach to head back to McCall for wildfire season, and Ann Marie stayed behind in Boise. They continued their courtship “short distance” style and by late summer they realized that they wanted to be in the same place all the time. Luckily, after a blissful Middle Fork rafting trip where Zach was introduced to the magic of Idaho’s wild rivers, Ann Marie was able to get a last minute application into the Payette National Forest and accepted a job, allowing her and Zuri to move up to McCall. They spent the next two years enjoying the seasonal wonders of life in the Idaho mountains. Their first winter was many long nights by the fireside living inside a snow globe, and the brief daylight hours were devoted to chasing backcountry powder on skis. Ann Marie flexed her cooking prowess and found that the true path to Zach’s heart led through his stomach, while he tended the fire, split wood, shoveled snow, and did his best impression of a bearded mountain man. Meanwhile, despite the rugged backdrop, their shared love of Science Fiction and Fantasy revealed what complete nerds they both were, further cementing their bond. When spring arrived they moved into their own cabin. As the snow melted and winter reluctantly gave way to glorious sunshine, they shared precious summer evenings watching endless sunsets from the lakeshore. The days passed, the seasons changed, and their love for each other steadily grew. Ann Marie’s career path eventually took her back to Boise, but with the Raymondi family close by, Zach had ample opportunity to determine if joining the clan was a good idea. Rick and Sia, Ann Marie’s parents, are so easy to love, but given the particular personalities of Ann Marie’s brothers Rick Jr. and Mike, it was no easy task to earn their respect. Luckily the Raymondis are an accepting bunch and they welcomed Zach into the fold with open arms, despite his complete lack of fishing skills. Although Zach’s family is farther away, Barbara and Shanti, Zach’s Mom and Sister, are no strangers to Idaho’s charms. They have made the journey westward to remind him of his roots and were overjoyed to meet the love of his life. Ann Marie was, and remains, blown away by how smart and graceful Zach’s family is. Ann Marie and Zach’s biggest challenge by far (besides managing Zuri’s outsized personality, and constant need for attention) has been finding a way to pursue their individual passions while building a life together. Zach is undeniably obsessed, perhaps to an unhealthy degree, with continental-scale bike racing, and Ann Marie is hopelessly committed to whitewater kayaking. Individual pursuits have meant time apart, but they’ve each found a way to support the other’s passions, even from a distance. Once they realized that having your person at the end of the race or the river was worth the time spent apart, they decided to make it forever. Zach proposed in a mountain meadow surrounded by wildflowers, and Ann Marie replied with a tearful, enthusiastic “Yes.” We are so overjoyed to have our close friends and family alongside us as we commit to many more Moons together. ***At the time of this writing Zach has not been in a kayak but has agreed to do so before he does another bike race***