We met over 20 years ago at a state vocal competition in Appleton, Wisconsin. We were just babies, 17 and 20 years old, hanging around the hallways of Lawrence University between rounds. He walked up and said hello. She blushed and mumbled something unintelligible. They talked and laughed and then went their separate ways. Well, after winning gold medals, of course.

We ended up both going to the University of Wisconsin (Go Badgers!) and ran into each other on State Street. Solidly in "the friend zone," she'd meet him for coffee, movies, musicals, walking and talking. They sang lots of a cappella. He graduated and left to do all kinds of things. She graduated and left to do all kinds of things. Not a peep for 12 years.

In a word, Facebook. Thanks to our great mutual friend, Chris Yahng, he took a chance and IM'd her. She took a chance and IM'd back. He called her. She called back. He invited her to meet up on the Capitol Square. She agreed and they drank cocktails. He flew to Wisconsin. She flew to Texas. Repeat. She moved to Texas, for good. Well, until she moved to California. And then moved back to Texas, for real this time.

On a rainy day in London, we were shopping with her sister and brother-in-law. He stopped in front of Joe & the Juice on George Street in Richmond. She stopped too. He got down on his knee and said all kinds of beautiful things she can't remember. She does recall a street violinist playing Christmas music as he asked her to marry him. She said YES. They had a pint with the family at the corner pub to celebrate, naturally. We can't wait to celebrate our next chapter in this long, wild ride of ours with YOU in one of our favorite cities in the world - New Orleans. See you in The Big Easy!