Even though we essentially grew up in each other's backyards, our friendship didn't begin until high school when we both joined the cross country team. Despite both of us crushing on each other, neither of us were willing to make the first move until Linda's senior year, when Alex asked her to prom. Our friendship began to grow into a relationship, and we officially began dating on July 1, 2013, one month before Linda left for college. We spent the next five years in a long distance relationship while Linda was at Ashland University and Alex at Ohio University. When Alex graduated in May of 2018, we FINALLY got to go back to being neighbors, living only 150 feet from each other rather than 150 miles.

Although covid led to a lot of changes to Alex's original proposal plan, our actual proposal was PERFECT. On September 19, 2020, we went for what was supposed to be one of our typical walks at French Creek, but it turned out to be one of the best days of our lives. In the same exact spot where Alex asked Linda to prom eight years prior, he asked her for forever with the most beautiful custom ring that he designed to look like the promise ring he had given Linda three years ago. Alex even had hired a photographer to capture it all! It was the most perfect day and the most perfect proposal.