Although I always knew of Cameron, we didn't officially meet until Professor Adler's class during Fall 2013. Cameron always had to have the last word in any class discussion or debate we had and consistently played devil's advocate. Quite frankly, he was that classmate I couldn't stand, but still found somewhat charming. Though we made it through the semester without actually getting into it, I kept my distance. Years passed and our only communication was sending each other Happy Birthday messages on Facebook. After years of not speaking, in September 2017, Cameron sent me a Facebook message saying "What's up stranger? Long time no talk". I remember being pleasantly surprised at the message and responding. Cameron asked if he could take me out to dinner and I accepted. A few weeks later, we went on our first date, which ended up being a weekend in Washington, D.C. which consisted of dinner, tours of the city (Cameron's a pretty good tour guide) and of course a Redskins game (our first of many). The following weekend was Cornell Homecoming and we spent a large portion of the weekend together, getting to know each other a little better. Cameron posted a photo of us on his Instagram, which kind of unofficially made us official. As the weeks passed, he visited me in NYC and I took the bus rides up to Ithaca. And the rest is history! The last 2+ years with Cameron have been an adventure. After over a year of being long distance, I moved to D.C. which effectively ended our weekend trips to one another. More importantly, we've grown to love and learn from one another. There's no one I would rather share these experiences and grow with. Cameron is truly an amazing man and makes me a better woman and partner. I often think back to that class in Fall 2013, had you told me I'd be sitting next to my future husband, I would've smiled and laughed hysterically.

So to keep it 100, I was going to propose to Vanessa on the Brooklyn Bridge (can't remember if it was going to be at sunrise or sunset). However, one of her closest friends had dropped a line to me that it was extremely important that her parents be there. Now that I've set the context, I'll tell you the full story. It was November 2019, and I was in the middle of one of the worst consulting projects ever contracted. The project though, wasn't the most important thing on my mind but rather the rings I had been shopping online for over the past 3 months. I took the few free hours I had, and made my way to diamond district. I had done plenty of research online, but I wanted to see the colors, cuts and clarity for myself. After getting a in-person view I was able to make my decision. I ordered the ring online, with an early December delivery date and things were in motion. On one of my Thursday trips to the airport from Manhattan, I was scoping out the Brooklyn Bridge when I was texting one of Vanessa's friends. I told her my plan for the proposal, which she loved but she also mentioned how much Vanessa would want her parents to be there. So basically, my plans changed from an April NYC proposal in 2020 (thank the Lord cause COVID waits for no one) to whenever I was going to see Vanessa's parents next....Christmas in DR. And honestly, the rest is history. I coordinated the whole proposal with my fabulous Marriott Ambassador (thank you Lilian!) and then arranged for a surprise photographer at our hotel in Santo Domingo. I asked her father for permission two days before at dinner on Christmas Eve and gave her mother all of the details on Christmas Day. The result was a very happy princess who ugly cried through her surprise proposal on facetime while all of my boys watched on my phone and with both of our parents in-person. I can't say enough how excited and blessed I am to be marrying this amazing woman. And that ladies and gentlemen....is the proposal.