It was a typical southern, winter day, February 16, 2018, in Memphis, which meant rain, brown grass and humidity. My jet setting, co-travel pup, McKenzie, and I couldn't wait to get back to the dry, crisp air of Colorado after a visit to see my parents. We rushed through security, as normal, to be met with a "Boarding all passengers" announcement, then found our pre-selected window seat (which I had checked earlier to confirm that no one had taken the middle seat) on board. As we got settled I looked up to see a new wave of passengers streaming in, including a somewhat dirty looking, definitely scruffy, possible hippie, who kept looking my way. Of course he's seated in the empty middle seat next to me! After the scruffy hippie gets buckled in, he proceeds to coax Kenz over towards him, and attempt small talk with me, all to my dismay. I hoped once we got in the air he would leave me alone, partially because I can never hear on airplanes. The scruffy hippie proceeded to chat ALL through the flight, although he did show his southern charm by paying for my drink. I nodded, and smiled, and only heard half of what he said, but I did learn his name, Justin. He was funny and intelligent and he grew on me. As we were making the final descent into Denver I asked Justin if I could have his number, as my new Memphis friend. After landing, I showed him where to find his snowboard bag (different luggage area for those at DIA) and he said goodbye to his new BFF Kenzie. So how did I end up back in Memphis and fall for that scruffy hippie, you ask? A week later my furry travel buddy and I hopped a flight back to Memphis, where I promptly called my new friend. Justin and I meet up and I was shocked to see the scruffy hippie had gotten a haircut and groomed his beard! I suddenly got nervous. He turned on the movie and scotched behind me….I slowly caught on that he liked me more than just a friend. After that night we were inseparable. My temporary stay in Memphis turned permanent.

On a crisp February evening in 2018, I was boarding a flight to Denver to meet up with friends for our annual ski trip. Being the economical traveler that I am, I refuse to select my seat when flying alone and the seat is randomly assigned to me by the airline. As I was walking down the aisle, amazed that I made it on the plane in time after working that day, I spotted a cute girl sitting by the window with an even cuter little dog in her lap. Suddenly I realized that I was assigned the seat beside her! I enthusiastically claimed my seat and introduced myself to both her and the tiny dog with her tongue dangling from her mouth. The dog was more friendly than the girl at first, but over the course of the flight my undeniably stunning looks and intriguing conversation had both her and the dog warming up to me. Proof of this seemingly outlandish claim is when she asked for my phone number before I could ask for hers. Once we landed and a friend had picked me up from the airport, she was all I could talk about. We continued to talk via phone during my trip and met up soon after I returned to Memphis for an pizza and a movie. This was the beginning of a love that is still blossoming to this day, and I cannot imagine spending my life without her…and her little dog Kenzie.