We met, mostly by chance, during the 2016 St. Patrick's Parade in Morristown. We were each invited to separate parties taking place in adjacent backyards. Fortunately, as the afternoon was warmed by the spring sunshine and Irish spirit, our parties began to converge. Brian noticed Betsy with a soccer ball at her feet, and introduced himself as a fellow soccer enthusiast. As we kicked the ball around, we chatted about our playing days, Morris County upbringings, and Jesuit educations. Betsy was unsure whether Brian intended to ask her out on a date or recruit her for his co-ed soccer team. Luckily, he did both!

Though we met celebrating St. Patrick's Day, New Year's Eve quickly became “our” holiday. Consecutive trips to ring in the new year in Iceland, Thailand, and Chile jump-started a transcontinental tradition. We decided to remain in North America for our fourth trip, venturing through Burlington, VT and Montreal before arriving in Quebec City for NYE. After a hearty dinner in Old Quebec, we donned our snowsuits for the outdoor festival on the Grande Allée. We drank traditional mulled wine, danced at a concert and eventually strolled onto the Plains of Abraham to watch the midnight fireworks display. Just after our New Year's kiss Brian suggested celebrating every new year together. Betsy seemed amenable to the idea, so Brian knelt down in the snow and asked her to marry him. Betsy quickly realized Brian meant 'every' new year and said, “Yes!”