We met through our jobs. Josh worked (at the time) as a Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Wilmington, NC and I worked (at the time) at the National Weather Service in Newport, NC. Josh visited the office one day and we hit it off. We bonded on our love for baseball, though we are rival fans (Yankees vs. Red Sox) which makes it all the more interesting and fun. We were friends for years before we started dating as I transitioned to the National Weather Service in Atlanta. We remained long distance for years until #TheMerger in late 2018 where we both landed jobs in Washington DC.

Josh and I love to hike on our travels. So I suppose this proposal story is quite fitting. Josh and I were planning to complete the Mighty 5 (Zion, Bryce, Capital Reef, Canyonlands and Arches) in Utah for years.

Our first stop on this adventure was Zion National Park. On a clear and crisp morning, we left the Zion Lodge surrounded by towering red cliffs. We set out for the most spectacular hike in all of Zion, the Observation Point Hike. As we climbed our way up the 4-mile trail, we met several hikers with Josh making lots of jovial conversation. We arrived at the top a bit over an hour later to the most splendid views of Zion; though we were certainly not alone. Oddly, upon arriving, Josh became very quiet. I thought he'd be more excited to see such beauty. We plopped our bags on a nearby rock overlooking Zion Canyon. Josh seemed to be perplexed by the number of people at the top. I thought this odd, given Josh is normally so easy going. (Insert Shrug) One of my favorite traditions after summitting a hike, is to devour one of my carefully crafted PB&J sandwiches. Well, that was short lived, as I heard Josh calling me from afar. "I got us a spot for a picture. Come quickly!" I reluctantly scarfed down my PB&J sandwich as I walked over to that perfect Observation Point shot. He hands me a card. "You want me to read this now? So many people are waiting to take a picture here. This can wait. Ok, smile for the camera!" He said, "No, read the card”. I skim it quickly, "Ok, smile!" I say. He said, "Will you just read it?". Fine, though I felt the pressure from those that surrounded us. A card that normally takes someone ten seconds to read would take me a full minute due to the translation time to read Josh's handwriting. I turn the card over to finish and realize that he is about to propose. I look up. No one is there. I look down. He is on his knee with the most beautiful ring in his hand. I was shocked! He may have said some beautiful poetry for which I cannot recall now. But I remember how happy I was in that moment. People all around us started clapping as I responded with a nod and a "Yes!". It was truly my most favorite moment of my life.

Lara had no idea I was going to use our trip to the Mighty 5 for a proposal. Weeks before, she mentioned her friends thought I might propose there to which I said I had no idea people got engaged on vacations. Little did she know I already had the ring in hand! Sneaking the ring through TSA got more complex when I got searched at entry. I had to discretely tell the agent not to remove the ring or else the proposal would have to happen at the gate! It worked, and off to Utah we went. That morning we woke up to crystal blue sky atop the towering red cliffs of Zion. It was a perfect day to hike to Observation Point, the most challenging yet rewarding hike in the park. I am usually friendly when I hike with Lara, but that day I chatted with every hiker we met. There was a reason for this: I wanted someone to remember us to snap our photo at the right time! I was all smiles until we reached the top. My worst fear was realized: there were dozens of people at the lookout! I was disappointed and quiet, and even expressed frustration to Lara how many people were "hogging" the ideal photo spot. Lara and I separated for a bit as she dug into her world-famous PB&J while I sat hoping the lookout would open for a photo without anyone around. Finally it cleared. I yelled to Lara to come for a picture. She scarfed down the rest of her PB&J as I secretly told some hikers we met what was about to happen. They agreed to take our picture as I gave Lara a card I had written for her. As she read, a group stood in the way just before I was about to propose! I did something I never do: I forcefully asked them to step away so we could take a picture. They were shocked, but obliged in time for me to get down on one knee and open the ring. The hikers taking our photo got the perfect shot as Lara agreed to spend her life with me and make me the happiest man alive! We shared a magical kiss at the top of Zion Canyon, and after the applause ended we hiked down as a happily engaged couple.