The offer was out there. It wasn’t anything crazy, a simple, perhaps outdated tactic to secure a conversation with an attractive group of ladies. “Can we buy you drinks?” No response. Blank stares. The boys were shut down. “Ok, have a nice night”, we said, somewhat perplexed. The three girls stood there looking at us, then at each other, then back at us before the DJ’s next song filled up the awkward palpable silence in the crowded bar. “Well that didn’t go as planned. Man, the Saratoga girls are harsher than city girls.” Well, a few games of pool, a couple more beers, our dignity hanging on by a thread, and we were on to the next bar. But, not before a dough boy, a Saratoga staple made of delicious cheesy goodness rolled up and crisped to perfection. It was pretty late at this point and we decided the Tavern would be the best place to end our night. We walked up to the second floor and there she was. The other guys went to grab another drink at the bar and I decided one more attempt was in store. After all, she and I had locked eyes in the other bar a couple times, I think, and her friends were also ordering drinks. I saw my opening. I strolled across the floor. She turned and looked at me and I saw a smile start to form. I had not rehearsed what I would say, and didn’t think the “can I buy you a drink” strategy was the right choice at this moment. Figuring “Hello” would be the normal thing to say, I began to open my mouth to introduce myself, when from my left side out of the corner of my eye, a hand came down in front of my face like a damn toll-booth gate with an accompanying “Nope!” Her friend was there to the rescue and I had been denied again. Who was this girl? Was this her body guard? Rejected, I began to turn away. That is until, the girl lifted her friend’s hand and reassured her it was alright. She wanted to talk to me. “Hi, I’m Melanie” “Hi, I’m Ben” “Nice to meet you, Ben. Want to get a drink?”

The drinks that night turned into and exchange of numbers, our first date, a two year distance relationship between upstate New York and New York City. The conversations were easy, the distance felt small and after some time apart, the decision to move in together came naturally for us. Life together felt right, each of us complimenting the other’s lifestyle, enhancing the qualities that we both fell in love with. Before long, three years was fast approaching and the timing was right to take the next big step in our relationship. Ben set up a plan that involved both families, a fake wine & chocolate event, and an inconspicuous photographer. Ben proposed to Melanie on top of a castle overlooking Lake George, three years to the day that he met her.