Even in the age of online dating, people don't expect to fall in love with someone they meet in an online chat room. For Emmaleigh and Benjamin, this is exactly what happened at the end of 2018. During their early conversations, Benjamin quickly became quite smitten with Emmaleigh. Emmaleigh was intrigued, but proceeded with more emotional caution than Benjamin did. As the days and weeks passed, the connection they shared began to grow. Their conversations became longer, deeper, and more intellectual. While discussing their values, goals, and worldviews, Benjamin and Emmaleigh discovered they had much in common. Emmaleigh was most attracted to Benjamin's ambition to become CEO of Lucasfilm - a lofty dream. But who was Emmaleigh to judge? She wanted to be Chief People Officer at Pixar. Benjamin was most attracted to Emmaleigh's confidence, charisma, intelligence, communication style, ambition, kindness, generosity, humor, and, of course, her INCREDIBLE red hair. Days and weeks had stretched into months. Benjamin, eager to say "I love you," was forced to patiently bite his tongue until Emmaleigh knew she could come to the same conclusion. After much thought, analysis, discussion, and review of Benjamin's courting, Emmaleigh anticipated discovering love through logical deduction. However, one afternoon, while driving home from work, she pulled into the driveway and a single thought crossed her mind for the first time: "I love you, Benjamin." The truth of the thought overwhelmed her. She needed to tell Benjamin immediately! Before Benjamin could say hello after answering the phone, Emmaleigh blurted out "I LOVE YOU!" The satisfaction of beating a very kind, patient Benjamin to the punch as "The First to Say I Love You" was just as sweet for a very, very competitive Emmaleigh. However, there remained one more important step. They needed to meet in person.

Up until this point, Benjamin and Emmaleigh had only ever been over 2,000 miles apart. Benjamin decided to take advantage of a couple of University-approved days off from school to fly out to Los Angeles. This would give him approximately a day and a half with Emmaleigh. His travel plans immediately got off schedule. His first flight: Delayed. Mechanical problem. Second Flight: Missed Connection. Third Flight: Later than Desired. Finally, several hours later than intended, he arrived at LAX. Emmaleigh: "Let me tell the next part." I hate LAX. It is the worst - worse than navigating public transit in China without knowing the language! Driving to LAX, let alone to meet a boy, was a big sacrifice of time, energy, and patience for me. Benjamin: "HEY!" When I arrived at LAX, I parked in the garage. Wearing a skirt and a nice button-down, I had never looked this "fancy" at an airport before. (I'm more of a yoga pants with pockets kind of gal to maximize comfort and access to my California REAL ID.) I waited at baggage claim where - like Gizmo waiting for anyone to come home - I could see all possible entry points that Benjamin might appear. I was sweating. I watched what felt like every passenger disembark from EVERY scheduled plane that evening. I watched each passenger reunite with loved ones - welcomed with balloons, flowers, and signs. I started sweating more: What story would these strangers imagine in their heads about me and Benjamin? After some time, the baggage claim had cleared. It was just me, my pit stains, and an abandoned suitcase circling the claim. Finally, Benjamin descended the escalator, waving. In a split second, as we drew closer, I thought, "Is that him? Oh my God! That's him! He looks nice! Also, what do I do? Do I kiss him? Hug him? Shake his hand? Screw it! He's made me wait this long in an airport; I'm kissing him!" And I reached up and took his neck in my hand, pulling his lips to mine, of course, all while standing on my tiptoes.

When asked "What's your first date?" Emmaleigh and Benjamin struggle to answer. Was the first date meeting at LAX? Or sharing pizza, exchanging momentos they had saved for each other? Was it the next morning in Glendora at brunch with Gizmo? How do you pick just one first date when it lasts a day and a half? The complexities surrounding their first date aside, Emmaleigh and Benjamin made memories they will never forget. Emmaleigh introduced Benjamin to Kara's Korner in downtown Glendora (which has become their favorite brunch spot!). They took Gizmo on a walk around Finkbiner Park, savoring the feeling of holding hands and being side-by-side. Gizmo gave his stamp of approval - or at least his face kisses of approval. Emmaleigh took Benjamin to Azusa Canyon for a lunch picnic. Standing there in the canyon, in the shade of a scrubby tree, they took their first picture together. You may or may not know this about Emmaleigh, but she LOVES mini-golf. Following lunch, it was the next stop. They played a round on all three courses (two outdoor, one indoor) with Emmaleigh capturing victory 2-1. Perhaps the real victory, however, came in the form of a phone call. Benjamin had been through three interviews for a position at the University of Arizona and was hoping to receive good news soon. It was on this first date with a woman he loved when Benjamin received the offer for a job that could make their relationship truly possible. That day, they discovered their lives would change forever. Listening to a 9.5-hour playlist Benjamin had made for Emmaleigh, she drove him to his El Segundo hotel where he could take the morning shuttle to LAX. After Benjamin checked in, they walked down the street to The Habit Burger Grill. Over sweet potato fries and lemonade, they talked deeply about faith and the future. They waited as late as possible before saying goodnight and goodbye. When they did, they did it with the knowledge that they were sure to see each other again.

