Michelle & Drew say I do!

High school sweethearts? Not exactly. But forces of nature still collided in physics class. Drew was a senior at Dunbar--Michelle a junior--and thanks to the alphabet they sat beside each other. Drew found Michelle to be smart, kind and easy on the eye, and took the chance to ask her about homework assignments before class. Little did he know, his high school crush actually hated physics, and these daily "tutoring sessions" were a trickle-down effect of Michelle's dad. One evening spring semester, Drew ran (aka: sprinted) over to Michelle's house to hang out in the backyard gazebo. (He was, and still is to this day, an avid runner.) It was that night they kissed for the first time...and also the last for a good long while! Neither one is sure what happened, but eventually Drew graduated and went off to college. For nearly two decades, the two went their separate ways...

Timing is everything, and on February 19, 2017, the timing was right. Michelle's face popped up on Drew's LinkedIn, suggesting her as someone he may now. He messaged. She replied. After weeks of texting, and unsuccessfully attempting to get her to a yoga class, Drew finally asked Michelle out on a date. The hook: Barefoot in the Park at the Lexington Opera House, with dinner to start at 21C. The date: March 17th, St. Patrick's Day. In spite of rain, the two were on cloud nine and hit it off like they had never been apart. And before the night was over...the second (and maybe third) kiss happened...

They say "absence makes the heart grow fonder," and a trip to Paris did precisely that! In late April, Michelle flew off to France with her cousin, Julie, to visit family. Back in the States, Drew was busy making big plans. After delays, a missed connection and nearly 24 hours of travel, Michelle finally made it back to the Bluegrass. And there was Drew...patiently waiting for her at the bottom of the escalator, grinning from ear to ear... Fortunately, this is NOT when Drew popped the question. When Julie texted Michelle earlier that she "may want to take some tissues" when getting off the plane, Michelle blew it off and replied, "I would be ticked if he asked for my hand now. I'm disgusting and need to shower!" Drew must have known better, because once she was home he gave her plenty of time to shower. Not expecting anything, Michelle rushed to get back to Drew in a pair of old pajamas, her hair dripping wet, with mascara running down her cheeks. She was excited to give Drew what she thought was the most perfect gift--expensive French chocolates with flecks of real gold! (Drew is a chocoholic.) Drew smiled and said that he had actually gotten a gift for her, too. Before she realized anything, Drew was down on one knee, at 1am on Derby Day, with a beautiful diamond ring to slip on her finger. And of course...after saying, "Have you asked my Dad?"...she said, "Yes!"