The start of this love story includes some memorably poignant details: sushi, some trash cans, and an old western movie. Riveting, right? Just what you'd expect a solid foundation to consist of when launching the love of a lifetime by two people who crossed paths at a specific moment and place in time. But the aforementioned components were the pillars of how we started, and we'll always recall them fondly (yes, even the trash cans). Hilari began working at (now formerly) Blue Orchid Asian Bar and Grill in Lancaster, PA in December 2012. She'd graduated earlier that year and was still figuring out her next steps so she began hostessing at Blue Orchid while continuing the job hunt. Her second weekend of work/training, she was introduced to the bartender--hello, Shane! Shane was taken with the hostess in the black and white polka dot dress fairly quickly. Hilari, as per usual, was blissfully aloof and awkward while trying to learn to decipher the many sushi rolls on the menu. One night she ordered a Pink Lady roll for dinner, but when she went to pay, her order wasn't in the system. Twenty minutes of confusion later, Shane confessed that he'd paid for the roll. Cue sushi! Shane and Hil began spending time together outside of work to get to know each other better as 2012 came to a close. A cold January night in the early new year led them to a bar in downtown Lancaster where Shane kissed Hil outside amidst freezing downpour. What it lacked in tradition (beautiful violin music, candlelight, and temperatures rendering thermal wear unnecessary), it compensated with wonderful spontaneity--right next to some trash cans. The following night, Shane introduced Hil to his favorite old western movie, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". They talked through the night and both realized how strong the connection to the other felt. It was unexpected but made perfect sense. The old western film set in motion something beautiful and new that night. That was January 11, 2013.

This particular chapter of our story includes the following tropes: 7:32 am, an imaginary dog, and a frosty window on Thanksgiving morning of last year. We were up early that morning to get ready and leave for Lancaster, where we'd celebrate Thanksgiving with both of our families that day. Hilari was up early getting ready and looking forward to her favorite holiday; Shane was hitting the snooze button repeatedly as he'd worked late the night before! Hil went to feed the cats and was rounding up a few things they needed to bring when Shane called her back to their room. The delightful conversation that ensued played out as follows..... H: "I was literally just back there! Can you PLEASE get dressed and be ready to go soon?" S: "Help me pick out a shirt to wear!" H: "Pick it yourself, hon! I'm feeding the cats!" *At this point, Hil was irritated and pointedly not going back to their room for any reason whatsoever. Shane was desperately trying to get Hil back to their room, with good reason....so he tried a tactic that had proven rather effective in past debates: start talking about dogs. S: "Hil, our neighbors behind us got a dog, have you seen it yet? It's out right now! Come see!" H: *drops everything, dashes back to their room to see said cute dog* She peered out the window but didn't see a dog below--but scrawled in the frost on the window was "Marry Me?" Hil turned around and Shane was down on one knee, ring box in hand. Shane is pretty sure he verbally asked Hilari to marry him, and Hil is pretty sure she responded with something more eloquent than "duh"--and that was that! The 7:32 am proposal! Hilari and Shane had designed their ring together but the proposal timing and method truly was a surprise. Shane had decided the night before to change his timing of proposing so that they could share the news with their families immediately after and kick off the holidays in the best possible way!