In June of 2021, we both started our intern year of Internal Medicine residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Smith had come from medical school in Syracuse, and Christine from Scranton, just to finally meet in good old Western NY. A lucky opportunity to connect with each other came early on in the year, when our residency schedules overlapped in a way that had Smith taking over a panel of patients that Christine had been caring for in the hospital. We used this as an excuse to start talking to, and eventually spending time with each other. Smith made it a point that Christine having never seen Game of Thrones was absolutely unacceptable, and so the first time we spent time together alone, it was to start watching the series. Just before we hit play on Season 1, Episode 1, Christine asked as a joke, "Are you sure you want to start watching this together? It's like, 8 seasons long right? That's a serious commitment!" And it was a serious commitment. Now, three complete watch-throughs of GOT, multiple international trips, a local move-in together, and a cross-state move later, we're officially making that commitment as serious as it gets!

In June of 2024, the two of us and Mr. Mulligan moved to Albany to start Smith's Gastroenterology Fellowship training and Christine's new job as an Attending Physician. We moved into a house in a quiet neighborhood with a large back porch and yard. That back porch became a favorite spot for all three of us through the summer and fall, and we spent so much time and effort turning it into a space that we truly love. Smith decided that this place, which had marked the start of a new era for us, would be the perfect spot to launch into the next one, as well. And he was right! Christine spent over 8 hours on August 29th, 2024 taking the 240-question Internal Medicine Board Examination to become a board-certified physician. When she got home, she started getting dressed up and ready for what Smith told her was going to be a fancy dinner out to celebrate being done with the exam. But when she came downstairs, ready to walk out the front door to go to dinner, Smith called her out onto the back porch instead. She walked out to see the porch covered in rose petals and tea light candles, and Smith standing in the middle with a ring and a question. It was by far the easiest question Christine answered that day... or ever!