AT LAST!

Years and years ago, there was a Sunday afternoon encounter at a local bar called Liquor Lyles. This is where we first met. Lauren saw Crystal and a friend a couple of stools away. Over laughs and drinks we got to know one another's smiles and got comfortable in conversation and it was clear that we were both people who knew how to have a little fun. The night carried on for a couple hours and then it ended but a connection was made... This story was to be continued.

We met in 2004, and stayed in touch here and there over the next 6 years. During that time, Crystal patiently waited for Lauren to be single. Jokingly (but not really), Crystal warned anyone she dated that if THE LAUREN OLSON ever wanted to date her, she would leave them (no wonder those other relationships didn't work). Crystal felt this was harmless to say because it was never going to happen. Lauren was her unicorn, unattainable, a dream. Then one day, Lauren text Crystal, wondering if she wanted to hang out. As they say, the rest is history. The moral of this story is, with enough patience and dedicated persistence, no-one is out of your league, and Lauren and Crystal are true soul mates.

Picture this: Annual Olson/Milan (Neis too) weekend-o-fun, Pelican Lake summer night, after a long day of sunshine, pontooning, and swimming. Lauren wants to throw a dance party, Crystal wants to go out on the pontoon for a sunset cruise...compromise. Crystal will take everyone out on the pontoon for a sunset cruise while Lauren hangs back to set up for a dance party around the bonfire. Sounds odd, but it's not out of character for Lauren. It's starting to get dark so Crystal is driving the pontoon boat home. As we are getting closer to the dock, it appears that Lauren has started the place on fire (also would not be out of character)! Crystal starts to panic and pushes the throttle down. Now we are approaching the dock at a good clip and Crystal can see that Lauren has strung twinkle lights in the trees, lined the dock with white paper and luminary bags, and is down on one knee. Heart pounding, hands shaking, frozen...Crystal realizes what is happening. Frozen and in the drivers seat, Crystal and company are careening towards the dock in the pontoon. Luckily, John yells and snaps her out of her trance and she slams the boat in reverse. To Lauren, and all the spectators in the boat, it may appear that Crystal is high-tailing it out of there after seeing what's about to happen. John graciously takes the wheel and gets everyone to safety. Lauren meets Crystal at the end of the dock, walks her down the white isle, gets back down on one knee and asks if she would like to spend the rest of their lives together. Hell yeah! Tears and celebration ensue!