Melanie had moved back to Lincoln from the Bay Area in California (after 25 + years) in June of 2015 to be closer to family. On April 22, 2016, Melanie and Pam Van Neste came into the Panic Bar for a drink and met Kara Kugler and Kelly Erisman. The four of them were sitting together laughing and talking about old softball days (Kelly & Mel grew up playing ball on opposing teams), and were in a group text throughout the evening and the following day, the day we lost Kelly.......this is how they met. Kara and Mel got to know each other throughout the following weeks that Summer through softball games, concerts, and other events. Their friendship and attraction grew into a beautiful and loving relationship.

It was June 23, 2017 at 8 am. Mel and Kara were on Southwest Airlines flight 1166, flying from Omaha to San Francisco for pride weekend. They were sitting next to one another in the emergency exit row just laughing & talking when Mel turned to Kara and asked her to marry her. Kara was very surprised and excited and immediately said "yes". (It was a scene set on a symbolic voyage between Nebraska and California).