Bill and I met at Solid Sound at Mass MoCA in the summer of 2015. I was bartending, and Lagunitas was a beer sponsor that year. We spent the weekend flirting/fighting, but at the end of the festival he was, as he says, "rebuffed". Two years later, the festival came around again. So did my bartending job, so did Lagunitas, and so did Bill. We picked right back up where we left off two years before, and at the end of this festival there was no rebuffing. I gave him my number, but thought, "Who are you kidding? You'll never hear from him. Plus, what are you going to do, date someone who lives three hours away?" For the past five years, that's exactly what we did. To my surprise, I did hear from him. We had our first date on July 3, 2017 in Northampton, MA. We went to an Italian restaurant for dinner. On my first bite, I slopped spaghetti sauce on my white t shirt. He didn't bat an eyelash. We went to see fireworks. He gave me Pop Rocks. I was smitten. Over the past 5 years, we've spent a lot of time on the road. Lots of miles, lots of podcasts, lots of gas - but all of it well worth it. We have had the ability to be in the city when we want, and in the country when we want. I know Southie like the back of my hand, and Bill's now considered a regular at many of my favorite Berkshire County establishments. We have traveled around the country together, seen a million concerts, and had countless other adventures. His friends and family are now my friends and family, and vice versa. This past August we were vacationing in one of our favorite places, Cape Cod, when Bill proposed. I was blindsided, and again, I thwarted his first attempt. His plan was to propose at the end of a two mile dune hike. I, however, was grumpy from an insufficient nap, and ill dressed in a long sleeved black romper on a 90 degree day. I pouted and whined. He aborted the mission, and we went back the Airbnb. When we got back to the house he convinced me to walk down to the beach (for attempt #2) to go for a swim. As we walked to the beach the sky darkened. He would not be deterred, and insisted we would still have time for a swim. As soon as we arrived he jumped in. I watched lightening a few miles away. He came out of the water and suggested we sit for a while before it rained to watch the storm. The sky opened up immediately (so much for attempt #2) and we ran back to the Airbnb. The next morning, after much scheming and finagling, he got me back to the beach, and proposed. We were both sweaty and still dressed in our workout clothes, and it was perfect. To know me is to know that I am rarely speechless, and I was. Even though it wasn't what he had planned, it was the most perfect moment, in the most perfect place. Now we are in the process of planning our wedding in another one of our favorite places, the Berkshires! We are excited to host our friends and family for a summer time, lakeside celebration. Stay tuned, and keep checking back here for more details about wedding. We can't wait to celebrate with you!