We're getting married!

On New Years' Day of 2022, Rory and Maddie were both traveling back home after visiting family for the holidays. Maddie was flying from Washington, DC and Rory from Orlando, FL. The night before her flight, Maddie saw there were storms in Denver where her layover was scheduled to be, and at the last minute rerouted her flight to connect in Houston instead. Rory's flight out of Orlando ended up getting cancelled, and he was able to get on the last flight out of Florida, also connecting in Houston. When they arrived in Houston, they got the news that their flight to San Diego was delayed for two hours. After two hours, it was delayed again. And again. And again. Both of them waited for 7+ hours at the gate in Houston for their flight to San Diego before it was eventually cancelled entirely at 2AM. Best of all, there were no hotels or transportation available, and the next available flight was 2 days later. Exhausted, they both trekked separately down to baggage claim to retrieve their luggage and make their way to a hotel. While waiting for her luggage, Maddie struck up a conversation with a man and his young son about the craziness of the situation. Rory had coincidentally sat next to that man on the plane, so he decided to come join the conversation. The man asked Maddie where she was traveling from, to which she responded that she had been coming from DC. Turns out she misheard him and he hadn't asked that, but Rory jumped in to say he's also from DC. At the time, Maddie was working as a Jesuit Volunteer at a housing nonprofit in San Diego, and Rory had just been stationed there a month prior for the Marines. They then determined that their parents lived 3 minutes apart in Virginia, and quickly bonded over their shared silly sense of humor and Catholicism. Maddie had booked a room at a nearby hotel, and Rory lied and said he had too so they could continue talking. They shared an Uber back to the hotel, and after Maddie checked in Rory told her she should go ahead up to her room because it was late. He was actually hoping and praying that the place had a room available for him. The next day, Rory texted Maddie asking what time she had said they were going to the Houston Zoo (she had made no such plan). Maddie said 11 AM and what ensued was a day-long first date filled with laughter and silliness and fun. They felt like they had known each other their whole lives. Maddie knew Rory was special after he crawled down on the ground with her (in a space probably meant for kids) to see a snake. After the zoo, they went out for drinks and dancing at a few local bars in Houston. Because it was a Sunday night, the dance floors were completely empty except for the two of them, having the time of their lives. When they flew back to San Diego the next day, Maddie fell asleep on Rory's shoulder the whole flight. For the next week, they talked for hours on the phone each night and texted all day. On the Sunday after they returned, the two went on a picnic date to Coronado Beach. Rory subtly tried to ask Maddie to be exclusive, to which she responded "Of course I'll be your girlfriend!", and so a week later, they made it official and never looked back. After two(ish) wonderful years, Rory proposed to Maddie the day after Thanksgiving 2023 in Gatlinburg, TN at the top of Anakeesta. We are elated to celebrate our special day with all of our loved ones in June!