On April 27, 2023, CJ boarded a plane and flew 3,000 miles to Portland, Oregon for the very first time, drawn by the city’s reputation for incredible food. That evening, she wandered into a bar called Doc Marie’s. Not long after, Rachel walked in for karaoke, visiting the bar for only her second time. When CJ heard Rachel sing, she couldn’t resist introducing herself. From that moment on, the two spent the entire weekend together, a whirlwind of adventures and unexpected twists that felt like the start of something extraordinary. A month later, CJ returned to the West Coast, and soon after, Rachel made her first trip east to visit. What followed was a year of long-distance love, with countless flights back and forth across the country. In April of 2024, CJ packed up her life, including her beloved dog Calvin, sold her truck, rented a minivan, and together the three of them drove across the country to start their new chapter in Ridgefield, Washington. The rest is history.