Edward was training West Point Cadets in Shannon’s home town when he decided to hit Billy Joes for some drinks with his work buddies. Coincidentally, that was Shannon’s spot on Tuesday for country night. When Shannon and Edward locked eyes that night as he first walked in; it was as if time had stopped. Unfortunately neither Shannon nor Edward worked up the courage to approach each other. Later in the week Edward mentioned to his friends that he couldn’t get the girl with the beautiful smile out of his head. All the while Shannon searched through all of her contacts begging friends to hit the same place two days later in hopes she would see the charming man from the other night. With the same idea in mind, Edward and his work friends went to Billy Joes again. This time for dinner! When Edward was closing out his dinner tab, he looked over at the bar and saw “the girl from the other night”. When Shannon walked in and went to order a drink, that’s when she saw “the guy she thought she had lost”. That’s when they both decided that tonight would be different. Lost in conversation all night they knew they had found something special. Ed; being born in NYC, and raised Jersey boy. Immediately sparked a connection with Shannon. A home grown New York girl; they bonded over New York pizza and bacon, egg and cheese bagels. Something the south desperately lacks. Shannon and Edward knew they had something special. A week before Edward headed back to Florida he told Shannon “you know I’m going to marry you right ?” A month later Shannon picked up and moved to Florida. Now being stationed in North Carolina they continue to grow and create new memories. Ed and Shan took a trip to Asheville, NC for Labor Day weekend. It was on this trip that they both went on a beautiful hike through the NC Blue Ridge Mountains. They hiked up the rocks and trails of Hawksbill Mountain. At the top; with the western NC mountains and valleys below them. He gave Shannon the prettiest rock!