Jeff and Jen were always close. In proximity, that is. Growing up in Dublin, Ohio, the two attended the same preschool, frequented the same local joints, and eventually ended up at the same high school. The alphabetical proximity of their last names ensured their lockers, homeroom desks, and yearbook photos were next to each other from grades 9 through 12. It wasn’t until senior year, however, that a meaningful interaction occurred. Jen, then editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, received a story tip from a teacher who knew Jeff. “Hey,” the teacher said. “Jeff Montee is a senior who enlisted in the Marine Corps. You should write about it.” Jen recalled that Jeff sat behind her in homeroom. That’ll be an easy ask, she thought. Shortly after, she was photographing Jeff performing drills in the Marine Corps’ delayed entry program that was preparing him for boot camp. The story ran in April 2004. Graduation came in May. Jeff left for Parris Island, South Carolina, in June. For the next 18 years, their paths couldn’t have been more different. ___ ___ ___ Here's what Jeff's life looked like from 2004 to 2022: Jeff deployed to Iraq in 2004 and Afghanistan in 2010. He dedicated 11 years to our country as a Marine and ended his service in 2017. His commitment to public service and love for the country made Washington, D.C., a natural next step. Today, he works for the federal government and finds fulfillment in his role. And Jen’s path: Jen earned a journalism degree from Ohio University and moonlighted at a public radio station in Columbus before working in state government. In her 20s, she achieved her goal of becoming fluent in Spanish, a skill that came in handy when she moved to San Diego at age 28 and could easily visit Mexico. In California, she tried on many hats and hobbies. Among them were marketing beer, slinging coffee, surfing waves, teaching yoga, and working the agency, freelance, corporate, and nonprofit life at different times. ___ ___ ___ Still, marriage eluded them. In November 2022, Sandy Montee and Diane Best (Jeff’s and Jen’s moms) found themselves at the same dinner table at St. James Plantation, a retirement community in North Carolina. They and their partners (both named Steve) had moved to the coastal haven years earlier but had never crossed paths. Naturally, the conversation turned to their kids. Naturally, they wondered if Jeff and Jen had ever known each other. Over Christmas, Sandy asked her son if the name Jen Monroe rang a bell. It did. Which led to this email, sent from Jeff to Jen on December 24, 2022: ___ ___ ___ Hey Jen, Well it’s a small world after all. I was sitting in my parents’ kitchen and they were asking if I knew you from high school and I still remember that article you wrote on me a long time ago. While a lot has happened since then, I am still pretty much the same person, though my days getting dirty outside have lessened for the most part. I live in Northern Virginia and work in DC. I hope you have a Merry Christmas with your family. I visited Dublin for the first time in 10 years over thanksgiving and don’t recognize anything. Hopefully I’ll run into you in North Carolina at some point. Jeff ___ ___ ___ The rest is history! (Just kidding.) Jeff and Jen’s reconnection was a slow burn. (Can you blame a Cali girl for being skeptical about the intentions of a hometown boy?) They stayed in touch occasionally over the next two years until Jen realized something was missing in her life. That something turned out to be Jeff. Thankfully, he was still around! In September 2024, Jen moved to Northern Virginia to be with Jeff. They are enjoying each other's company and can't wait to see you in October!