In the summer of 2017, our mutual friends took it upon themselves to begin the long game of hyping us up to each other. "You should totally meet our friend...you'll hit it off as friends if nothing else *wink*". By the time October rolled around, Mercedes agreed to invite Adam to the Halloween party she was hosting with her roommates, one of whom went to college with Adam. Of course, Adam said yes.The night of the party rolls around and the Mizzou Football Coach (Adam) and the Double Dare Contestant (Mer) spent most of the evening talking and getting to know each other. By the end of the night, we had exchanged phone numbers, memes, and sparks. About a week later we went on our first date and thus began the 120 mile alternating commute as Adam lived in San Diego and Mercedes in Los Angeles. I guess you could say our cars were fueled by the power of love. Cut to Adam moving to LA in early 2020, and Mercedes ready to show him what the city has to offer only for the world to have other plans in store. If there’s anything the various quarantines, moves, and our cat Astrid taught us it’s this: With the love and support we found in each other, there’s nothing we can’t handle, no obstacle too great for us to tackle…together.

It was Mercedes' "first pandemic birthday" and with the quarantine and social distancing rules changing every 30 seconds, we decided to stay in and maybe hop on Zoom with her family. Little did she know there was more to the day than the French Toast brunch Adam put together. When we finished brunch, Adam started being very aware of time and kept telling Mercedes to go get ready because "something was going to happen". She figured he was going to surprise her with a zoom with her whole family or we were actually going to leave the house for the first time in a long time. While Mercedes was getting ready, Adam was indeed getting her family...and a few more loved ones, into the meeting room so they could wish her a happy birthday, and witness the start of the next chapter of their lives together. Some people on the call knew what was going to happen, and others (like Mercedes) didn't. Finally, Adam grabs Mercedes by the hand and begins saying the most beautiful speech which is when Mercedes realized what was happening. So in our living room, with all of our family on Zoom, Adam asked - and she said yes! We had a blast celebrating with our family spread all across the country as if we were all in the same room. Best birthday party ever.