Ray and Marian first crossed paths through work while both were in the service industry. Ray was the bar manager at The Goat downtown when Marian was hired as a bartender. On her first day, the general manager told her to “go find Ray” for orientation. Marian scanned the restaurant until she spotted a group of employees gathered around a table reviewing the weekly schedule. “I’m looking for Ray,” she said. Ray looked up, raised his eyebrows, and replied without hesitation, “I’m Ray.” There was an immediate spark, though they kept things strictly professional until the day Ray accidentally left his phone charger at work. Knowing Marian was closing that night, he called the restaurant and asked if she would mind bringing it to him at a nearby bar where he was meeting friends. She agreed, and from that moment on, a forbidden romance began. To avoid any accidental discoveries at work, Ray even created an alter ego for Marian in his phone: Gretchen Wheeler. She remains Gretchen in his phone to this day. Their early dates included small concerts at local venues, dancing to jam bands, and a trip to Cleveland to watch the then Indians play, where Ray quickly introduced Marian to his family. At the time, Marian was deep into her architecture degree, spending sleepless nights building models and long hours at school. Ray supported her in every way he could, from cooking dinner to picking up her beloved pup, Millie, for extended playdates. Less than a year into dating, (like absolute lunatics) they moved in together and got a dog: a golden retriever named Bear. Together, they built a life side by side, slowly transitioning out of the service industry. Ray made a major career change and became an electrician, and Marian was proud to return the same unwavering support he had given her during school. They approached life with curiosity and discovered a shared love for nature and very challenging hikes. They climbed mountains in Texas, leapt off cliffs in Arizona, endured torrential downpours in Tennessee, and skied / snowboarded the hills of West Virginia. Along the way, they bought a fixer-upper and began restoring it piece by piece with the help of family and friends. After seven wonderful years together, Ray proposed on the beach in Redwood National Park, marking the beginning of their next chapter.