Benjamin and Emmaleigh owe a good portion of their relationship to Southwest and Delta. For a full timeline of events, go to: bit.ly/becomingkleintimeline

Emmaleigh's Rules For Engagement: 1) It can't be on or around a major Holiday. 1a) It can't be on Emmaleigh's Birthday (2/11) which is considered a major Holiday. 1b) It can't be in the month of February because it's Emmaleigh's Birthday Month. Benjamin broke all the rules. On February 12, Benjamin woke Emmaleigh up at 5:00AM. If you know Emmaleigh, you will understand just how difficult this was for her, only made easier by a bribe of Starbucks and a car nap. "50 West to San Francisco." Emmaleigh sleepily, yet confidently declared she knew where they were going. Benjamin raised his eyebrows and smirked. They took the Bay Bridge into San Francisco. This was not EXACTLY what she had in mind. When Benjamin turned into a parking garage on Union St., Emmaleigh exclaimed, "YAY! A Parking Garage! What I always wanted!" Sarcasm never dripped so heavily. They walked a few blocks to a flower shop. Emmaleigh designed her own bouquet. And back to the car! They parked at the Marina Green to stroll through Ft. Mason to Fisherman's Wharf. Donuts, French Fries, sea lions sneezing, and a lyft back to the car. Benjamin drove over the Golden Gate, exiting to Sausalito for lunch. After exploring Sausalito, time for car nap #2. Emmaleigh wore a sleep mask at Benjamin's insistence. He took a winding road over Mt. Tam - a familiar sensation to Emmaleigh. At the top of the hill, Emmaleigh took off her mask: "YASSSSSS!" They had arrived at Stinson Beach. On the beach, she asked to lead them to her family's favorite vacation rental. Emmaleigh thought she was finally in control. Beelining for the "last utility pole" marking the house, they were half-way when: "Excuse me! I think you dropped something!" Emmaleigh turned. Standing with a camera was Prezleigh, her freshman college roommate. Emmaleigh hadn't seen her in over a year! Prezleigh, wiping Emmaleigh's tears, told her to turn around for a surprise. Composing herself, Emmaleigh turned; Benjamin was on one knee. "YES!"

The real price of long distance is not getting to spend much time in person together. Early on in our relationship, we weren't able to make memories in the traditional sense. Instead, we began making future memories: plans, goals, and dreams for our future lives together. We'd like to share a few with you: It is our intention to visit every single Disney Park in the world together. We've already been to Disneyland and California Adventure, so that leaves us with all four parks at Walt Disney World in Florida, Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Seas, Shanghai Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, and both parks at Disneyland Paris. Sticking with the travel theme, it is our goal to visit both a Zoo and an Aquarium in every state, and attend a baseball game in every Major League stadium. So far, we've only been to one of each - all in Atlanta. We have discussed starting a plethora of small businesses together: a restaurant, an event planning service, a co-working space, maybe all of the above! We both love the idea of building a tiny house. This would be our summer home that we would rent out for the rest of the year. It wouldn't be big enough for our forever home because... In our future forever home, we want to have an entire room dedicated to our collections. In this room you would find many, many LEGO sets, all of Emmaleigh's Disney Pins and other Disney merchandise too cool to pass up, probably an absurd amount of Star Wars and Harry Potter memorabilia that Benjamin would insist on collecting, and countless puzzles we would have completed together. Perhaps our most talked about future memory has been our wedding. We've spent hours discussing and planning every detail of the ceremony and reception - well before the proposal was even planned. Now that our wedding is approaching, we are delighted to have you share in this celebration of love. We look forward to making this future memory real with you! We can't wait to see you there! Love, Emmaleigh & Benjamin