May 20, 2024 (Sarah) Almost six years ago, on May 21, 2019, I climbed through the window of Boardroom DC in a hurry to meet the love of my life. After five years, two apartments, and one terribly spoiled dog I knew it was time to make things permanent. I spent six months plotting— knowing that an ordinary proposal wouldn’t do. Over those six months, I wrote down what it is like to be loved by Emma Hooks. I filled the pages of a journal with our story and asked some of our friends and loved ones to write letters about their own experiences of loving and being loved by Emma.    In Ireland, I was worried we wouldn’t make it to the cliffs when I realized I had some difficulty adjusting to driving on the other side of the road (the car rental place accused me of “gouging” a tire). Fortuitously, Emma is actually a better driver when driving on the left.  In all honesty, Emma knew this was coming but did not know when. She certainly didn’t think I would be stupid enough to travel through Europe for 3 weeks with an engagement ring— but as I proved by mistaking a window for a door on our first date, I can’t be trusted to make a rational choice when it comes to her. July 26, 2024 (Emma) After the most magical day overlooking the cliffs in Ireland, I wanted to give Sarah a proposal that felt just as special, but I think if I dragged her right back to Europe, she would've caught on. Instead, I decided on an option a little bit closer to home. The Bishop’s Garden at the National Cathedral has been a favorite spot of ours for years; we’ve passed many long and lazy afternoons in the tranquility of the garden, reading and sunbathing. I convinced Sarah to come on a sunset picnic (she was absolutely already suspicious), and thanks to the help of our friends, when we walked into the garden, Sarah found the picnic already waiting for her, and our sneaky helpers hiding in the bushes! Even though I already knew what the answer would be, I have to admit we were both a little misty-eyed when I got down on one knee. Our friends revealed themselves, we popped the champagne, and we were…promptly swarmed by mosquitoes. The picnic was abandoned in favor of a celebration indoors, where Sarah bravely weathered the first challenge of our engagement: the restaurant running out of bacon-wrapped dates.