We're getting married!

The very first time Ryan and I first met was in high school. Although Ryan always had the "hots" for me, we never dated throughout that time but we spent a lot of time together with our group of friends. After graduation we went our separate ways. I went to college in Philadelphia and got my BSN degree in nursing. In 2014, I moved down to Miami, Florida and Ryan was living in upstate New York while his parents were living down in sunny Florida near Orlando. We kept in touch on and off throughout the 15 years after high school graduation.

On July 4, 2018 Ryan was in Orlando area visiting with his parents. After 15 years of on and off late night phone calls and multiple exchanged text messages, Ryan residing in upstate NY and me in Florida, Ryan invited me to join him and visit with him at his parents house. I without question packed my bags and took a road trip up to Orlando. When we first set eyes on each other after 15 years, it was like we had both remembered each other back in 2003 when we had last seen each other! Ryan had not changed one bit! We spent the rest of the holiday weekend reminiscing about our times in high school and reconnecting and visiting with his parents Michelle and Kenny. After that weekend, for 1 year, Ryan and I maintained a long distance relationship with him in NY and me in sunny Florida. We exchanged multiple trips and shared kisses and tears back and forth between NY and Florida. After much convincing, in September 2019, Ryan and his dad moved him down to me from NY to Miami where we both currently reside.

We had decided to take a weekend trip up to Tampa for Yankees spring training and made plans to visit the Tampa Zoo during the day when we had tickets to see the game at night. On Friday morning, we arrived at the zoo and at the security entrance and I passed through the security check no problem. It was Ryan's turn to pass and he sets off the alarm, the security officer directs him to hold his wallet and his phone in his hand and pass through again...the alarm still sounds...I look at Ryan and said "babe its probably your belt" he removes his belt and again he passes through... the alarm still sounds. The guard says to Ryan "sir step aside I have to wand your shorts, you have something in your pocket. Ryan turns to the guy and says "you're killing me guy...you're killing me!" While I was watching this unfold from the side, Ryan turns to me and says "well I guess I'll have to do this right here..." and he dropped to one knee and says " Will you Marry Me?" Once I realized what was happening, shaking, I immediately started to cry and of course said "Yes!' Everyone behind us in line began to cheer once they realized what was going on. That was not exactly what Ryan had in mind for his proposal but was waiting for the right moment whenever it happened that day. The right moment he got all right! We got engaged at the security entrance to the Tampa Zoo! Once we finally entered the zoo and immediately called our parents and we celebrated the rest of the day!