Neil and Monica met teaching the Blue Knight Drum and Bugle Corps in the summer of 2015. They exchanged polite "good morning" phrases but nothing more. Neil notes that he thought Monica was "out of his league" and Monica doesn't really remember Neil. One night on a long bus ride in 2015, Monica was having a conversation with an old friend (and Neil's best man!), Jon, about her studies in special education. Jon responded that Neil also worked in special education. Neil and Monica had a short 5 minute conversation about their special education experiences and nothing sparked from it. The two continued polite "good morning phrases" for the next two years without any thought of a future. In a hopeful attempt at sparking a friendship and more, Neil reached out to Monica in April of 2017. He tried to "woo" her with the possibility of moving to Ohio to teach special education. Monica laughed and quickly turned the opportunity down as she had her sights set on Seattle, WA. The two worked their 3rd summer together at Blue Knights and sparks flew. Neil was able to visit Monica in Seattle later that summer. The two committed to a relationship together, under the conditions that Monica would never move to Ohio. Neil now lives out in Seattle with Monica with their two pups, Sydney and Benny. They both work in the same school district teaching special education and love their little life together.

Neil came to visit Monica in Seattle in June of 2018. Monica took a day off of work to spend the day with Neil exploring Seattle. The two went to Carkeek Park, a walkable beach from Monica's house. The beach is special to them both as they shared one of their first dates on this beach. Neil and Monica walked along the rocky beach that Monday morning, dodging kindergarteners who were studying the tide for a field trip. Neil was determined to make the moment perfect and walked Monica far down the beach. He insisted that Benny, Monica's dog, come along so he could share this special moment. As Monica was sitting on a rock admiring the Olympic Mountains in the distance, Neil dropped to his knee and asked for a future together. Monica didn't know how to formulate words other than "SHUT UP!". With happy tears in her eyes, she said yes and hasn't stopped smiling since.