We found each other on the internet (thanks, Hinge!), as most people do these days. Neither of us were particularly excited for another first date, thinking it would be just another bust. But nonetheless, we met up at New Terrain Brewing in Golden, which was quite the trek for Carleigh (an hour drive!), unbeknownst to Erin. To calm her nerves, Carleigh shot gunned two beers in the parking lot before making her way inside. Conveniently, Erin was running late, so she had the time to do so. Carleigh was the first to walk in and waved at some random girl reading a book in the corner (because you never really know what people look like from the internet). When Erin walked in, she picked out Carleigh immediately- she was tall, beautiful, and just what Erin had expected from her pictures. Erin went in for a hug, and mid-hug, Carleigh asked, “Oh, are you a hugger?” It’s a miracle we made it out together. Over a beer, we slowly got to know each other. We both asked lots of questions, Carleigh always following hers up with a “Wait, let me guess,” and Erin always hitting Carleigh with an “Oh that’s cool, I’m here for it.” Erin learned of Carleigh’s great fear of “lava lamp beers” (anything served in a tall, skinny glass), which is often exactly what Erin orders. After New Terrain closed, neither of us wanted the night to end, so we moved our date into downtown Golden, to a little dive bar that was the last place open on a Tuesday night. We both ordered a beer, with Erin introducing Carleigh to the staple of a Coors Banquet, soon to be known as Erin Buckles Beer by the Cussons from that night on. When it was time to close out, Carleigh learned Erin’s last name for the first time. She told her Buckles was the coolest last name, not knowing it would eventually become her own. The rest, as they say, is history. We were all in from the start, and we’re so grateful we finally found something real on the internet.