Our story begins where all great love stories begin- Hinge. John and I debate who swiped on who first, but we agree that we hit it off quickly. Our first date was at a local pizza spot in Randolph and was perfect for us- cash only, $1.60 Bud Lite draughts and paper Halloween decorations on the wall. After some time, our relationship grew and became a partnership. John taught me how to golf, I re-taught him how to ice skate. John got me into the Celtics, I got him into the Bruins. I appreciated John’s love for his family/friends and his wit. I asked John, and he said he appreciated my sense of humor and my “strong sense of self and independence.” We moved in together in September 2023, and it was a seamless transition. In the summer of 2024 we put our patience and relationship to the test by embarking on a cross-country road trip. This was John’s long time dream, and I felt honored to tag along! With a bed built in the backseat of a Kia Forte and a bag full of snacks, we were off! We listened to BB King records in Mississippi, ate our weight in gumbo in New Orleans, and our weight again in BBQ in Austin. We watched bats take flight and wild horses overtake a golf course in New Mexico. There were hikes and adventures and too many stories to fit in one blurb. Eventually, we made it to our most anticipated destination- Glacier National Park. The views were breathtaking, and John had mentioned that this would be the ideal spot to have a photographer take our photos. We met up with our photographer and had just started posing when John remembered he had brought a nice watch to wear for the portraits. Ashley (our photographer) and I were both taken by complete surprise when John got down on one knee and that “watch” was actually a ring! We celebrated in one of the few spots open past 8pm in West Glacier and finished up our trip as an engaged couple. We’ve had so much FUN on our path to marriage. We’ve encountered challenges together, but faced them as a team. Our celebration on 7/26/25 is also a big thank-you to everyone who has been a part of our journey together! See you soon. Christine & John