Brendan Parish/Grade School: St. Alice High School: Bonner (04) College: Merrimack College Work: Theology Teacher & Admissions Office at St. Augustine Prep High School Gabrielle Parish/Grade School: BVM (Darby) High School: Prendie (04) College: Widener University Work: Clinical Director & Therapist at Therapy for Women

Once upon a time, there was a shy (yet terribly handsome) teenage boy who worked in an office in his high school during his free period during his senior year. The boy had never really had a girlfriend before and as the senior prom approached, he found himself with no date. Content to sit it out, the office admin assistant wouldn't hear of it. She proceeded to ask the pretty girl from the girl's school next door (who also happened to be working in the corresponding office that very same free period) if she planned to attend the boy's school prom. When the girl said she wasn't planning to, the admin assistant turned to the boy and, in no uncertain terms, told him he'd be taking the girl. Stunned and speechless (something rare for the boy) the two locked eyes and the boys asked her...and she said yes. That day, and for many days thereafter, the boy was allowed to walk the girl back to her school whenever she came to visit the office. The rest is, as they say, history. (Can you guess who wrote this?!)

Brendan had been plotting for weeks to surprise Gabrielle with an engagement that was special and as unique as their relationship. Brendan and Gabrielle are members of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and it's not unheard of for them to meet at the museum for a few hours in the afternoon if Brendan has off and Gabrielle has work for a few hours at one of her offices in the city. On Friday, June 3, 2022 that's exactly what was happening. After a long winter of living at the shore due to, Gabrielle selling her house and while work on Brendan's house was finalized after a fire back in November, Gabrielle and Brendan were excited to be back in the area and to enjoy a Friday in the city. Gabrielle met Brendan at the museum that afternoon, and while he was acting weird, Gabrielle brushed it off, and just went along with it. After browsing some galleries (very quickly), having a glass of wine, and then ending up in the modern art gallery (this should have been a red flag to Gabrielle), Brendan made the suggestion that they go out to boathouse row to "meet up with the crew coach from The Prep". Gabrielle was annoyed by this because she thought they were hanging out at the museum and then going over to the Rodin beer garden, but Brendan had other plans. While walking out there to "meet with coach" Brendan suggested that they take a picture in the grass with the museum in the background, Gabrielle obliged, and as she fixed her hair Brendan dropped to one knee! Gabrielle, blacked out and needed to be refocused and so Brendan actually had to ask her TWICE! But she cried and laughed and said yes, of course, yes I will marry you!