We met during our freshman year at Bristol Eastern High School in Bristol, CT. We were in all of the same core classes. Lisa was instantly attracted to Ben, he was handsome, but also the class clown always making her laugh. To her disappointment, he started off high school with a girlfriend. Whether he had a girlfriend or not Ben always looked forward to spending lunches with Lisa on B days in the cafeteria. He would do whatever it took to get her to smile. Their group of friends often intertwined and the spark was there but the timing was not. After we both graduated from high school, we kept in touch during our college years. Ben went to CCSU & Lisa went to ECSU. Ben had friends that went to ECSU and he made many trips to visit them and would reach out to Lisa when he was going to be on campus. Lisa always made it a point to drop by the dorm of whomever he was visiting to make sure she got to see him. Even if it was only to exchange a few laughs and a beer. We went on a few spontaneous dates during our college breaks. Rumor has it Ben took his first day ever off work so they could go to the beach together! It wasn’t until Lisa found out Ben was newly single during her senior year of college that they started talking more seriously. Ben & Lisa went out for the first time for a 5 star dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings, and then went to see Texas Chainsaw Massacre (talk about romantic). An interesting first date to say the least, but a true representation of how the two of us enjoy a simple, fun, silly, & spontaneous way of life. Another night Ben invited Lisa over and when she showed up she realized she had been invited to “guys poker night”. Instead of leaving she was happy to be spending time with Ben, stayed & proceeded to take everyone’s money. Fast forward to one of the most special nights when Ben picked up Lisa for another dinner date with a dozen roses in his hand, he officially asked her to be his girlfriend. They upgraded to Texas Roadhouse that night, ha.

Throughout our years of dating we discovered one of our favorite spots for a weekend getaway, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We travelled there for special occasions or just to get away for the weekend. One special weekend, Valentine’s Day of 2020, Ben planned a trip for Lisa’s “birthday” and we took off to Portsmouth, NH. On Friday night when we arrived, Ben gifted Lisa a gold lock that had “Lisa & Ben Forever 2020” engraved on it. This lock was a gift to put on the “Portsmouth Love Wall” the next morning during their first full day of the trip. That morning, Ben wanted to wake up very early to “watch the ships break the ice” in the harbor where the Portsmouth Love Wall was located. Ben told Lisa to put the lock on the fence and then we would head to brunch. When Lisa turned around (after about struggling with the lock for minutes, ha) Benjamin was down on one knee. It was truly such a heartfelt proposal and the most perfect weekend.