The year was 2013, 4 years post swine flu pandemic and 7 years heretofore coronavirus. It was a simpler, less "pandemicy" time, and the air was ripe for....friendship. We met at the University of Michigan where we both selected the consumer packaged goods marketing path. Through studying, an internship, costume parties, and a drinking game or two, we got very close, but continued to remain friends. Then we took a job at the same company, moved to Chicago, hung out all the time, and it wasn't until years after we first met (but who's counting) that we went on our first date. Megan is a well-balanced, intelligent, beautiful, young woman and Colin is a handsome(ish), tall, very white, clumsy, prepubescent, MAN...you know, the perfect millennial couple. Even though we're already best friends, on-call back scratchers, serial sheet stealers, travel buddies, and coronavirus roomies, we can't wait to get married and make it official.

Try #1: Surprise trip to Sonoma with both families, wine tasting, lighthouses, spas...cancelled... Try #2: Escape room with the ring as one of the clues followed by families waiting at famed Chicago restaurant The Girl & The Goat...shut down... Try #3: On top of a bridge on the border of Naples & Marco Island overlooking the sunset on the water...WINNER!