Just as many love stories begin, ours started overlooking a picturesque vineyard that was bathed in the golden beams of the setting sun with vintage Chateau Latour Pauillac in hand. We savored the rich flavors of the wine while indulging in deep conversation. Actually, the real story... We were at a local winery on the side of a highway (sans vineyard) where we downed wine slushies and ate coconut shrimp from a food truck. We talked, we laughed, and it got the job done, because we were hooked.

John and I had been planning a trip to Washington, DC -- one of my favorite places and John's first time. If you know me, you know that there was a complete hour by hour itinerary that left minimal down time, which had been prepared weeks before we left. It seems that John had big plans of his own! Upon our arrival, our first stop was the White House, as it was closest to our hotel, but John was not impressed. He had bigger things in mind. We made our way to the Navy Yard where we had planned to head to a brewery (per my itinerary). We had time to kill, so John wanted to go for a walk, as usual, and took us down to the water. John asked to take a photo down by the water, which was quite unusual for him. It got weirder from there. He set up a full on tripod and asked me to stand in a very particular place. He then turned around, fumbling with his jacket pocket, and then bent down to mess with his shoe laces. He finally straightened up into standing position again, and he had a beautiful diamond ring in his hand. I don't remember exactly what was said because of my nerves and pure shock, but we got engaged in that moment.