Sarah and Nick's story began online. Nick, being a man of common wisdom, knew the way to any woman's heart was with man's best friend as wingman. Enter Pandhita, Nan, and Tim's beloved pug, Noodle, into the love story and into Nick's profile picture, of course. Noodle garnered overnight success for Nick's online dating prospects. Sarah quickly took notice and invited Nick to a rendezvous at Stone Brewing.
Nick arrived early, and cooly browsed the gift shop. As he worked through the time-tested dilemma of full-tuck, no-tuck, or half tuck for his favorite button-down collared shirt, Sarah was in the parking lot no more than 100 feet away, grappling with the pivotal question of what ought to be the optimal balance of excitement and nervousness. Nick was mesmerized by Sarah's pretty blue eyes. Sarah was struck by Nick's oddly-tucked work shirt. Things especially started to take off when Nick, 15 minutes into the date, let Sarah know that he must excuse himself to visit the restroom. An instant trust was formed between the couple, and the walls between these hopeful lovers came tumbling down. From that day forward, Sarah and Nick knew their love would only grow stronger. Furthermore, Nick knew he would always take the aisle seat on cross country flights. That first date at Stone in Escondido would be the first of countless memories and moments of happiness together.
On a Saturday morning in the summertime, Nick tells Sarah they'll be meeting friends in Liberty Station for lunch. They arrive oddly early: an early sign Sarah might have otherwise have picked up on, had this not seemed like such an ordinary day. Nick took Sarah for a stroll around the Liberty Station courtyard to kill some time. After popping in and out of shops and boutiques, they found a shady spot nestled within the tree line beneath the planes taking off from San Diego International. As a Southwest Boeing 747 roars overhead, Nick points up to the belly of the plane and shouts, "Quick, Sarah, take a picture of it!" Unwittingly turning her back to Nick, Sarah snaps the photo, then smiles and turns back around to find Nick on one knee.