As summer came to an end in September, 2011, Sam was looking for a fresh new look. He had been to Vital Barbershop before, but had no idea that the hairdo he sought would change his life forever. As a walk in, Sam was showed to Tahnee's chair. The two hit it off immediately, talking and laughing through the whole haircut. Although neither of them would know until years later, they both had developed a liking to one another. Sam would request Tahnee a few more times before the two would part ways for a while. Although they stayed in contact, it would not be until fall of 2013 that the two would revisit the magic of their early encounters. After coming home from a couple months on the road, Sam contacted Tahnee on his way into Portland. It was like no time had passed at all and from that day in November, Tahnee and Sam would call each other partners, friends, and lovers.

Sam and Tahnee were headed back from San Jose. It was the first time since Sam had bought the engagement ring that he and Tahnee had been alone; and the secrecy was weighing heavier on him than he ever would have imagined. Although the plan was to wait for another few weeks to ask Tahnee to be his wife, Sam knew that it could be hours before the secret became too much to bare and the plan was foiled. Using his keen wit and chameleon like adaptability, Sam devised a new plan. “Beautiful sunset tonight don’t you think? I wonder if you can see it from Lover Point?” “I mean I think so,” answered an unsuspecting Tahnee. “It’s at the beach!” Tahnee had taken the bait. If Sam could live with the butterflies in his stomach for 20 minutes he could make it happen. They swung by the apartment where Sam snagged the ring and put it in his windbreaker. With zero delay they hopped in the truck and headed down to Lovers Point. Sam tried to play it cool the whole way down, even though the butterflies in his stomach felt like they were turning mutant wasps with cabin fever. But as the couple pulled up to serenity of Lovers Point, confidence was reignited in Sam’s heart. Tahnee led them to the rocks to find a view; her eyes always watching the horizon for a hopeful whale sighting. Having been distracted with the beauty the bay was displaying, she suddenly noticed that Sam was down on one knee… “Tahnee you are my best friend and the woman that I love most dear and...” “What are you doing!?” Tahnee exclaimed (Sam later learned that although Tahnee realized he was proposing, she was not convinced that he had bought a ring and was slightly upset that he would have the gaul to propose without the sacred hoop of precious metal and stones). “Well if you’d let me finish I would like to ask you to be my wife!” Sam said while pulling the red box out of his windbreaker. Tahnee’s smile became bigger than Sam had ever seen as she enthusiastically, and tearfully, replied “Yes!”