We met our senior year while at Colgate University. Our friends recognized our love potential long before we did and tried to set us up. At the time the stars didn't align. Fast-forward three years, when Julian came to NYC to visit our mutual friend for his birthday. Emily was literally swept off her feet, dancing in the kitchen of our friend's tiny East Village Apartment. We spent the weekend re-connecting and exploring the city. Sadly, Julian had to go back to Colorado for Graduate School. We parted that weekend as friends both wishing we lived closer. Over the course of the following months we stayed connected via texts and calls and visits when possible. By October of that year, it was clear we were more than friends and thus started our long distance relationship. After three years of long distance, Emily made the leap to move to OKC. The rest is history!

We met for lunch where I convinced Emily to drive 2hrs to take a picture. This speaks volumes to my adventure-seeking attitude & her go-with-the-flow personality. We drove to Coalgate, OK to take a picture on Colgate Day - a “holiday” celebrated by the Colgate University alumni any time there’s a Friday the 13th. When we arrived there was nothing to greet us. Julian, determined to find a sign suggested the post office. Within 2 minutes we were downtown in front of the post office taking an awkward selfie as we tried to get the writing on the building & our shirts in the picture. After being in the town for a total of 5 min we completed our mission, or so I thought, & headed back home. We bumped down the back road until we arrived at Lake of the Arbuckle’s. “Oooh… a lake!” her enthusiasm quickly changed at the site of campground grounds. “Are we camping?!" “No, we aren't camping. The sun is going to set soon. I figured we could sit and watch it.” he said. It sounded good to me until I saw our cooler bag – stuffed! Immediately my mind raced back to camping – which I didn’t want to do in 90-degree weather." “No,” he chuckled as he reached into the bag & pulled out a small maroon photo album. “What is this?” She asked, feeling guilty for not having anything to give back.“Just a lil' Colgate Day present.” She opened the photo album to a few pictures of Colgate & the two of us from the past four years. The last two pages had a hand written note, “Happy Colgate Day. Cheers to us!” & a photo of us wearing white at Emily’s graduation party at Colgate. He reached back in the bag & pulled out a wine bottle & large silver box. Inside was a single red wine glass. As I unwrapped the tissue paper around it I discovered it had the Colgate "C" etched on it. “Jeez, he loves Colgate.” I thought, but quickly noticed something on the other side. I turned the glass around to read “Michaels Est. Colgate Day 10/13/17”. I quickly re-read it & looked over to see Julian on one knee.