the grocery store... just kidding! We met through a dating app called Hinge. Fun Fact is that all of the Gruber children and their spouses met this way. Melissa liked to tease that all of their last names were "Hinge" because of how Heidi labeled Ryan's last name in her phone. Ryan reached out and after a several month delay and help from my friend Jane, Heidi responded. Their first date was a bike ride at White Ranch in Golden, CO followed by a beer and Po'Boys. Ironically, Ryan was about 20 minutes late to the date. After several more dates, going to Annie's (Ryan's sister) wedding in Italy just 6 months into dating they knew they were in it for the the long haul.

Heidi and Ryan traveled to Ireland to visit Ryan's family prior to attending Heidi's brother's wedding in Italy. Heidi's bags were lost (the first trip to Ireland, Ryan's luggage was lost). Heidi borrowed Ryan's sister Annie's shoes for a planned walk at Devils Glen Red Loop in Wicklow Ireland. This walk has poetry stanzas from Seamus Heaney's work. Seamus Heaney was a Nobel laureate poet that lived nearby and found inspiration in the glen and is one of Ryan's favorite artists. Heidi was tipped off when Ryan was trying hard to take a self timed photo which was actually a video. The beautiful scenery included a waterfall in the background and a stanza from Seamus Heaney that read "When we find the ring, I'll propose". There was a surprise celebration with Ryan's family that evening and went on to have an incredible adventure traveling along the west coast of Ireland.