They say you shouldn’t seek long-term relationships in a bar. Well, neither Nicolette or Jarrett was searching for a lifelong partner when they met at White Horse in Champaign, IL. Nicolette was in the 2nd semester of her freshman year & wasn’t looking to get tied down early in her college career. Jarrett was an elderly statesman as far as college undergraduates were concerned, due to graduate in May & didn’t want to be attached to anyone/thing that’d keep him in Central Illinois. Nicolette approached Jarrett, thinking “what a good looking, yet standoffish guy”, mistaking his awkwardness as quiet confidence. She overheard that he was having his 22nd bday party at his place & asked to come, leaving him perplexed as to why this beautiful girl kept talking to him. He happily invited her. At the party, they scarcely spent a moment away from each other. Around midnight, Jarrett finally got the hint & asked her on a date. The rest of the semester was truly idyllic for them & Jarrett’s graduation was met with mixed emotions. They were now faced with logistical hurdles, as large geographic distances now separated them. Fortunately, they were determined to make it work. Jarrett moved back to Champaign & took a series of odd jobs to be closer to Nicolette. This foreshadowed how their relationship would look for the next 9 years. Sometimes, living in close proximity; other times being separated by hundreds of miles. When Jarrett was in Nebraska & Nicolette was in Chicago, he decided that it was (about) time to get married. He never wanted to live without Nicolette & even though they were separated by their greatest geographic distance yet, this was the last time they would be apart. On Christmas Eve Eve, Jarrett proposed & Nicolette tearfully accepted. Baffled by her instant-tear response, Jarrett couldn’t keep his composure & the couple joyfully wept together. Finally, all their sacrifices had paid off & they began to embark on the next stage of their life together.