I am a big believer in the invisible string theory and our relationship is a great example of how it works. The theory suggests that the universe keeps two people apart until the timing is right. And when you finally meet, there will be a series of uncanny coincidences, as if the timing had been choreographed by something greater. For us, that couldn’t be more true. It all started thanks to my best friend, Samantha Lindahl (then Sam Jones), who wanted to set me up with her coworker, Mike Lindahl (yes, they ended up getting married too!). After a CC Club cocktail or two, I said, “why not!” and we met up with Mike and his friends at the Uptown VFW—Dillon being one of them. We hit it off instantly, reportedly dancing the night away on Stella’s dance floor. The rest, as they say, is history—but the coincidences didn’t stop there. Although Dillon went to the University of Minnesota Duluth, he spent many weekends over four years visiting friends at Winona State. I was right there too, at St. Mary’s University, just across town. And if you know Winona, you know how small it is—college students from both schools end up at the same handful of bars every weekend. Yet somehow, our paths never crossed. Then there’s Okoboji, Iowa, a place close to both our hearts long before we met. Growing up, my family spent countless summer weekends there—boating, watching fireworks, and wandering around Arnolds Park. One day when I went to hang out with Dillon, he happened to be wearing an Okoboji sweatshirt. As it turned out, his family used to vacation there too. Maybe we passed each other in Winona, or stood in the same line for ice cream in Okoboji—who knows? It’s funny how life works, how years of almost-crossings and shared memories can all lead to one ordinary night that changes everything. It just goes to show that sometimes the best things in life happen when you least expect them—but exactly when you’re ready for them.

I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to write to give you a story of Liv and I. I'm not sure I can top Olivia's version, or what to add to it, so I'll guess I'll go with a story of When You Know, You Know. Liv and I met one night when I was asked to accompany my friend Mike on a double date. At the time, he was going to be set up with Olivia and I would accompany his co-worker, who now happens to be his wife and mother of their child. Long story short, the script got flipped and Liv and I hit it off. We continued seeing each other after that, obviously. Fast forward to one of our first times staying at Brett's cabin for the weekend. Btw, Brett's cabin has a lot of meaning in our relationship. We both said I love you for the first time there, we got engaged there, and Brett's mom is our Minister, Ministeress? I'm not sure the word. Regardless of all that, one of the most fun things about the cabin is the volleyball tournaments they host. Liv and I were on opposite teams of each other, and as you may know, we are both very competitive. I remember I spiked a ball right in her face, unintentionally of course, but I also felt like "oh shit". I thought, I hope she's not hurt, I hope she doesn't start crying, I hope she isn't mad at me. Instead of all that, she grabbed the ball and gave me a look that said, that shit ain't happening twice. If You Know You Know, and I knew right then this girl was something special, and I can't wait to call her my wife.