We’re getting married!

It was my first semester at the Troy University Dothan Campus. I arrived early to microbiology, like really early (like an hour early). There was no other human person on that floor it seemed. I sat down in the common area kind of tucked around in a cozy corner. As I was waiting for the time to pass so I could go into the classroom, this Cute Guy, also arriving obscenely early, sits in a chair across the common area. We made eye contact, but it took a little while to actually have somewhat of a conversation. Eventually I asked which class he was waiting for, and turns out we are both waiting for microbiology with Dr. Manfready. As we continue to wait, this anxious girl, someone I met several years earlier, walks by but doesn't sit down. She just keeps pacing in the hallway outside of the common area, disrupting the peace that finally settled just 5 minutes ago. At this time, it's about 30 minutes until class begins, and I proceeded to the empty classroom to find a seat. Just as I sit down, the Cute Guy walks in, sits at the table across from me, and gives me a strange look. “What? Did she say something about me?" He said, “Well, yeah, she asked what your name was but told me not to tell you.” I laughed. “My name is Ashley—Ashley Rodarte. What's your name?" “Jared Basso.”

It was a Sunday. We went to our church that morning. As we were riding home after having lunch with Jared's parents, I looked over at him and asked if he would like to go to Parcours Lake on Fort Rucker. We hadn't been there in a while, and when we first met, it was a place we frequented. So we were walking on the trails, trying to discover ones we hadn't explored before. Then Jared suggested us walking across the street to the mountain biking trails, seeing if they are something we could try out sometime. We're walking down the trail, and Jared decided to look up to see just how long this trail was that we were venturing on. Turns out it was 7 miles! Needless to say, we turned around and walked the much wider service trail. We start to hear water, like a waterfall. Jared looks at me and asks if I want to go check it out, and of course I do! So we're walking, crouching through all these branches, leaves, spider webs (very glamorous). We arrive to this pretty little stream with two little water falls. There's a fallen tree that looks perfectly placed. He wraps his arms around my waist, and we're just looking at everything around us, enjoying how beautiful life can be. After a short time, I asked if he was ready to make our way back to the established trail. He says “No, not yet, I need to ask you something first... Will you marry me?” I look over. The man I love so much. There he is on his knee with the cutest smile on his face and a gorgeous ring in his hand just for me. So I smiled and said, “Nope!” As I laughed, he smiled and said, “Well then I guess I'm just going to stay here until you say yes.” So I said, “Yes! Of course I will marry you!”