It took 1,600 miles for us to meet in Scottsdale, Arizona (after living most of our lives only 30 miles away in Central Illinois). Brian was busy planning events for the Phoenix Illini Alumni Club and on one summer tubing trip new alums joined the fun. They brought along an an honorary Illini (ISU Redbird), Katie, and she survived the 110 degree heat and treacherous waters of the Salt River. A few months later at an Illini Football game watch event, we exchanged phone numbers. The rest is history...