We were set up on a cross-country blind date by mutual friends, Autumn and Chad Haag. It was a cold, February night. Dinner was awkward, drinks at a local dive helped melt the ice, and by the time the night was ending and we found ourselves passionately arguing over a card game, we knew something was clicking. And so our love story began, with 1500 miles between us and nightly phone calls to bridge the distance. I'm a talker; Doug's a listener. And after 6 months of story-telling and bi-weekly trips to Michigan for Doug, I moved to the Lone Star State and together, we began the next chapter.

Labor Day 2017 was busy. Doug was playing in a hockey tournament, we had a barbecue to attend, and it was Doug's birthday weekend. Not one for following the rules, Doug decided to turn the tables on me, surprising me during a time when I should be surprising him. After brunch, we went to the location of our first San Antonio date, the botanical garden, and enjoyed a leisurely stroll. As a former Marine, Doug doesn't often show strong emotion, and on this day, he was particularly sweet and nostalgic. Instead of gracefully accepting that he may be preparing to propose, I turned to him, playfully punched him in the shoulder and said, "Are you proposing to me?" With a sigh and a roll of the eyes, Doug got down on one knee and said, "Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing. Now give me your finger."