We're Getting Married!

Scott and Karen first met on the job at Intellectual Property Services (IPS). Scott had already been there for a few years, and it was Karen's first "big girl" job. Scott was one of the people who trained Karen. It was a very close team, and they quickly became friends. However, that's the way it stayed for a long time. In fact, neither of them are really sure of exactly when it became more. Karen jokes that Scott tricked her because he never asked her to be his girlfriend. What he liked most about her: She says it was the way she Excel-ed at her job. He says it was her smile and laugh. And that she wasn't too bad to look at either. ;) What she liked most about him: He thinks she just couldn't resist his sense of humor. She admits that he always made her laugh, but he was also super smart and very sweet when he wanted to be. :)

It all started back in April 2022. For her birthday, he took the rings she got from her mother to get cleaned. Before doing that, he became very inquisitive about which fingers she wears them on and which fingers they fit on. In hindsight, she says that could have been a clue, but she didn't catch on at all. Scott waited patiently for the right moment. While they were on vacation in Maine, they decided they wanted to watch the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park (the first place in the continental U.S. to see the sunrise). At first, they didn't think they were going to get to do it. The tickets sold out each day within seconds. They both were attempting to get tickets at the same time and had a countdown for when they were available. The second it was available, they both visited the page to reserve a ticket but she was quicker. She was able to reserve a ticket while Scott got a message that all were gone. The morning of they woke up at 3:30 AM (early even by Karen's standard). They took the dogs, Rudy and Riker, with them to go watch what they thought would be a peaceful sunrise. He had it all planned out that he would ask someone to take a picture and then propose. What they didn't expect was that Rudy and Riker were so excited and felt it was all too much. They were a bit over-stimulated by the people, other dogs, and beautiful views and made it quite clear that they would prefer to go somewhere a little more private. So, Karen and Scott obliged. Finding a more secluded spot off to side, Scott's plan for a picture was ruined but he was not deterred. He asked Karen to hold both dogs so he could get “something” out of his backpack. Meanwhile, she thought he was a giant pain for asking her to hold both dogs while they were so hyped up. Then he got done on one knee and said "Will you marry me? I can't imagine..." and he was cut off immediately by "YES, OF COURSE. YES!". Later, she let him know that if he wants to say nice things in a proposal he should do so before asking a question. Because when asked something, she will answer. Immediately.