In August of 2018, Julia accepted a job offered at Clarkson University where she would be the Graduate Assistant Alpine Ski Coach for the next two years. The twelve graduate assistants shared three offices, and it just so happened that Julia and Eric's chairs were back to back for that entire first year. Workday banter and Flip Night drinks eventually led to pizza dates at Sergi's. Before long, the academic year was over, and Eric moved on to coach at Virginia Wesleyan University. Distance was nothing for the couple, thanks to tiny airplanes from the North Country down to Virginia Beach throughout the Fall of 2019. Eric lived directly on the ocean, so Julia came up with every excuse possible to come down to visit (mainly to walk on the beach for hours). In the spring of 2020, Eric moved to Massachusetts to pursue a career is software sales. He rented a studio apartment in Milton, MA, with the thought of moving into the city with Julia when she graduated. Unfortunately, the universe had other plans, and Julia ended up moving into the tiny apartment with Eric due to Covid-19. After two months of sharing a 400 square foot apartment, the couple realized that they could get through anything, and the rest, as they say, is history.

On the morning of December 19th, 2020, Julia and her father went skiing at Sunday River. Eric stayed behind at the lake, patiently awaiting his girlfriend's return to ask the big question. Julia and Lenny, however, had other plans. After a morning on the slopes, Julia and Lenny just had to go to the Matterhorn Ski Bar to get their Mug Club T-shirts - after all, the shirts are first come, first serve. Since they were already inside the Matterhorn, they figured they should at least visit their mugs. One beer turned to a second (and a wood-fired pizza for lunch), and they made their way home around 1pm. On the ride home, Eric was adamant that they go for a walk together. Ready for her afternoon nap, Julia tried to take Lexi, who at the time was 13 and couldn't make it up the hill (i.e. a short walk). Eric insisted that just the two of them went, so up the hill to Eagle Rock they went. There was about a foot of fresh snow on the ground, and the sun was sitting low in the sky as the afternoon wore on. When they reached Eagle Rock, a beautiful outlook over Long Lake, Eric got down on one knee and asked, "Will you marry me?" and of course, Julia said yes!!!