One evening in late November, 2017, I was perusing a dating site and happened upon a ruggedly handsome blonde young man from Alaska. Clicking on the photo, I was delighted to find a well-crafted, witty “about me” section that sounded like someone who might actually be my type. His photos looked a little stern, but I typed up a message anyway, not really expecting a response. He responded the next day, which started a month of sending messages back and forth. We talked about the usual topics, such as muskoxen and hodags, and I was lured in by his imaginative sense of humor. We skyped for the first time after Christmas. He had just completed a day of flying and was still wearing his fur hat. I figured he didn’t seem so stern after all. Shortly after New Years, 2018, Jeremy flew to Wisconsin to meet me. I was at home and on my last week of winter break. I was more nervous to meet him than I have ever been for anything in my life. But, Jeremy put up with my shy awkwardness for his time in Wisconsin. My first impression of Jeremy in person was that he was very sweet. We decided to give a relationship a try. For the next few months, Jeremy was able to see me about once a month. Even though the odds were against us, our relationship grew stronger. When we were apart, we’d have long conversations on Skype almost every day. Finally seeing each other in person after weeks of only video communication was always something very special. We have had lots of adventures together, from exploring Mammoth Cave in Kentucky to climbing mountains in the north of the Yukon territory, to trying (unsuccessfully) to make a pineapple broccoli pizza, to eating oatmeal by candlelight in a power outage at 40 below! We got engaged on Valentines day at Jackson Falls, a waterfall tucked away in the Shawnee National Forest of Southern Illinois. I am looking forward to a lifetime with my sweet, supportive, sincere, adventurous, and loving Jeremy!

I had just finished a long day of flying up in Nome, Alaska, and was eagerly anticipating video chatting with the mysterious and musical Erinn. Should I or shouldn’t I wear my fur hat for this momentous occasion? I pondered it over but decided that wearing the hat over my tousled and messy hair from the day’s work would be the better alternative. We talked about muskoxen and music, and I was charmed by her playful sense of humour and easy-going demeanor. In January I used airline travel benefits to come down to Appleton, Wisconsin for the first time. After a week of scenic drives to lighthouses and hikes by coastal cliffs I was warmed by Erinn’s caring heart, and vivacious smile. Continuing on our muskoxen relationship theme, during our first Valentine’s Day her card for me had a muskox drawn on it, with the phrase ‘I lichen you a lot’. Her love for me was a wind that bridged great distances, and grew within us like a coastal cedar tree. Our adventures together have taken us to a muskox farm, up mountains, onto lakes, and by waterfalls. It was by Jackson Falls, Southern Illinois, during our second Valentine’s Day when I expressed my wishes to become intertwined in marriage with Erinn. Becoming her husband is an adventure that I am greatly looking forward to.