Many wonder how Emma and I met. Many believe the story begins at a training conference in 2023, but the story runs far deeper than that. So I will enlighten you on our origin story. It all started in the year 1889, when former Wisconsin Governor William D. Hoard purchased a large swath of land in central Wisconsin to be used as training grounds for the Wisconsin National Guard. There, the soldiers trained and slept beneath the large trees of the Wisconsin countryside. Through the years, the camp and trees grew larger. The base became a prime place for several multistate training conferences, and in 2023, the base hosted a conference for several Illinois Air National Guard bases. Emma and I, although we did not know each other yet, were in attendance for this conference and were randomly selected to be on a team together during a morale event. She did not notice my good looks or humor, so I had to take extreme measures by accidentally running full speed into a tree, causing a severe laceration to my eyebrow. I stumbled back toward our team’s line, attempting to salvage my manhood, when she finally noticed me! However, the look was more of concern than attraction. This unfortunate, and painful, event would be the conversation piece necessary to foster our relationship. Later that night, Emma and I found ourselves conversing, although the details are disputed, I believe she initially waved me over to her. We did not exchange contact information, to my disappointment, but I felt there was more to our dialog than simply friendly conversation. Over the course of the next few months it appeared God’s plan was coming to fruition. We saw each other at monthly drills twice in a row, and I finally found an excuse to get her phone number and set up the first date. The pace did not slow down after that. Emma and I met often, and stayed up far too late speaking with each other. It was clear we were in love, and despite the two hour drive between us, we were hopeful for the future. Eventually, I secured a job as a police officer in the metro east area, and Emma began teaching in a neighboring city. We have since been able to establish ourselves, by buying a home, and surviving a remodel, the true test of a relationship. Looking back, it is easy to see how I have taken things for granted, but reflecting on our relationship has made one thing clear to me: We were meant for each other. So thank you former Wisconsin Governor William D Hoard, for purchasing the land on which I ran into a central Wisconsin oak tree. That was the catalyst that led to me marrying the love of my life.