We met on the Hinge dating app. After liking each other, Kathryn initially commented on David's high Uber rating. This was the segway into more in depth and meaningful “texts” (sometimes paragraphs long!) before we ended up meeting in person. Our initial date went for almost four hours, and the time seemed to fly by. First Impressions From David: I thought Kathryn was very attractive with pretty green eyes and a great sense of humor. I got the sense from texting that she was a good communicator and very smart. All of these things were confirmed on our first date. She was really easy to talk to, and I felt very comfortable being myself. First Impressions From Kathryn: I instantly thought David had the best smile! Once we started talking, I knew that I was curious to learn more about him. David has a way of answering questions that is very thoughtful so the hours flew by while talking over old fashioneds. He also made me laugh a lot, including debating whether we would rather be "Naked and Afraid" (like the tv show) in the desert or in the arctic (I chose desert and he chose arctic).

From Kathryn: David is so kind. He’s smart, funny, loves his family and friends deeply, is quietly quick witted, has never met a dog he didn’t want to take home, and is one of the most loyal and dependable men I’ve ever met. From David: I really appreciate how easy it is for Kathryn to engage and talk with people no matter their background or the circumstances. She is very smart as well as kind and considerate. When we first started dating, Kathryn made delicious chicken soup for me when I had a severe cold. I really appreciated this act of kindness and later came to realize it was just one example of the ways Kathryn shows love to her friends and family.

In the summer of 2022 we started planning a vacation to Yosemite National Park, and six months before the trip, we managed to "win" the preseason permit lottery to hike Half Dome. Fast forward several months, and we began preparing for the hike. David planned weekly training hikes in Shenandoah National Park, following a strenuous uphill route he had done many times before on his own. For weeks, we spent an entire day each weekend building up our stamina. Despite the threat of a Government shutdown just days before our trip, we made it to beautiful Yosemite in October 2023. As anticipated, hiking Half Dome wasn’t easy–a LOT of steep steps, a mile of vertical elevation gain, and 19 miles roundtrip. So, when we made it to the top, we celebrated! That's also when, surrounded by 360 degrees of breathtaking views, David surprised Kathryn by proposing...and she said yes! And speaking of stories full of adventure, we crossed paths with a bear (!!!) during one of our training hikes in Shenandoah. Hence the bear "placeholder" ring that was carried up the mountain for the proposal. Check out our "Gallery" page for pictures!