It was a usual day off for Katrina – a CrossFit workout followed by a laundry list of “to-dos.” The day took a turn when during the workout, Katrina tripped and slashed her knees open while doing box jumps (insert gory details here). In standard Katrina fashion, she bypassed the urgent care and emergency department and made a call straight to the Surgical ICU (where she worked, and Bryan was rotating). She asked for one of the surgery residents on call – she got Bryan. While they had only briefly worked together, she asked if she could stop by for him to quickly sew her up so she could get on with her day. He advised her that she should be seen in the emergency department for “appropriate care.” Shockingly, Katrina did not take no for an answer – so she went to plan B – a phone call to one of her best friends who stitched her up in the Trauma Clinic. For the record – she still got all the other to-dos done that day. For the next 3 years, Katrina and Bryan continued to form a friendship over many dinners and lotssss of martinis. Eventually Bryan decided it was time to tell Katrina how he really felt about her. His timing could not have been better – the night before she left for Ironman Wisconsin. When she finally recovered…from the love confession, she gave him the answer every guy wants to hear: “what do I have to lose?” While they tried to keep their relationship a secret for many months, they fooled no one. The rest is history.

When Bryan decided to propose, he knew he wanted to do it in a place they both loved – the mountains. Coincidentally, they were planning a trip to visit friends in Steamboat Springs, CO and Bryan saw the opportunity. As everyone may know, whether it’s friends or family, Katrina wants everyone to be together all the time and typically plans a full schedule of activities. This does NOT make it easy when you are planning to propose to your girlfriend. With time running out on the trip, Bryan was given an assist. Instead of the group trip planned that morning, Katrina’s friends literally snuck out of the house while they were still sleeping and left a set of cars keys for them. Bryan and Katrina headed to Buffalo Pass without a clear destination for their hike – not making Katrina anxious at all. But Bryan’s “spontaneous hike” unknowingly led them to a stunning view overlooking the valley of Steamboat Springs where Bryan popped the question.