Technically we met while working at The Boys and Girls Club. Nik was “responsible” for the teens while Lily managed the Kindergarteners. Our paths didn’t cross much being that we worked in opposite age groups, but we did see each other on campus, like when Lily had to stop some of Nik’s teens from chucking a glass bottle full of woodchips up a slide, and at work functions. In fact, the first night we really got to talking, Lily kicked Nik’s butt at a limerick contest at our staff holiday party. However, the night that ignited the flame was early February 2016. Lily was sitting on her living room couch in her pajamas, anticipating a quiet night at home. Going out had never really been of interest to me, especially in Kings Beach. Kings Beach was my hometown, there really wasn’t much to see. However, brother Jake and future sister-in-law Candice knew that a night out with friends could be the cure to what was ailing me, and after some convincing and a brief rundown of the night’s attendees (Person A, B, C, and oh yeah, Nik will be there too), I agreed to venture out. Nik, being of Krawczyk lineage, was running late that evening. I had been holed up in my microscopic studio apartment watching my favorite sports team, the Minnesota Wild, get caved in by the New York Rangers. So with a sour attitude, I began the short walk to The Grid. I was pleasantly surprised to see Lily with the group. I got a drink and started a conversation about this, that, and archeology with her. After some time, Jake and Candice challenged us to a bubble hockey competition. We happily obliged and kicked their asses. The evening was spent laughing, talking, and getting to know each other. Since then we have been inseparable. We have been on multiple trips, changed careers (read: Nik has changed careers...4 times), moved to Minnesota, and adopted a cat, Penelope, together.

Lily and her mother, Wanda, had been asking Nik for years about when he would put a ring on it. A friend of mine owns a jewelry store in Minneapolis, so I made a consultation appointment to begin the process of designing the perfect ring for my mountain goddess. As luck would have it, the ring would be done right in time to hijack my sister’s birthday (July 27) when I would be running the Grand Island Trail Marathon in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a place that is very special to me. Following the run, we planned to visit Marquette and Presque Isle, a park on the shore of Lake Superior. My original plan was thwarted when the beach seemed too crowded for a public proposal. Improvising on the fly, I nodded towards a secluded picnic table up the shore. As we sat at that picnic table chatting and resting, Phoebe slyly slid the engagement ring into my backpack and told us that she “needed to use the bathroom.” As she left, she motioned towards a large boulder on the shoreline and said, “hey, go check out that rock.” That was the cue. I grabbed my backpack and we walked down towards the shore. After what seemed like an eternity of awkward silence and a deer-in-headlights expression on my face, my phone lit up with THE text. From Phoebe: ‘Start your speech. Here we come.’ I asked Lily if we could take a selfie. As we stood, Lily put her voluminous mass of hair over face, which gave me the opportunity to grab the ring and get down on one knee. Photo evidence suggests she said “Yes”, but I had blacked out and can’t remember. As we embraced in sheer joy, Lily heard a large crowd cheering. She looked and saw my family, friends, and her sister, Molly. I was able to convince Molly to make the 6 hour trip from Chicago to witness her baby sister get engaged! It was the perfect proposal and, whoa, that ring!