Let's Celebrate!

Matt and Andrea have very different memories of each other. If you did not know, Matt and Andrea have known of each other since elementary school. Matt's first memory of Andrea was her across the street swinging her purple Jansport backpack at boys in front of Lincoln Elementary, while he sat at his private school sheepishly watching her. Matt's only thought was “Wow, public school kids are naughty.” Andrea's first memory of Matt was of this goofy, loud, smart kid in her high school environmental science class. Mainly, she remembers how disruptive, over the top, and basically annoying he was. Although they had mutual friends and knew who the other was, they never got around to really meeting. Andrea's memory of Matt did not change until November of 2014 when she visited her family back home in Appleton. She was immediately attracted to the goofy, loud, smart, over the top man he became. Andrea's initial attraction was built on his thoughtful conversation, inclusive attitude, and gentle big bear spirit. Matt just couldn’t believe this tall, red-headed, professional, who lived in the big city, was even talking to him. At the time, Matt didn’t have his driver’s license. So he would take the Greyhound from Appleton down to Milwaukee then transfer buses for the second leg to Minneapolis where Andrea lived. It was about 13 hours one way. But she was worth every second. Andrea would make the four hour drive back to Appleton to visit Matt with her awesome dog, Bobby. The next few months were filled with anxious road trips and countless hours on the phone. Andrea and Matt have both decided it was better that they met as adults, they cannot even imagine what sort of trouble they may have gotten into together.

On Monday afternoon Andrea came home from work planning to go for a run. She went to grab her phone charger, but it was gone. She soon noticed that more items were missing, like her suitcase and toothbrush. Immediately, she called her Matron of Honor, Yasameen. Yasameen exclaimed, “You’ve been robbed!” Andrea shouted back, “I think I’m about to be ‘Rob-ertsed!’” Andrea went on with her afternoon like as planned, and came home to Matt dressed up and home early from work. Matt directed Andrea to pick out an outfit from the choices he laid out. Andrea blindly got ready and hopped in the truck. Matt had prepared well, and had her favorite drinks in the cooler as they drove to their unknown destination. They drove to the other side of the peninsula and pulled up to Lake Michigan. It was a tractor ride that took them to Cana Island. After a short walk through the island, they came to the lighthouse where they were immediately ushered to the front of the line to begin their 97 step climb up the winding circular staircase. Matt reached into a small hole at the top and pulled out the ring he had planted there. After a lap around the top deck, Matt dropped to a knee. Overlooking the lake on a beautiful sunny day, he asked Andrea to marry him. She said yes! Matt whisked Andrea away for a night out in Bailey’s Harbor and a stay at the Blacksmith Inn bed and breakfast. Waking up to the sunrise on the eastern shore, they enjoyed breakfast on their balcony listening to the wildlife in “Bird City” and went kayaking around the harbor. Matt continued to surprise her with a ferry ride to Washington Island. They explored the island’s parks and resturaunts, and made a stop at Schoolhouse Beach. They checked in at Washington Hotel and met up with some friends for a night of celebration at Nelson’s Bitters Hall. The next morning Andrea and Matt had breakfast, then had a relaxing stroll through a lavander field before returning to the mainland and reality.