It's about time....

We met in choir in 2006. Yes, 2006. We had mutual friends and even spent a choir trip together. We frequented Baskin Robbins and debated the best flavors of ice cream. We decided the other person was so cool that we dated for almost a year... in high school! (Hold for applause.)

Michelle moved to California for school, and we went our separate ways. Michelle landed in New York for dance. Max went to school for engineering, landing in Oregon. For eight years, we met for coffee to catch up. Max didn't drink coffee at this point... hmm. Max suggested Michelle visit in Oregon, and Michelle thought that was crazy. Michelle invited Max to New York, and he booked flights. Max gets credit for propelling our future in so many ways! He survived a trip that was rerouted, required him to take a rental car with strangers and a trip through the Jersey Turnpike and to get up the next morning at 6 am to go to the Bronx for a show of Michelle's. Whoa. That is when we started our 3.5 year, long distance adventure...

After Max's New York trip, Michelle booked a three week summer adventure to Oregon. We spent it driving to see family, friends, and explore. Every month or two, Michelle would fly to Oregon, visit with Max's friends, and adventure in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Max often flew to New York City, was willing to go to any dance show, restaurant, music event, and embraced the crazy city.

Max got a great job in Oakland. It was time to see how cohabitation would go. Will we or won't we drive each other crazy? Spoiler alert... we drive each other crazy! It's worth it. Michelle and her brave friend, Jordan, rented a car, packed up, and drove from New York to Berkeley. Little did we know we would spend a pandemic together... Michelle was teaching dance from the living room while Max moved his office into the bedroom. The entire time, Max had already designed a beautiful, thoughtful, ring.

In December of 2020, we drove home to Los Alamos to spend holidays with family. After 18 hours in a car with a cat, only stopping for gas, we were exhausted. On Christmas Eve, Max suggested we go for a hike at the ski hill that we love. It was a long and tough hike! He packed White Claws and breakfast burritos, of course, and after a long time chatting and admiring our mountain, he proposed. Now, we can't wait to celebrate with all of the people who have loved and supported us through this crazy story!