We met like any good modern age love story, drinking out at the local bar, the PB Local. The dance floor was on fire and Michael spotted Katie from afar. Michael coerced her into taking shots of tequila with him and he tried to get her number. She took his phone and continued to dance, eventually giving Michael his phone back but without her number in it! Michael had to muster up the courage again to RE-ASK her for her number, and luckily numbers were finally exchanged! Unfortunately, this love story was put on pause, until one day out of the blue, Michael and Katie ran into each other again in PB (at a bar no doubt). After resharing phone numbers, Katie reached out to Michael and asked "So when are we going to a San Francisco Giants game?" Michael and Katie proceeded to go on various dates over that time frame and he eventually asked her to be his girlfriend on November 7, 2017.

Michael decided to get down on one knee and ask Katie to marry him outside the Olsen Barn in Chester, CA. Katie's family has been going to Lake Almanor since she was a child. The area held a meaningful place in the couples' heart as Katie told Michael on the top of Mt. Lassen after a 4 hour hike to 10,457 ft elevation, "I love you". However, Michael did not proceed to say "I love you" back and it was a long hike back for Katie. For his sake, he did eventually say I love you a few weeks later. Michael got down on his knee on September 2nd, 2024 at the Olsen Barn with Mt. Lassen in the background and confessed his love for her in the shadow of the mountain he initially did not. She happily accepted and the rest is history.