We’re getting married!

Joe and I met in high school when he was a senior and I was a freshman. The first time I saw him was at the bus stop, playing hacky sack with his friends. He had this confident, quirky energy—effortlessly doing tricks—while I was the quiet, shy one, just observing from the sidelines. We started dating, and he quickly became an important part of my life. After Joe graduated, he went into the Marines, and I continued my education. Life took us in different directions, but in 2017, we found our way back to each other and made it official again. Now, we share a home, a life, and our two cats, Maggie and Millie. One of our favorite vacation spots has always been Maine, and during one of our trips, Joe planned something special. He rented a small cabin, and on our first day, we went for a hike to an overlook at Sears Island. I complained the whole way—true to form—but Joe, always his positive and funny self, kept encouraging me to keep going. When we finally reached the viewpoint, I was looking out toward the ocean when he told me to turn around. There he was, down on one knee, holding the ring box—upside down. It was perfectly us, and of course, I said yes.