It was April of 2020, right at the peak of COVID weirdness, when most people were just trying to figure out how to unmute themselves on Zoom. But somewhere up at Lake Almanor, something a little more special was about to unfold. That weekend, a few brave friends decided to escape to the lake for some fresh air, cold drinks, and even colder puzzle sessions. Among them were two soon-to-be matchmakers: Joe and Amanda. And thanks to their not-so-subtle scheming, Tia and Jackson were introduced. What followed was a weekend filled with laughter, drinking games, competitive corn hole, and a surprising amount of puzzle strategy. Tia had her loyal sidekick Hank in tow (naturally), who wasted no time in befriending Jesse, Jackson’s family dog. Clearly, it was fate—from humans to hounds. Tia and Jackson hit it off from the jump. Of course, it took Jackson a little longer to fully grasp Tia’s sarcasm (an elite-level language in its own right), but he caught on eventually. They started spending more and more time together—whether down in Lodi or Folsom with family, or in midtown Sacramento chasing late-night bites and one more drink. As summer rolled on, so did the relationship. Things got more serious. Jackson was planning a move to Chico to begin his master’s in sport psychology, and somehow—through charm, luck, or pure persuasion—he convinced Tia to move with him. They built a life together in Chico, filled with new memories, new goals, and the same old corny jokes. And a few years later, after just the right amount of dragging his feet, Jackson finally popped the question—right back where it all started: Lake Almanor.