Although Joe and I didn’t formally meet until the summer of 2021, it’s very possible we missed opportunities to start our story sooner. We were both students at the University of Minnesota, and after attending a music festival in Chicago that summer, we quickly realized how many of the same people and places we had shared. We discovered we had mutual close friends, remembered happy hours spent at the same table at Sally’s, had both been at the same Fourth of July celebration earlier that summer, and had even lived in the same building for a year without ever formally crossing paths. That summer, we finally got the chance to know each other, and by September we made it official. Over the last two years of undergrad, our memories together grew as we spent time studying, traveling, and getting to know each other’s families and friends. After graduating in 2023, we began a new chapter a little farther apart. Joe moved back home to Rochester while applying to medical school, and I returned home to begin a position in the dental field in Minnetonka. The weeks sometimes felt long during those two years, but our weekends together became even more meaningful. That time not only strengthened our relationship, but also deepened the connections we built with each other’s families. Joe quickly became part of mine, and I fell in love with his. We are so grateful for the love and support they have shown us along the way. In February of 2025, Joe was admitted to the University of Minnesota Medical School, and we decided to celebrate with an impromptu trip to Chicago. It was a perfect weekend—playing cards on the Amtrak, exploring museums, trying new restaurants, and ice skating while dreaming about what the next chapter of our lives might look like. What I didn’t know was that Joe had been carrying a ring since October. During that trip, he found the perfect moment to surprise me with a proposal. I was completely shocked—and of course, I said yes. The timing couldn’t have felt more perfect. Looking back, it’s funny to think about how many times our paths may have crossed before we truly met. But I wouldn’t change a single moment of how our story unfolded. Somehow, we found each other exactly when we were meant to—and now I can’t wait to begin our next chapter together. Let's get married!