We woke up in Paris, the sounds of the city floating in through the open window of our Airbnb apartment. While Brittany was asleep, Conner had gone down to a nearby patisserie to pick up fresh pastries. After a leisurely breakfast we decided that we wanted to go to the Louvre. We spent a wonderful day taking in breathtaking works of art, ancient relics and an immeasurable amount of historical beauty. Once we realized we were starving and exhausted we decided to go to a nearby cafe that was know for its intensely rich and delectable hot chocolate. After eating our fill of desserts we began walking it off in the Tuilleries Garden just outside the Louvre. The park was filled with dappled sunlight from the gargantuan hedged trees, statues and art were hidden like gems among the foliage. Groups of Parisians flocked to the monumental fountains, lazing around in reclined chairs while sipping wine, talking and laughing with their friends. We sat under a shady tree letting the scenery fill us up and the warmth of summer lull us into a cozy contentment. “Hey Britt”, Conner said nervously. “I love you so much” he said as he reached down to his pocket to pull out a small black box. “YOU ARE NOT!” Brittany exclaimed loudly in shock and awe as she realized that Conner was about to propose. We both laughed, nervous and excited to see what would come next.

We met at a Fourth of July party in the summer of 2012. Brittany’s brother, Zach, was close friends with the entire Glascock family after befriending Case and Conner at their high school in Laupahoehoe and had invited them to the party. The day was spent throwing water balloons, running around the yard, slippity sliding on a water slide and watching fireworks with our friends and family. Over what little conversation we had had, we both felt an instant connection. Flash forward to a couple days after the party— Brittany Facebook messaged Conner and thus began a friendship that blossomed over a shared love of all things nerdy including but not limited to Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. After months of texting nonstop, cute nicknames and copious amounts of flirting, we started dating in December 2012.