We have different stories about how we first met, three of them actually, but our first "date" was one to remember. Nicole was having, as she would call it, "the worst day of my life." It started with her flash drive snapping in half which caused her to lose years of work towards her interior design degree. She left class distressed and defeated and skipped the rest of her classes that day for the first time in her life. Some of her friends convinced her to go out that Wednesday night (shout out to penny pitchers at Fieldhouse). After some spirits had lifted her spirits she texted as many friends as she could to invite them to come commiserate. Alex happened to be at a party he didn't want to be at anyway and jumped at the opportunity. He was the only one that responded to the text... After the bar they took their first trip of MANY to their beloved El Rancho. At that time, neither of them ate Mexican food, especially anything cheesy. Alex walked Nicole home and they decided to hangout on Nicole’s balcony. Little did they know, the door locked automatically. Alex heroically climbed over the third-floor balcony rail, knocked out the window screen and climbed through the window into the living room. He was able to unlock the door to let Nicole in and they laughed until they decided it was time to call it a night and call Alex a cab. That night they realized they were meant to spend the rest of their lives overcoming obstacles and laughing about them together.

Nicole was having, as she would call it, “the best day of my life.” To celebrate Alex graduating medical school they took a much-anticipated trip to Europe. The day started with a train ride through Italy that Nicole mostly slept through, Alex did not. They arrived in the little town of Vernazza, Cinque Terre, to the first sunny day of the trip. They hiked the narrow trails along the cliffs overlooking the ocean and village below. Alex was nervous and it was starting to worry Nicole. Once they got to the perfect spot Alex stopped to get a picture. A nice, unsuspecting Irish couple walked by at the right moment and helped capture the proposal. Did we mention how narrow and rocky the trails were? Alex walked down the mountain with a new fiancé and a bruised knee.