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Rule number 1: If you're a pilot, don't date a flight attendant. Spoiler alert: I dated a flight attendant. BUT in my defense, if you could have seen her that night you would totally get it. It started at Gate A18 of the DFW Airport. And while I wish I could say I was heading down the jet bridge to fly that jet myself, I was in fact making the slow shuffle down the tunnel with the rest of the herd to my seat at 11D. When I first saw Ashley, I stopped in my tracks. She was stretched out on her toes trying to make a “chandelier” out of two paper cups to dim the galley’s overhead light that burns with the brightness of a thousand suns. She had performed this old flight attendant trick many times before, but this iteration would happen to coincide with the very first time I would ever see my future wife. As she was reaching up, I noticed a little strand of hair that fell just in front of her ear. It still gets me to this day when her hair falls just right like that. There's so much more I could say about that flight or about how we met. But what came after just got better and better. I fell in love with Ashley right away. She is everything I have ever wanted. We both share a profound love for flying, and we never have trouble finding an adventure. She regularly tags along with me on my various airline trips, and I often do the same on hers. It’s incredible to watch her in her element. She makes me so unbelievably proud, and I always look forward to the next time I get to fly with her again. Whether it’s my Embraer (or as she calls it, my “Barbie Jet”), her 737, Dad’s Bonanza (thanks, Pop), or the couch, I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have next to me. She’s my Number 1 Flight Attendant, my Copilot, my adventure buddy, and above all, my very best friend. I'm not a proponent of breaking the rules. But in this situation, I'm so grateful that I did. Breaking rule number 1 is the best decision I’ve ever made, and I’d do it all over again. I love you, Ashley Rose.

I woke up, got ready for work, and headed to the airport just like any normal workday. I worked my first 2 flights and walked to my last flight of the day at gate A18. It was all so routine, but little did I know that my future husband would be at that gate waiting to get onto my flight to Grand Rapids. It was a S80 jet and I was working up front in first class. A little while into boarding, I was on my tippy toes trying to make a “chandelier” by placing paper cups into the overhead light of the forward galley –an old flight attendant trick we do to make the lighting not so harsh. I turned to look at the boarding door and greet the passengers coming on, but then I was stopped in my tracks. Suddenly, this day wasn’t so routine anymore. Standing there looking at me was the most handsome man I have ever laid my eyes on. He turned to me and said, “Can I catch a ride?” It took me a minute to respond..I must have looked like an idiot not speaking and just staring. He walked to his seat at 11D, and I was thinking the whole time how I just embarrassed myself in front of him. Once we took off, I found any reason I possibly could to go back there and walk past him. I could not focus the whole flight. In training they told us to never date a pilot, but I am SO glad I broke that rule. From that night forward, I fell more & more in love with him. To this day I have not stopped falling in love with him. That flight was the first of many adventures we would take together. Nick is everything I have ever wanted & wished for. He is my best friend & my partner. We clicked from the beginning –certainly helped by the fact that we both have such a strong passion for aviation. I love when I get to tag along on his “barbie jet” and watch him be the most amazing pilot. I am so incredibly proud of the man I get to marry. I cannot wait to see what adventures we go on together next! I have truly found my soulmate and the person I want to share the rest of my life with. I love you Nicholas!