We met at a 300 person AA meeting called Old Town Speakers in La Jolla, California. I held the Secretary commitment at the time and was making announcements from the podium every Sunday evening. Brandon was attending this meeting regularly and noticed me from afar. He turned to his friend one evening and said, “You know…I’m going to marry that girl some day.” At this point we hadn’t even had a conversation yet! Not even a “Hello, my name is Brandon and I am a mid-west goofball, pleased to meet you!” We finally met after I asked him to be the five minute speaker. He got my number by AA default ;) and began texting me. He asked me if I wanted to do a squat challenge with him and I discovered how very charming and witty he was through text messages. He didn’t have plans for his Birthday so I invited him out to a Thai food dinner and Rock-n-Bowl. Our first date was quite comical and I remember looking over at him and found myself attracted to his adorable dimples and goofy grin. We had the best time bowling together. He was unapologetically himself….doing a ridiculous dance to “Jump on it” like he was cowboy roping a steer. We laughed all night and despite all his trash talking I beat him in Bowling 2 out of the 3 games. I knew he was a good sport and could handle my teasing when I paraded the winning score sheets around the bowling alley. I literally exited the building yelling, “Brandon just lost to a girl” over and over as I flashed my winning scoreboard print out. He just laughed and took it like a true gentleman. We didn’t share our first kiss until Brandon had a year sober. But, let me tell you….that Smooch was worth the wait. It literally took my breath away (Cue song from “Top Gun” now)! We dated just shy of three years when he finally popped the question. Brandon did a phenomenal job planning the surprise proposal with my best friend, Kendra. They called it “Operation Sparkle” and I had absolutely no clue I was going to be proposed to on February 13, 2021. Brandon was supposed to be working in LA all day and I thought I was having a Bestie “Galentine’s day” out with Kendra. Her and I went to get our nails done and then we were going to meet her parents for dinner at Jake’s in Del Mar. However, Kendra said she needed to make a quick detour on the way to Jake’s to drop off a Big Book for a newcomer at the outdoor Mt. Soledad Meeting in La Jolla. We walked up the to the bluff overlooking the ocean and I noticed a beautiful romantic picnic setup. I remarked to Kendra, “They must be sober too!” Instead of wine there was bottles of San Pelligrino, a charcuterie board and strawberries. Kendra quickly drew me away from the picnic setup and suggested we look at the ocean view while we waited for the newcomer. Then out of the blue some guy with a camera asked if he could take photos of Kendra and I. He said he was building his portfolio and the sunset was going to make for some great pictures. He even promised to email the proofs to us. Kendra and I agreed and he started posing us at different angles. He asked us to turn around for one last pic facing the other way and BOOM! I turned around to see Brandon all dressed up, down on one knee.