It all started with a brain. MJ first saw Sam from across the anatomy lab at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Hoping to impress the teaching assistant, she raced to answer all of his questions. Little did she know, he was in fact her classmate. Throughout their shared lectures, the two became Starbucks buddies. Sam worked hard to hide the depths of his coffee enthusiasm.

In a bold move, Sam asked MJ out just before the end of spring semester. When he picked her up, she complimented his outfit and said he looked handsome. He replied "you too," and since then, Sam has managed to keep MJ laughing. The two went to the Whitfield in Pittsburgh, where they enjoyed craft cocktails, foreshadowing their future creativity in the kitchen.

After a laughter-filled day of urban adventures throughout Pittsburgh, Sam dropped to one knee to offer MJ an early Christmas gift. The couple enjoyed a romantic holiday celebrating their engagement in snowy Pittsburgh before heading home. As MJ arrived in Albany to share the news with her family, Sam surprised her at the airport with a bouquet of fresh stems. Champagne bottlers were popped as an impromptu engagement party took place at the Anderson's.

After putting our big party on hold, we exchanged vows at sunrise atop Algonquin Mountain in the Adirondacks. We laced our boots and hit the trail just after one am in order to summit the peak as the skies turned pink. After tying the knot, we spent the day on Mirror Lake with our immediate family. We celebrated into the evening with an intimate nine person dinner party featuring Korean barbecue and champagne, toasting to a lifetime of adventure.

It takes a village to nurture a deep rooted family. The events of the past two years have proven time and again just how much we value this tribe, in sickness and in health. We look forward to exchanging our vows with our family and friends as witness at Saratoga National on July 29, 2022. We look forward to plenty of hugs, kisses, and close dancing.