We first "met" in 2018, by swiping right while both living in Chicago. It just so happened that we were both studying clinical psychology and had an Ohio upbringing in common, which was enough for Emily to send the first message (to her surprise). After a smooth, "hey," Kate took it from there, "You've Got Mail" style. A few weeks later on a fateful Friday during a Chicago blizzard, we met in person for the first time. Thankful we both gravitate towards a hoppy beer, we found a brewery in between our respective apartments making the walk in knee-high snow equally treacherous. We both showed up knowing the first rule on a first date is to say we "had plans to meet up with friends later," but we didn't end up needing that "out." There was an immediate ease to interacting, as we spent those first few hours talking about our families, favorite travel memories, future travel dreams, and how we found our respective psychology niches. By the end of the date, we were both smitten and eager to learn more about the other. So, Kate proposed a sushi date…for the next night...and Emily readily accepted (phew!). After dinner, we played billiards and flirted while sipping Fresh Squeezed IPAs and watching the Winter Olympics. Two weeks later, we both matched at our respective training sites, Emily in Boston, MA (Cool!) and Kate in Morgantown, WV (Wah!). Knowing our time in the same city was limited, we spent the next six months enjoying summertime Chicago, and planned a National Park camping trip out West as one last hoorah before we moved to different cities. It was during this trip (in Moab, UT) that we decided to make it “official,” one of us more nervous than the other about how we would manage the long distance phase ahead...

6-24-22: Kate had the, I'm not sure she'd call it pleasure, of proposing first. She pitched the idea of a "birthday picnic" after work on Friday, and Emily, being thrilled at the planning initiative, eagerly accepted. Kate learned last minute there was a festival (known for lots of naked hippies) being held at the intended proposal park, so she had to pivot to the Park of Roses. Emily's suspicion was low until Kate started unveiling clearly newly purchased artisan meats and cheeses, knowing full well we had charcuterie supplies at home and Kate's favorite past time is using up leftovers. After presenting a decoy robe birthday present, Emily returned to her kneeling position on the blanket, which Kate saw as the perfect time to pop the question. Both kneeling, Kate attempted her proposal but quickly burst into tears while offering up a diamond ring and saying to Emily that she wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. We embraced immediately, cried, and then Kate asked…“So, is that yes?” 8-27-22: A few months later, Emily planned a bike ride around Athens, OH curated with multiple brewery stops along the way, and the ruse of an evening with Emily's aunt and uncle. Unbeknownst to Kate, Emily had arranged for our families to be waiting at the last brewery stop, so days before, when Kate asked, "You aren't proposing this weekend, are you? Because I asked my mom and sister and they said if you were, they had no idea," Emily kept full composure. She needed to take similar deep breaths on the day of, when Kate attempted to look in her weekender (where the ring was hiding) to see what she was packing, and again on the way to the trailhead, when Kate began to "feel a tickle" in her throat and insisted on testing for COVID. Realizing an argument isn't the best precursor to a reciprocal proposal, a CVS stop and a negative COVID test later, we were back on track. The ride was perfect, blasting our favorite tunes while cruising, and at each stop, Kate received a note that shared reflections from our 5-year journey. Finally, we made it to the part of the path that Google Maps suggested would be near water. Emily: crawled between branches, slipped on mud, and cut her ankle on a jagged rock. Kate: stayed on the path, hesitant to leave behind their expensive bikes, and was entirely oblivious. Emily eventually coaxed Kate to join her on the “waterfront” and with one half of her covered in mud, Emily asked Kate if she would (also) like to spend the rest of their lives together.