We were two Air Force aircrew member stationed at the same desolate base in New Mexico. We flew two different aircraft for two separate units. It was a mandatory professional development course that brought us together-- and the course was as fun as professional development could be. He saw aircrew wings on my uniform, and being that we had that in common, he sat next to me. Together we managed to laugh our way through the course, and yes we both passed.

A few days after our course graduation, Matt asked if I wanted to go to a movie with him. Of course I said yes. Since I had a lot of male friends in the military, I wasn't entirely sure if this was a "date". I tried to play it cool by pulling out my wallet when we walked up to the ticket counter--to which he replied, "I already bought our tickets online". That's when I was sure that I was in fact on an actual date.

Matt separated from the Air Force about a year before I was able to separate--so 2017 was our "long distance relationship" phase. I would come up to visit him between deployments. No matter what, every single time I landed at PDX (Portland Airport) I was nervous. I managed to make waiting at baggage claim exceptionally awkward. Every. Single. Time. My last visit to Portland before my big move was after my last deployment. It was November. I left security and there he was, as usual. I was trying to play it cool (again), so I said hi and tried to drag him to baggage claim. He stopped me, dropped down on one knee, and asked me to marry him. To which I replied "Of course!".